For this outfit of a 15th century servant we were inspired by paintings from the early renaissance. We set up a beautiful table with a still life and acted out a number of domestic scenes between the lady of the house and her servant.
Curious about the other characters in this outfit?
Dress
The dress is based on the medieval cotehardie. This garment was worn in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, particularly in Western Europe. It was a fitted dress with a tight bodice and a widely flared skirt.
Underdress
The underdress was an important part of historical clothing. In paintings and miniatures, the hem of a woman's undergarments is regularly visible.
Belt
Various pouches and purses could be worn on the belt, but also for example keys to the house.
Footwear
For servants, good footwear is very important, especially when they are regularly found outdoors.
Headkerchief
In the Middle Ages, the wearing of headkerchiefs by women, particularly by women from the lower classes and servants, was very common. Headkerchiefs served various purposes. For women from the lower classes, wearing a headkerchief was mainly functional. It provided protection against the elements, such as sun, wind and dust, during work in the fields or domestic tasks. It also helped keep the hair clean, as regular washing was not as common as it is today. The headkerchief thus functioned as a sort of practical head covering.
Tasks
A servant could have various tasks. She could, among other things, be responsible for the personal care of the woman, such as helping with dressing and undressing, caring for the hair and skin, and assisting with bathing.
