The bottom half of an outfit gets less attention than the top, but it decides how comfortable your day is. Here's what medieval people wore on their legs, and how to choose trousers or a skirt for a faire or LARP event today.
In short
- Loose trousers tucked into boots work for almost every men's character.
- Skirts should clear the ground: ankle length or just above.
- A petticoat adds fullness and warmth under a skirt or dress.
- Dark jeans or leggings in boots are a fine start.
What medieval people wore
For much of the Middle Ages, men wore linen underwear called braies, with separate woollen hose on each leg, tied up to a belt. Vikings wore trousers, some loose and some fitted, often with fabric wraps around the lower leg. By the Renaissance, men wore breeches or puffed trunk hose. Women wore long dresses, with extra skirts and petticoats underneath for warmth.
Trousers
The Laced Trousers with Ankle Ties are a cotton-linen blend in army green, black, brown and off-white, from S to 3XL. They lace up through eyelets and narrow at the lower leg, where they tie at the ankle, a little like Viking leg wraps.
- With boots: tuck them in, or tie them over low boots.
- With a tunic: the tunic covers the waist, so only the legs show.
- Colours: brown and black go with everything; off-white suits peasant and summer looks.
Skirts
- The Drawstring Ramie Skirt is a plain, double-layer skirt in ramie, one size with a drawstring, in fifteen colours. Pair it with a blouse and bodice, or a tunic.
- The Lace-Hem Cotton Petticoat has an elastic waist and a lace edge, in a standard or plus fit and lengths from 75 to 100 cm.
- The Faux Leather Roman Strip Skirt is for gladiators and warriors: 37 cm of faux leather strips over a tunic.
How long should a skirt be?
Measure from your waist to your ankle bone. For a full day outdoors, choose a skirt that ends at the ankle or a few centimetres above, so it stays out of the mud. For the petticoat, pick a length a little longer than your top skirt if you want the lace to show, or a little shorter to keep it hidden.
Shop trousers and skirts
See all trousers and skirts.
Using what you already own
- Dark jeans or chinos tucked into boots look fine under a long tunic.
- Black or brown leggings work under tunics and skirts alike.
- Any plain, long, solid-colour skirt can start a peasant look.
Questions people ask
Did medieval people wear trousers?
Yes, in different forms. Vikings wore trousers, while later medieval men wore separate hose with linen braies underneath. Breeches came in during the Renaissance.
Should I wear trousers or a skirt to a faire?
Whichever you find more comfortable. Trousers in boots suit rangers, Vikings and rogues; skirts suit peasant, folk and noble looks. Many women wear trousers for ranger and rogue outfits.
