Late Medieval Wool Kirtle (Cotte) – Wine Red, 14th-15th Century

Late Medieval Wool Kirtle (Cotte) – Wine Red, 14th-15th Century

Authentic Cut for Your Journey Through Time

The cut of this dress is based on garments commonly worn across various social classes and locations in the 14th and 15th centuries. It is a practical choice for reenactment, LARP, and other historically focused events.

Construction Details

Our reproduction is made with rectangular body panels, with side gores in the skirt to ensure sufficient fullness and freedom of movement. The dress features set-in short sleeves. The neckline and lacing panel are faced with linen to add strength and prevent stretching; this facing is top-stitched to ensure it is not visible when worn. The eyelets for the lacing are handmade, while other visible stitching (such as topstitching and hems) is machine-sewn, as are all construction seams.

Warm and Sustainable 100% Recycled Wool

This dress is made from 100% recycled wool in a deep wine red colour. Historically, wool was the most common fabric for kirtle-type garments.

Why Choose Wool?

Wool was not only readily available but also has many properties that make it ideal for clothing to this day:

• Natural Insulator: Wool fibres trap air, helping you to stay warm.
• Breathability: It keeps you warm without causing you to overheat.
• Warm Even When Wet: Wool provides warmth even when damp and can repel water, which is advantageous in rainy weather.
• Moisture Absorption: It can absorb up to 30% of its own weight in water before you start to feel damp, keeping you drier for longer.
• Durability: It is a long-lasting fabric.
• Flame Resistance: Wool is naturally flame-resistant and safer to wear than polyester during living history events or historical occasions featuring campfires.

The Versatile Foundation of Your Medieval Wardrobe

This versatile dress forms an excellent base for your outfit. You can wear it on its own or over an underdress (smock, shift, chemise, etc.) and style it with accessories such as pin-on sleeves. You can use it as a base layer under a more opulent overgown or wear it over a long-sleeved dress for an interesting contrasting layered look.

Tips for Wearing and Combinations

Combine it with sturdy shoes and an apron to cook breakfast in camp; then pin on some sleeves to look more decent around camp, and finally, put on a beautiful overgown and hat to attend a courtly festival or to parade around.

Available Sizes

The dress is available in sizes S, M, L, XL, and XXL. To select the correct size, we recommend referring to your chest measurement and consulting the manufacturer's general size chart if available.

What the Package Includes

• One wool kirtle.
• One lacing cord tipped with metal points (aglets).

Other items and accessories shown in the photographs are not included in the package.

Caring for Your Woollen Dress

Wool is naturally breathable and resistant to odours. To maintain the shape of the dress, we recommend:

• Hand wash or spot clean stains with a mild detergent suitable for wool.
• Lay flat to dry.

Product Origin

Designed in the USA. Crafted in Nepal. A Mythrojan product.