Late Medieval Patrician Houppelande Gown

Late Medieval Patrician Houppelande Gown with Chaperon, 15th Century

Historical Context and Usage

During the 15th century, European fashion experienced a massive boom, largely dictated by the magnificent Burgundian court. Long, richly pleated outer garments (often referred to as a houppelande) were worn by upper-class men as a symbol of their wealth and status. This particular model features an elegant short standing collar that ties at the neck with a lace. The long sleeves are fashionably puffed at the shoulders and taper to a tight fit from the elbow down to the wrist, allowing for greater freedom of movement when writing or dining. The overall impression is completed by the chaperon – originally a standard hood with a cape, which fashionable men of the time began wearing backwards, placing the face opening over the crown of the head and letting the long tail (liripipe) drape casually over the shoulder.

Today, this outfit is perfectly suited for 15th-century historical reenactment (such as the Wars of the Roses), theatrical purposes, or as a highly representative costume for LARP events. It is a high-quality and comfortable garment designed for civilian wear. It is not protective armour. If you intend to engage in combat or stage fencing while wearing it, do not forget to wear hidden protective gear or a gambeson underneath.

Material and Proper Care

To ensure the garment is comfortable to wear and holds its typical pleats well, it is tailored from a high-quality, sturdy cotton fabric (duvetyn) with a brushed finish that gently imitates the look of wool broadcloth or velvet. This material also provides good thermal comfort during cooler evenings at the castle camp.

• Washing: We recommend gentle hand washing or machine washing on a delicate cycle at a maximum temperature of 30 °C (86 °F). Do not wring the garment too harshly to avoid breaking the fibres.
• Drying and Ironing: Avoid using a tumble dryer. Dry the garment by hanging it freely on a hanger, ideally out of direct sunlight, to prevent the dark fabric from fading. Ironing is recommended only on the reverse side on a low to medium heat setting.
• Cleaning and care of costumes

Please note that the leather belt with buckle and the historical leather shoes with extremely long pointed toes (known as poulaines or crakows) shown in the photographs are not included in the delivery. To bring your historical look to absolute perfection, we highly recommend pairing this garment with a long leather belt and a medieval belt pouch from our selection.

Product Specifications

This men's costume is also manufactured in other colours upon request, according to our fabric swatches. Simply note your desired colour in your order in the comments field (please always state the swatch number, the colour letter, and its name, e.g., 03-A-Yellow). If a fabric with a different composition is selected, any potential price adjustment is always consulted with you before the order is processed.

The garment is available in standard sizes, or it is custom-tailored exactly to your measurements at no extra charge. For custom tailoring, simply fill out our measurement chart carefully after completing your order.