Men's Blue Velvet Surcoat with Eagle Motif

Men's Medieval Heraldic Blue Velvet Surcoat with Eagle Motif

Historical Context and Origins of the Garment

This type of garment, commonly referred to as a tabard or heraldic surcoat, has its roots in the High and Late Middle Ages, approximately from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century. Originally, knights wore these surcoats over chainmail or plate armour to protect the metal from the scorching sun and moisture. However, they very quickly became a crucial identification feature. Distinctive heraldic symbols, such as the majestic eagle depicted here, clearly identified the wearer's noble house on the chaotic battlefield and during knightly tournaments. Later, surcoats moved from the battlefields into the halls of castles and palaces as highly representative court attire for the European nobility.

When and How to Wear the Costume

This clothing set is the absolutely ideal choice for portraying a noble lord or a knight. You will find it perfectly suited for historical reenactment, fantasy LARP, wooden sword fighting, or medieval fairs. The attire consists of two layers. First, you put on the under-shirt featuring a patterned collar and lacing at the neck. Over this, you pull the surcoat itself, which has shorter sleeves ending just above the elbows. The vertical quilting on the chest looks historically authentic and helps maintain the sturdy shape of the garment. The laced cuffs of the shirt form a beautiful decorative element. Please note that the leather belt, leather pouch, and leather footwear shown in the pictures are not included in the delivery.

Materials, Custom Tailoring, and Care Instructions

The surcoat is crafted from high-quality genuine velvet woven from one hundred percent cotton, which is pleasant to the touch and possesses a characteristic noble appearance. The under-shirt and the inserted patterned gores are made of a strong and breathable blend of fifty-five percent linen and forty-five percent cotton, ensuring excellent comfort and sweat wicking. This garment can be custom-made to order in other colour combinations according to our available fabric swatches. When ordering, simply provide the swatch number, letter, and colour name. The garment is tailored exactly to your measurements based on a completed measurement chart without any extra charge.

To ensure the set retains its beauty for as long as possible, we highly recommend entrusting the cleaning to a professional dry cleaner. If you must wash it at home, opt for a very gentle hand wash in lukewarm water using a mild detergent. Never dry the velvet garment in a tumble dryer and do not iron directly over the velvet pile. Always iron carefully inside out to avoid burning the delicate texture.

Recommended Accessories

For a perfect and authentic look, we recommend acquiring a long leather belt with a brass buckle and high medieval leather boots to accompany this set, which together will perfectly correspond to the historical realities of the fourteenth century.

Technical Parameters of the Product