Tudor Kirtle And Gown. What s in a name. Sleeves could be worn with different gowns but in this example it seems the match the embroidery of the kirtle.
A kirtle sometimes called cotte cotehardie is a garment that was worn by men and women in the middle ages it eventually became a one piece garment worn by women from the late middle ages into the baroque period. Nevertheless the basics. Variations you might like are the heraldic gown with a coat of arms on it or a short sleeve gown which goes over the top of another gown.
The kirtle kyrtle kirtill tunic cotte or gown is the main garment of a medieval woman s wardrobe.
The kirtle was typically worn over a chemise or smock which acted as a slip and under the formal outer garment or gown surcoat. Shown at left is a typical kirtle from a 1400 1409 illumination detail st jerome tempted by dancing girls. Variations you might like are the heraldic gown with a coat of arms on it or a short sleeve gown which goes over the top of another gown. In tudor times the fashion was for huge sleeves with fore sleeves appearing from underneath them.