22-09-2018, 08:21 AM
David, I've been reading about the evolution of mens fashion and it appears that the length of a garment is really a determining factor. Remember that before the 14th century they all wore these long loose nightgown like dresses. This gradually evolved into the houppelande.
If I'm not mistaken (and I certainly could be because this topic is new to me) the clothing worn by the male Gemini still falls under houppelande. They were similar for men and women, but men's were belted lower while women's were belted beneath the breasts.
The Italian example you provide is a couple of evolutionary steps further, I'd say it's a completely different garment, more appropriate to the later 15th century.
You're right about the hats though, they are usually more complex, and the round ones without things dangling or rooster crests are hard to find. But they certainly existed.
About the green color: this appears in a surprising number of manuscripts for such clothing, so I suspect it reflects some reality.
Don: I think you are right, we might add low belt as a factor. It was certainly a (horrible) fashion option, we've even had a thread about it. What's holding me back a bit is that really all proportions of the VM guy are way off. His head is even much larger still compared to other VM figures and his arms are chimpanzee like. So does the VN figure reflect the low belt fad or are the legs just out of proportion like everything else?
If I'm not mistaken (and I certainly could be because this topic is new to me) the clothing worn by the male Gemini still falls under houppelande. They were similar for men and women, but men's were belted lower while women's were belted beneath the breasts.
The Italian example you provide is a couple of evolutionary steps further, I'd say it's a completely different garment, more appropriate to the later 15th century.
You're right about the hats though, they are usually more complex, and the round ones without things dangling or rooster crests are hard to find. But they certainly existed.
About the green color: this appears in a surprising number of manuscripts for such clothing, so I suspect it reflects some reality.
Don: I think you are right, we might add low belt as a factor. It was certainly a (horrible) fashion option, we've even had a thread about it. What's holding me back a bit is that really all proportions of the VM guy are way off. His head is even much larger still compared to other VM figures and his arms are chimpanzee like. So does the VN figure reflect the low belt fad or are the legs just out of proportion like everything else?