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Period Patterns number 21, Cotehardies and
Sideless Surcoats, c. 14th and 15th centuries, has 3 cotehardies
and 4 sideless surcoats (sizes 6-20).
These go great with
Period Patterns 26, 90, 92 and
93.
Period Patterns number 23, Men's Cotehardies, c.
1340-1420, contains patterns for 5 cotehardies and three hoods (sizes
36-48).
Cotehardies are complemented by Period Patterns
26, 92, 93,
and 101.
[ Ordering Patterns ]
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Cotehardies were worn by both sexes of all ages and classes for over 200 years,
from England to Bohemia, Norway to Spain. While there were
regional variations, the basic cut of the cotehardie was the same
throughout Europe. Originally a version of the tunic (Period Patterns
#16), cotehardies
differed in sleeve cut, variations, and tailor fit. Woman's cotehardies were
fitted or even tight to the hips, then flared to the hem. They
most often had long tight
sleeves. They would be worn over a chemise (Period Patterns no.
90). Men's cotehardies, worn long or short, were initially tight to the hips, with long tight
sleeves. They were worn over a shirt
(Period Pattern no. 43) and hose (Period
Pattern no. 101), often with hoods.
In the first half of the 14th century a major style
change occurred. With the invention of curved sleeve caps, gussets
under the arm became unnecessary.
Puffed chests and full sleeves became fashionable on men's cotehardies by
1350.
Sleeveless tunics or surcoats (from the French "sur le
cote", i.e. over the cotehardie) were worn by both sexes as early as
the 12th century, but with the return of crusaders from the Holy
Land the style became wildly popular. The armholes deepened to the
waist, then (particularly on woman's surcoats) to the hip, earning the name "sideless surcoats".
These worn by women over
very tight cotehardies, roused the ire of the church because their
revealing cut was considered too seductive -the clergy dubbed these
"the Gates of Hell".
Surcoats and cotehardies for both sexes could be plain and somber,
or wildly colorful. Heraldic motifs were common on these
garments. Both sexes began wearing houpelandes
(Period Patterns no. 26) over a cotehardie after 1380.
Cotehardies and surcoats as outerwear became unfashionable before 1425, with
one exception. Cotehardies, with or without sideless surcoats, remained fashionable for women, as regal ceremonial garments, until
well into the 16th century. When the houpelande went out of
fashion, the cotehardie for women briefly re-emerged, with slight
changes, as the kirtle (Period Pattern #51).
Men's cotehardies had meanwhile evolved into the doublet (Period
Patterns #43 & 53).
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