France nobility, 1480.
The fifteenth century was an exaggeration of the modes of the fourteenth. More extravagant fabrics were used, and everything became more extreme, even to the points of the hats and shoes. Women’s 15th century costume showing the hennin (heart shaped) and houppelande. The short fitted, skirt girded cotehardie (Schecke, front opening dress), of the men grew shorter and had large sleeves. Their stockings were close fitting and combined with the trousers. The shoes were pointed (Poulaines). The dress code was aimed to create a vertical, long line.
Burgundy lasted throughout the 15th century until the fall of the country as a result of the Burgundy Wars (1477). Burgundy, as a nation covered the northern part of France, Belgium and the Netherlands, and exerted a great political, economic and cultural influence on neighboring states. It was the slow passing of chivalry that celebrated the grand courts of Burgundy, one last time, his grand entrance.
During this time, slowly loosened the dress code at the court of France. Status and rank of the people was no longer seen solely through the clothes. On the contrary, began a real competition of the modes between the nobility and the citizens of the cities.
Source: On the history of costumes. Published by Braun & Schneider. Royal court and university printing office of Dr. C. Wolf & Sohn in Munich.
