The dress of Europeans during the years from the collapse of the western part of the Roman Empire in the 5th century ce to about 1340 was slow to change and was largely standardized over a wide area. Clothes for men and women were similar, being sewn albeit crudely and loosely cut. A shirt or chemise and braies—that is, a roughly fitting kind of drawers—constituted underwear. These were of a natural coloured linen. The shirt was hip-length for men, longer for women. It had a round neck, slit in front for ease of donning, and was tied with a drawstring; ...(100 of 25363 words)