The History of Fashion

The 12^th Century

Fashion and costume can be dated all the way back to the 12^th Century. In Europe, fashion and costume was simple, men often wore knee length tunics for most activities, and men of the upper class could wear long tunics, with hose and mantles, or cloaks. Women tended to wear very long tunics or gowns, and the women of the upper class wore close-fitting garments, with full skirts and long flaring sleeves, a characteristic that was a trend for both men and women of the era.