Depiction of Albertus Pictor’s painting in Husby-Sjutolft Church. Illustration: Susanne Deist.

Medieval Fashion

Svenska

See newly sewn women’s clothing, recreated from the 12th century to the early 16th century.

Medieval Museum c/o Historical Museum

Visit the exhibition Medieval Fashion

When: October 24, 2024—November 1, 2026
Where: Historical Museum, Narvavägen 13–17
Admission: See the Historical Museum’s website for tickets and prices.

Historical Museum website

The exhibition is a collaboration between the Medieval Museum and the Historical Museum.

During the Middle Ages, all clothing was a precious commodity. There were no mass-produced clothes in cheap materials. All clothing was hand-sewn and measured for the person who would first wear the garment. Clothes were often used until they were completely worn out, and then the textiles could be used for patching and mending.

In the exhibition “Medieval Fashion,” newly sewn women’s garments from the 12th century to the early 16th century are displayed, including both simpler and more elaborate outfits. The Medieval Museum’s seamstress, Åsa Dahlstedt, in collaboration with the Swedish duo Historical Textiles, has spent four years developing patterns, dyeing fabrics, and fully recreating 14 costumes.

New costumes are being added

At the opening in autumn 2024, ten of the costumes were displayed. Now we are adding four more for the reopening on November 19, 2025:

The 1020s costume recreates how a wealthy woman in a trading town might have dressed. Green and blue wool fabrics with imported silk ribbons reflect the transition from the Viking Age to the Middle Ages.

The 1200s costume shows a simple yet elegant fashion where the quality and drape of the fabrics were central. We see pleated bodices, wide skirts, and ornate belts.

The 1450s costume illustrates how a craftswoman might have dressed in her daily life. It is a practical dress with a defined waist, made from rectangular pieces and gores, complemented by a linen apron.

The 1520s costume demonstrates the tailoring skills of the time, with stiffened bodices and advanced cuts.

Together, the costumes show how women’s clothing evolved over five centuries — from simplicity to increasingly sophisticated tailoring. They reveal how fashion, society, and identity were interwoven in the medieval Nordic world.

Updated