Clothing, including underwear, was an important indicator of social status.

• Nobility and Wealthy: The wealthy could afford fine linen for their undergarments, sometimes embroidered or decorated. Their underwear was often better tailored and more comfortable.
   

• Peasantry: Common folk wore simpler, coarser linen shirts with less fit and finish. Their underwear was purely functional, without adornment.
   

• Clergy: Monks and nuns wore specific undergarments suited to their religious vows and lifestyles, often plain and modest.
   

Special Garments: Lingerie and Bodices?

While the modern concept of lingerie did not exist in the Middle Ages, certain garments hinted at shaping or support.

• Lacing and Tightening: From the 14th century onward, some women’s kirtles or gowns featured lacing, providing some degree of body shaping.
   

• Corsetry: Early forms of corsetry appeared only towards the late medieval or early Renaissance periods, evolving into the structured garments of the Tudor era.
   

• Thus, medieval undergarments were more about comfort and protection than aesthetics or sexual allure. shutdown123