"We do not design clothes. We design dreams." -Ralph Lauren

Welcome to your personal journey of the Medieval Romance and Trade world fashion course! You are about to start a project that will benefit you in many ways. Knowing the starting points in the cycle of fashion can make it easier for you to understand the world that surrounds you. It can also be useful in your day-to-day life. 

What is fashion? It is an expression of self contingent to your needs and availability. Learners need a vivid interest in this field. I incorporate elements of the jigsaw of images and objects that historians are tying to piece together. Of course, the first time you see the paintings, sculpture, artifacts, and scraps of clothing and jewelry,  you may find it amazing. It happened to me when I study fashion designer many moons ago. Happily, you do not need special abilities to learn and understand the early civilizations' impressive levels of development. 

Is this class a good fit for me? It helps to know about general world history and geography. If you get inspired, it might help to have basic skills of drawing and sewing. 
Congratulations! Welcome! 

Probably you are wondering, What will be taught? What topics will I cover? What are my credentials? How flexible am I? All the classes will be held in a weekly basis with a duration of 55 minutes.

Part 1 of 55 minutes 
Medieval Romance and Trade
Throughout this period clothes for most people were very simple, based on little more than two draped rectangles sewn into a tunic. 

Part 2
The Age of Migrations
After the western Roman Empire collapsed, people started migrating to new areas, sometimes by invasion and conquest, sometimes though peaceful settlement.

Part 3
The Early Middle Ages
As people began to settle into stable societies, different styles of dress evolved. 

Part 4
Courtly Love and Crusades
Fashion became increasingly flamboyant in the 112th century -a time of Crusaders, romances, and chivalry. 

Part 5
France
Fashion Icon: Eleanor of Aquitaine (c.1124-1204), one of the most important and well-known figures of the Middle Ages.


Part 6
Priests and the People - The East in the West
In the Middle Ages fashionable, luxurious dress was only possible for the wealthy minority, including nobility, merchants, and clergy. 
In medieval times the Mediterranean basin was the most advanced center in the world for learning, technology, and trade. 

Part 7
Social Statements in the 13th -14th century
Clothing became more voluminous, and men's and women's garments followed the same changes in shape. Many hallmarks of fashion were in place the late 1400's: novelty, innovation, an element of impracticality, luxury, and commentators insisted -excessive vanity and social presumption. 

Part 8
Fitting to Body & Luxury 
The biggest development of the 14th century was the move from flat, draped garments belted for shape to the cutting of curved pieces with more complex construction to fit the body -the beginning of tailoring. 

Next class in the making: Renaissance Splendor.