Móda v časech kříže a kalicha - Oděvní kultura v českých zemích 14. a 15. století – Nachtmannová Alena (2020)

The publication provides a comprehensive overview of the development of clothing in the 14th and 15th centuries. During this period, the most significant change occurred in the way clothing was constructed, as the cut began to follow the shapes of the human body. This allowed clothing to emphasize the beauty of the human body and its individuality. Tailoring skills began to develop, enabling quicker transformations of clothing and the emergence of entirely new clothing components. Thus, the foundations of fashion were laid in its playfulness and frivolity, changing the perception of the human body and its beauty. Based on detailed study of written and visual sources, the author traces not only the development of fashion but also the medieval people's relationship with clothing and bodily beauty. The focus is on the environment of the nobility and the royal court, where both fashion and aesthetic patterns, as well as contemporary etiquette, were created. However, we will also glimpse into the lives of burghers, peasants, and get acquainted with the clothing of people on the fringes of society. The rich visual accompaniment draws from all areas of contemporary visual art, but it is not merely an illustration. The author uses it as a source to understand the appearance and cut of clothing, as well as to explore contemporary taste and aesthetics.