
In addition to black and white, the Vikings also had blue, red, yellow, and various other colours to choose from. It is believed that many of their clothes were bright and colourful. In fact, experts believe they were from that. One might think that Viking clothes were made just for practicality, dull and boring, to match the often gloomy and grey lands in which they lived. The higher their social status, the higher the quality the garment and better presented one might be. Secondly, some Vikings would dress in order to appeal to the opposite sex. Firstly, one would dress in order to show their standing within the community. You may not think that Vikings concerned themselves too much with fashion, but it is said to have played a part. Those of higher standing, typically those with more silver coins, were able to get the more beautiful and higher quality clothes. Viking hierarchies: Clothing as a status symbolĭuring the Viking Age, there was a social hierarchy. Their clothes were also influenced by money and social importance. There is a distinction to be made between the clothing that men wore and the types of clothing women wore. It is generally considered that the Germanic populations of northern Europe wore the same or very similar types of clothing as the Vikings. But they also had to be practical and flexible to wear for the everyday tasks they had to carry out. The cold and hostile conditions meant any clothing had to keep them warm and protect them from the elements in those colder months. It is these conditions that naturally influenced the type of clothes the Vikings wore. Together with archaeological evidence, we can piece together a somewhat accurate picture of Viking clothing.ĭuring the Viking era, the environment was cold, harsh and unforgiving. However, we can also draw from written evidence such as the Norse sagas. When fragments are recovered, they are usually very small and often damaged.

In most circumstances, materials and fabrics do not preserve very well.

We know very little on account of the limited archaeological evidence that is available. How do we know anything about Viking clothes?
