Fashion History - Clothing of the Early Middle Ages

[Dolores Monet]

After the Fall of the Roman Empire, Europe fell into a state  near anarchy. Ruined roads meant a loss of trade. Cities emptied as the elite moved to small local villas surrounded by their minions. The clothing styles were very simple, made for warmth and protection from the elements. Most people made their clothing at home, a long and difficult task as they also had to manufacture their own fabric.

Before the invention of the spinning wheel and horizontal, foot petaled loom, the difficulty of production and the heaviness of the home woven fabrics made for garments that could last a life time.

Read more at:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Fashion-History-Clothinig-of-the-Early-Middle-Ages-Dark-Ages-400-900-CE

[wafa1230]

vintage fashion history is rather a vague term (borrowed from the wine industry) - and in this instance means anything that is not modern - but presumably is of some quality. so would cover any time period in theory but is almost certainly confined to the 20th century.