The Appearance And Dress Of Vikings

Step back in time and uncover the fascinating world of Viking attire. From intricate clothing and sturdy footwear to distinctive hairstyles, we'll delve into the daily fashion of these legendary Norse warriors. Join us as we explore how Vikings dressed for battle and everyday life, reflecting their unique culture and status.

 

Viking Clothing

Viking Women

Thanks to numerous archaeological discoveries, we have a clear picture of Viking women's fashion. Many items of women’s clothing have been uncovered in Viking Age graves, providing valuable insights into their attire during that period.

The Viking clothing has been carefully preserved and much of it has been restored. It includes a long under-dress with long sleeves and a sleeveless tube-shaped apron or mantle dress. This dress is fastened below the shoulders with two large brooches made of metal or tortoiseshell. Often, a string of colorful glass and amber beads was draped between these brooches. Additionally, many women wore a small separate apron and a shawl, which were fastened with trefoil-shaped brooches.

In the past, people made clothing using wool or linen. They used tools like spindle whorls and loom weights to spin the wool and weave it into fabric, or wadmal. They added natural dyes to the yarn to create different colors, especially red, green, yellow, and blue.

Women also wore leather belts and attached small leather bags to them. These bags were useful for carrying small items like sewing needles and sharpening tools.

Viking Men

Although clothing rarely survives over time, examples of men's jewelry have been discovered, mostly in graves. These artifacts provide insights into historical fashion and how clothing was secured.

Men in ancient times wore trousers, tunics, and cloaks made from wool and linen, with animal skins used for additional warmth in winter. Their clothing was fastened with bone or metal pins, large circular brooches, and leather belts.

A rare find is a fragment of a thick woolen glove or mitten found in a peat bog in Shetland. Made from woven cloth (2:2 twill), this glove has been radiocarbon dated to around 970 ± 30, which calibrates to the period between 1010 and 1160.

 

Viking Footwear

Excavations reveal that Vikings wore handmade, soft leather shoes and boots. In Waterford city center alone, over 700 fragments of leather footwear were uncovered. The primary materials used were calf and cattle skin, with pig and sheep skin becoming more common in the 11th century.

Some early shoes were crafted from a single piece of leather, stitched together with thin leather strips or waxed sheep’s wool. Surviving examples from York include ankle boots, with some featuring toggles or metal buckles on the side.

Vikings also wore woolen socks, made from woven cloth known as wadmal. By the 14th century, woolen socks were being created using nalbinding, an early technique similar to knitting.

 

Viking Hairstyles

Viking Women

Viking women took great care of their hair, which was usually long and styled attractively. Evidence of these hairstyles can be seen in illustrations on runic stones, small silver and bronze figures, pendants, and the Oseberg tapestry.

The most common Viking hairstyle was a knot at the back of the head, with hair cascading down like a ponytail. This style is illustrated by an 8th-century grave find from Kent in England.

Another notable example comes from a Viking Age grave in Hollola, Finland. Here, the hair and its knot were exceptionally well preserved, allowing for a detailed reconstruction of the hairstyle, which required very long hair.

Viking Men

Hair and beard held significant importance for Viking men. This is evident in royal bynames such as Sweyn Forkbeard, likely named for his split beard, and Harald Fairhair, suggesting he had notably attractive hair. The discovery of numerous combs indicates that maintaining well-combed hair was a common practice.

Certain sources highlight the importance of hair style, such as an anonymous Old English letter. In it, a man advises his brother to stick with the traditional Anglo-Saxon style rather than adopting the "Danish fashion," which is described as a reverse mullet—long hair on top with shorter hair at the back.

Beards were also meticulously groomed. This is evident from a carved male head discovered at the Oseberg ship burial in Norway, featuring a long, elegant mustache and beard.

Conclusion

Exploring the attire of the Vikings offers us a captivating glimpse into their world, blending both practical needs and cultural significance. Viking clothing was not just about protection from the elements but also about expressing social status and identity. Women’s fashion, as revealed through archaeological finds, included long under-dresses paired with decorative brooches and vibrant beads. These garments were crafted from wool or linen, showcasing the Vikings' adeptness in textile arts. Similarly, Viking men wore woolen trousers, tunics, and cloaks, often secured with intricate jewelry and practical fastenings, highlighting their blend of functionality and style.

Footwear, another essential aspect of Viking attire, was primarily made from soft leather, with findings from various sites demonstrating the craftsmanship involved. These shoes and boots were designed to withstand the rigors of Viking life while offering comfort and practicality. The attention to detail in footwear construction reveals much about Viking ingenuity and their adaptability to diverse environments.

Hair and grooming were of significant importance to both Viking men and women. The elaborate hairstyles and well-maintained beards, as depicted in historical artifacts and illustrations, reflect a culture that valued personal appearance and grooming. Viking women often styled their long hair in intricate knots, while men took pride in their well-combed and elaborately groomed beards. This emphasis on appearance was more than just aesthetic; it was a key aspect of their cultural identity and social status.

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