Publisher's description:
Carefully researched, meticulously detailed account of the style and construction of period costumes. Includes descriptions and illustrations of royal apparel, elaborate ecclesiastical dress and vestments, academic and legal garments, and civilian dress of all classes. Also discusses jewelry, armor, textiles, embroidery and hairdressing.

From the back cover:
This carefully researched volume offers lovers of both costume and the medieval period a meticulously researched and accurately detailed study of the clothing of the Middle Ages. Following an illuminating discussion of the style and construction of costumes worn in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, noted costume historian Mary G. Houston provides detailed descriptions and illustrations of actual apparel worn by all classes and sectors of society. Included are elaborate royal, academic and legal costumes; eucharistic vestments and garments of religious orders; working class apparel, civilian dress and more. Also examined is a wide variety of accessories and ornaments, jewelry, armor, textiles, embroidery, coiffures and other items.
The clear, succinct text is splendidly documented by 350 black-and-white line illustrations based on contemporary books and manuscripts as well as representations in paintings and sculpture. Indispensable for students of costume history, medievalists, illustrators and fashion historians, Medieval Costume in England and France will delight anyone interested in the medieval period and its dress.
Unabridged Dover (1996) republication of the work published by Adam & Charles Black, London, 1939

Table of Contents:
page 1 I. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIRTEENTH-CENTURY COSTUME
Early Examples
Mid - Century Types
Later Thirteenth-Century Types and Hoods
12 II. REGAL COSTUME IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY
19 III. AN INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTICAL COSTUME AND THAT OF THE RELIGIOUS ORDERS
The Eucharistic Vestments in Detail
Costume of the Religious Orders
41 IV. CIVILIAN DRESS OF THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY
54 V. ARMOUR IN THIRTEENTH CENTURY AND DETAILS FROM METAL ORNAMENTS
Thirteenth-Century Armour
62 VI. THIRTEENTH-CENTURY ORNAMENT AS APPLIED TO TEXTILES AND EMBROIDERIES
Patterned Skills of the Thirteenth Century
Thirteenth-Century Embroideries
72 VII. THE STYLE AND CONSTRUCTION OF FOURTEENTH-CENTURY COSTUME
The Style
The Construction of Costume
Out-door Garments
Headgear and Hair-dressing
89 VIII. REGAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL COSTUME IN THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY
Regal Costume
Examples of Ecclesiastical Costume
95 IX. CIVILIAN DRESS OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY
Early Fourteenth Century
Middle Fourteenth Century
Working-Class Costume
Late Fourteenth Century
122 X. ARMOUR IN THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY AND DETAILS FROM METAL ORNAMENTS
129 XI. FOURTEENTH-CENTURY ORNAMENT CHEIFLY CONSIDERED AS APPLIED TO WOVEN MATERIALS AND EMBROIDERIES
Patterned Silks of the Fourteenth Century
Embroidery Patterns
139 XII. THE STYLE AND CONSTRUCTION OF FIFTEENTH CENTURY COSTUME
The Style
The Construction of Costume
143 XIII. "REGAL, ECCLESIASTICAL AND ACADEMIC COSTUME"
Regal Costume
Ecclesiastical Costume
Non-Eucharistic Vestments
Academic Costume
Legal Costume
159 XIV. CIVILIAN DRESS OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY
Period I. Transitional
Period II. Early Fifteenth Century
Period III. Late Fifteenth Century
Period IV. Transitional to the Sixteenth Century
199 XV. ARMOUR IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY AND DETAILS FROM METAL ORNAMENTS
209 XVI. FIFTEENTH-CENTURY ORNAMENT AS APPLIED TO WOVEN MATERIALS AND EMBROIDERIES
219 GLOSSARY OF MEDIEVAL TERMS FOR COSTUME
221 BIBLIOGRAPHY