Halloween medieval costume for men and women
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Medieval Halloween Costumes – Men and Women
Halloween and the Middle Ages are more closely linked than many might think at first glance. The roots of the festival stretch right back to the era we now know as the Middle Ages – and anyone wearing a genuine medieval costume on Halloween combines atmospheric spooky fun with historical substance. In this category, you’ll find over 200 items: from a simple cap starting at €12.52 to a complete cotehardie outfit for just under €100. Brands such as Battle Merchant, Burgschneider and Vehi-Mercatus’s own brand are represented – the latter made exclusively from natural fibres.
Samhain and the Middle Ages – how Halloween really came about
The true origins of Halloween lie in the Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated on 31 October. It marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of the dark half of the year – a transitional period in which the boundary between the world of the living and the spirit world was considered paper-thin. Celts dressed in animal skins and masks to deceive evil spirits or blend in with them.
With the spread of Christianity into the early Middle Ages, two new festivals superseded the old customs: All Saints’ Day on 1 November and All Souls’ Day on 2 November. The Church deliberately drew on existing pagan traditions rather than simply banning them. Costumes and the belief that the dead are closer on certain nights were retained – albeit in a Christian guise. For medieval people, the idea that spirits and demons could be present in the reality of the living was not a metaphor, but a lived reality. In this context, a costume had ritual significance far beyond the fun of dressing up we know today.
Did Halloween already exist in the Middle Ages? Not under that name – but the underlying customs did exist, transformed and passed down over centuries. What we call Halloween today is the result of this long cultural evolution.
The complete Halloween look: putting together a costume with accessories
The basis of any medieval costume is a well-fitting outer garment. For men, we recommend a Viking tunic or medieval tunic combined with matching trousers – such as woolen breeches. For women, a medieval dress or a cotehardie forms the foundation. Make sure the outer garment and trousers harmonise in colour – dark shades such as black, burgundy or midnight blue create a particularly atmospheric effect on Halloween.
Medieval headwear completes the look and serves as a status symbol. Simple cotton or woollen caps, such as the Hugo cap from €12.52, are an affordable option to start with. If you want to portray dark characters such as mercenaries or travellers, opt for a wool or cotton hood – the hood can be pulled over the face and creates exactly the mystical silhouette that makes an impression on Halloween.
In the Middle Ages, people carried everyday items on their person: knives, pouches and tools hung from their belts. A leather medieval belt with matching buckles instantly adds depth to the costume. Add a medieval belt pouch and a historically inspired knife – and the outfit no longer looks like a costume, but like actual attire.
For extra spooky flair on Halloween, accessories that you might leave out in other seasons are ideal: chain elements, a heavy dark wool cloak or – as a dramatic detail – a medieval shackle with an iron ball (€58.82). The latter is not a typical everyday accessory, but is ideal for a Halloween portrayal of a prisoner or dungeon inmate. Medieval cloaks and coats in dark colours also keep you warm in chilly October.
Costumes to suit your budget: from simple garments to full outfits
Individual items such as caps, simple belts or cotton shirts are the most affordable way to get started. The Hugo medieval cap is available from €12.52 in many colours and is a good first step. Combined with existing dark clothing, it creates a simple but authentic Halloween costume.
In this price range, you’ll find complete tunic sets, doublets and woolen breeches – brands such as Battle Merchant and Vehi-Mercatus’s own brand cover this range. Here you’ll find genuine natural fibres that keep you comfortably warm on chilly October evenings and prove their worth after repeated wear.
Cotehardies with laced sleeves, monk’s robes made of coarse cotton (€75.55) or a velvet doublet with lacing – here, the costume becomes a garment. Leonardo Carbone and Burgschneider offer designs that work just as well at medieval markets as they do at Halloween parties. Once purchased, you’ll wear them for years to come.
Medieval Halloween costumes: Which figures and characters are suitable?
Men
The knight is a classic Halloween costume – with a gambeson or doublet, belt and helmet, he looks convincing even without plate armour. For those who prefer a darker look: a monk in a brown habit creates maximum atmosphere with minimal effort. Mercenaries or peasants can be created with a simple tunic and coarse linen fabric.
Women
A cotehardie in burgundy or black is the most versatile costume for women – elegant enough for a damsel, and with a hood and dark belt, it can also be styled as a mystical witch in historical garb. Those who prefer a witch as their Halloween costume will find suitable base garments here. Maid costumes with a linen blouse and woollen skirt round off the range.
Atmospheric colour selection
Medieval clothing was colourful – but at Halloween, the dark tones of the range really come into their own. Black, burgundy and midnight blue take centre stage. Add accessories such as a hood, leather belt and pouch, and the outfit looks cohesive from head to toe.
Materials compared: natural fibres vs. synthetics in medieval costumes
| Material | Suitability | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| Wool | Historically accurate | Warm, retains its shape, moisture-regulating – ideal for cool October evenings; most common in the range (100% wool or wool blend) |
| Linen | Historically accurate | Breathable, skin-friendly, a classic material for undergarments; often combined as a lining in woollen garments |
| Cotton | LARP / Beginners | More affordable option, easy to care for, comfortable to wear – not entirely historically accurate, but perfectly adequate for Halloween |
| Synthetic | Disposable costume | Cheap to produce, makes you sweat when worn, lacks an authentic feel – deliberately excluded from the Vehi-Mercatus own brand |
Typical medieval clothing – what people actually wore back then
Those who understand what medieval people actually wore can choose their costume more carefully. Peasants and craftsmen dressed in simple tunics and trousers made of wool or linen – the clothing had to be practical and durable, not for show. Colours were muted: brown, grey, natural beige and occasionally burgundy or blue, provided dyes were affordable.
The nobility and clergy distinguished themselves with long robes, cottehardies, doublets and elaborate trimmings. Velvet and fine fabrics were expensive and thus a visible status symbol. A merchant or councillor wore different colours and styles to a day labourer – in the Middle Ages, clothing unambiguously signalled social status.
Headwear played an important role in this: married women covered their hair with bonnets or veils, whilst men wore caps, hoods or simple hats. Black had a special connotation in the Middle Ages – it was expensive to produce and therefore associated with dignity. For a Halloween costume, this means: a black or burgundy robe with headwear and a belt is both historically plausible and visually convincing.
What did people wear to a medieval festival? The answer is: something that suits the character and era being portrayed. A knight in a gambeson and helmet, a merchant woman in a long dress with braided trim, a monk in a coarse habit – every character has its own logic.
Whether for a Halloween party, a visit to a medieval spectacle at the end of October, or both – with a well-designed medieval costume made from genuine natural fibres, you’ll be better dressed than in any hastily bought, disposable outfit. Browse through the over 200 items in this category and put together your own individual outfit.
Frequently asked questions
To a medieval festival, you should wear attire appropriate to the character and era you are portraying. For beginners, a simple tunic with a belt and matching trousers is recommended. As your budget increases, you can add headwear, a belt pouch and shoes. It is important that the pieces match in colour and style – dark natural tones such as brown, grey and burgundy always look harmonious.
Not under that name, but the underlying customs did exist. The Celtic festival of Samhain on 31 October was regarded as a threshold period when spirits and demons drew close to the living. With the advent of Christianity, All Saints’ Day (1 November) and All Souls’ Day (2 November) were introduced, incorporating elements of the old customs. Fancy dress and the commemoration of the dead remained part of folk tradition for centuries.
The Celts did not dress up for Samhain in the modern sense. They wore animal skins and masks to deceive evil spirits or to conceal their identities. The aim was protection, not fun. These customs have evolved over the centuries and have given way to today’s Halloween costume traditions.
The link between Halloween and the Devil arose primarily through the Church’s reinterpretation of medieval beliefs. Over the course of the Middle Ages, the Church increasingly equated pagan deities and spirit beings with evil. Dressing up and scaring people, which was originally intended to keep spirits at bay, thus took on a diabolical connotation – and continues to shape the Gothic aesthetic of Halloween to this day.
Yes – in fact, this is one of the biggest advantages over disposable costumes from discount stores. A high-quality medieval costume made from natural fibres works just as well at medieval markets, LARP events or historical festivals. If you look out for natural fibres and good workmanship when buying, you’ll end up with a garment that will give you years of enjoyment.