In 14th-century Bruges, as in much of Europe, sumptuary laws regulated clothing according to social class. While these laws focused mostly on outer garments, underwear was indirectly affected. For example, commoners were prohibited from wearing luxurious fabrics or excessive decoration even beneath their clothes.

Thus, most people’s underwear remained plain and utilitarian, preserving social hierarchies visibly and invisibly.

Visiting Ye Olde Bruges: What Would a Traveler See?

A visitor wandering Bruges in 1386 might glimpse glimpses of underwear through various everyday scenes:

• Marketplaces: Wool merchants and cloth sellers displayed textiles, including linen suitable for underwear. Travelers might see bolts of linen sold to tailors or individuals.
   

• Tailors and Seamstresses: These craftsmen were skilled in cutting and sewing undergarments. Their shops offered custom-made shirts, braies, and chemises.
   

• Bathhouses: Though public baths were rare, modesty required changing into clean linen afterwards. Travelers might notice linen drying on lines or being carried to and from these places.
   

• Guild Halls and Noble Residences: The wealthy would possess fine linen undergarments, possibly embroidered with family insignia, reflecting status even in their private wear. shutdown123