What the Irish (may have) Wore(/Worn)

Ok, there are only a minimal of books out there that give info on what the Irish of the Early Medieval (c400-900) and Viking age(c795-1169) wore, and even at that what they say can be pretty dodgey.
But the main consensus is that on average, there are a few items of clothing that a man wore in this period. the status of a person permitted or forbade them to wear certain colours and styles of clothing. i will explain this fully later but i will sum it up briefly here.

Man -
- Léine (long if rich, shorter if poor) made of linen (heavy or light). if long, make ankle to calf length, if poorer make to knee or mid thigh - both will be hiked up with the belt. This item should be somewhat tight-fitting, and not flaring out at the bottom like vik/norman tunics - keep it somewhat tight, but enough that you can walk comfortably in it. hiking it up will aid in the freer moving bit.
The léine will be worn close to the skin, so there should be no under tunic (this is it basically)

- knee length pants (wool or linen) (optional) (often attributed to soldiers or fighters, even labourers)
- instead of knee length, maybe full length pants (to ankle)(for labourers or fighters again)

- shoes - i'll post up a link to a site detailing irish shoes of this period next. and finish this category then

- brat (this word means can mean many things, but basically it can be taken as Cloak - most probably a square or rectangulat cloak as they are mentioned as having four corners alot of the time). best to keep it square, of any weight of wool (light or heavy) can be lined if wanted, or "shaggy" which may mean either looking like a rug, or looking like a sheep attached to the cloak, - or even having fringed edges.
- brooch - if wearing a brat use a brooch - pennanular, or ring pin style. even a simple bone pin, or bronze pin will do- NB do not use a stick.

- belt - can be leather. (keep it simple) - or can be woollen (for this use tablet weave)

there can be an over tunic, coming to the waist, known as many names, and can be made of heavy linen, but should most probably be wool, and somewhat tight fitting., can be to elbow, or wrist in sleeve length.
there can be a possibility of having it sleeveless.



Women -
-pretty much the same as the men.
Léine should be full length - as in ankle length., and there is a theory that there may have been a longer neck opening on women's léinte, and closed by a small brooch, but i do not know of this.
shoes - slipper type? -----i'll post up the link soon as said and i'll detail this part properly.
over tunics also can be worn by women, maybe same length as that of the man?

head coverings, i'm not too sure about - very possible that they were there. perhaps, wearing little Viking style headdresses if later element of this period. or maybe even having a small shawl like item worn around shoulders?

pretty much keep it the same as that of the man,



in relation to hoods etc, there is mention of hoods used, possible attached to the léine, or even the cloaks,
but i'm not entirely too sure on this yet. best to keep to the above info, as scattered as it is.

So for women show off boobies and wear a close cut tube?

the latter would be quite unflattering...