Medieval shirts & tunics – the base of every garb
Ask ten garbed folks about their first piece, and eight will say: a shirt. Shirts and tunics are the foundation every garb builds on – the layer that's always there, whether a doublet, armor, or nothing at all goes over it. At the same time, they're the most rewarding pieces in the closet: uncomplicated, easy to combine, and with a belt they turn from a night-camp look into a market appearance in seconds. At Elbenwald you'll find medieval shirts and tunics for LARP, market, and reenactment-adjacent occasions – from the plain linen shirt to the tunic with trim that needs no second glance to be understood.
What makes a good medieval shirt?
Fabric, cut, and seams – in exactly that order. The fabric sits directly on your skin and decides the wearing comfort: linen and cotton breathe, absorb sweat, and dry overnight on the tent pole – the material of your piece is stated on the product page. The cut determines mobility: wide sleeves with a gusset let you lift barrels and swing swords without pulling under the arms. And the seams are the difference between one weekend and many years – garb simply doesn't get treated gently. With tunics, length is also a factor: to mid-thigh reads early-medieval-Nordic, cut longer reads more courtly. It's always worn with a belt – an unbelted tunic looks like a nightshirt even on the best of days. One last practical point: light-colored shirts live dangerously by the campfire – anyone who sits by the fire a lot is more relaxed in muted tones and saves the brilliantly light piece for grand entrances.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a shirt and a tunic?
The shirt is the bottom layer: plain, light, worn under a doublet or armor. The tunic is a standalone outer garment, often longer, colored, and decorated with trim – it's worn over the shirt and with a belt. Many garb setups use both layered together as part of the layering principle.
What size should I choose for shirts and tunics?
Garb is traditionally worn loose – the relaxed drape is part of both the look and the function. The binding measurements are on the respective product page; if you're between two sizes and planning to layer on top, go with the larger one.
Do shirts and tunics also work under armor?
Yes, they're historically meant for exactly that: the fabric layer protects your skin from pressure points and the armor from sweat. Look for smooth, not overly voluminous sleeves – what goes under a gauntlet shouldn't have puffed sleeves.
How many shirts do I need for a convention weekend?
The honest answer: at least two. One gets worn, one dries – anyone who's ever stepped into a damp shirt from the day before buys the second one without further debate. For a single day at the market, one is enough.
Range overview
Shirts & tunics form the base layer of the Medieval & LARP world. Below, pants and shoes round out the foundation; above, Doublets & Tabards build the silhouette and Coats & Cloaks add the weather layer. The belt turns the fabric into a figure, and the female counterpart to the base layer lives among the blouses. If you're planning the whole battle straight from the shirt, you'll find the rest in LARP gear.
What else goes with it?
Tunic role models from series and saga come from Vikings and The Lord of the Rings – from rugged Nordic to elegantly elven. As for whether a turtleneck works under a tunic: every camp settles that question differently. Our advice: only in frost, and even then with a guilty conscience.
