Historically accurate (ish) Merida (ish)

Okay, so... I'm pretty sure a lot of folks here know I like Scottish History.

And I'm sure someone on here (if you did, thank you) suggested I take a look at Disney's Brave, and the depiction of Princess Merida. So I did. And this happened.

Basically, after watching the film, I went and did a tonne of research. It turns out, that in terms of historical accuracy (at least where Merida is concerned) the film isn't too far out. HOWEVER. The outfits Merida wears are more fitting of a LOWLAND Scottish noblewoman. During the Medieval period (Brave is set soooort of around 1000-1100 CE) There was a reasonably clear divide between Lowland Scotland, and Highland Scotland. It's strongly implied via setting, other character's dress etc; that the film is set in the Highlands.

So okay, that being said, what WOULD Merida have been wearing?

Well, something like what I've drawn her in here. As opposed to the more 'continetal' styled outfit she wears in the film ( which is similar to the styles of dresses worn by Norman nobles) Merida would have been more likely to have worn an outfit that echoed Scotland's Celtic origins, which were only just beginning to pivot away from the styles of attire that the Pictish and Celtic inhabitants had worn since before the Romans arrived.

The basic dress is a long, one piece affair, with half-length, loose fitting sleeves, similar to the sort of dresses worn by Scandinavian women around this period. Under this would have been a long, lighter dress of linen, with close fitting sleeves. This could be considered a sort of 'undergarment'. Think of a vest top that you might wear under a shirt, for example.

The outer dress would have been belted with a long, narrow belt or cord; and atop the whole ensemble, she'd probably have worn an Arisaid, as protection against the harsh highland weather. I've spoken about the arisaid in other drawings I've done, but basically, it's somewhere between a shawl, a cloak, and an overcoat. It's made of wool, and is absolutely HUGE as a garment. It can be pulled up over the head, or, as here, worn like a cloak, but belted at the waist, creating voluminous side 'pockets' which allow the arms to move freely, which is something your arms need to do when you're messing around with a bow.

The bare feet? Well.... accurate 'ish'. For the common people in Scotland during the middle ages, shoes weren't a huge thing. Even as late as the early 1900s, there's records of women, even in the cities, only wearing shoes for special occasions, like going to church. I'd surmise that the nobles of medieval Scotland would have had access to soft leather shoes, much like those worn elsewhere in the medieval west, but on the same token, I'd imagine they'd have been worn only for formal occasions. Similarly, with Merida being an outward bounds-ey sort, such shoes would have been an uncomfortable hindrance, offering less grip than bare feet, and reduced comfort, too (such shoes weren't known for being well fitting. They'd probably done have more harm then good.

Aside from those items, she's also wearing plenty of jewellery, as befits someone of high birth. Finger and toe rings, bracelets, and a beaded necklace, are all items which would have been reasonably common among the medieval Scots. She also has a large brooch holding her arisaid closed, and a headband.

Anyway. Waffling aside, I just kinda wanted to have a little go at drawing some more vaguely historical stuff. Maybe I ought to like, yanno, study this shit for real?

I suppose it goes without saying that Merida and Brave are (C) Disney, used without permission and all that shit.