I usually focus on 19th-century and Belle Époque fashion on this blog, but today I want to make an exception and take you on a journey through different centuries of costume history. Why? Because fashion has always had its bizarre side, and some historical garments are so extreme they seem almost unbelievable to our modern eyes.
But what seems absurd to us today made perfect sense in its context: social status, practicality, symbolism, or simply the fashion of the moment.
Here are five of those peculiar historical garments.
1. Venetian Chopines - The Impossible Platforms
"Chopines" were platform shoes that reached extraordinary heights in Venice during the 15th and 16th centuries. They were more than just shoes, but status symbols that could elevate a woman up to 50 centimeters (nearly 20 inches) off the ground. The term likely derives from the Spanish 'chapín,' possibly onomatopoeic - mimicking the 'chop-chop' sound these shoes made when walking through Venice's flooded streets.
They were made from various materials, including wood and cork, often covered in luxurious fabrics that matched the wearer's gown.
Fonte: Lernestål, Erik, Castello di Skokloster/SHM (CC BY 4.0) You can find the original here at Statens Historiska Museer.
Originally designed with a practical purpose - to protect expensive silk and brocade gowns from the muddy streets and frequent flooding of Venice - chopines quickly became a symbol of wealth and social standing. The higher the chopine, the more prestigious the wearer. Venetian courtesans and noblewomen competed to wear the tallest platforms, often requiring servants on either side to help them walk.
The Venetian government even tried to regulate their height, concerned about both safety and excess. Shakespeare even referenced them in Hamlet, joking about their absurd height: "Your ladyship is nearer to heaven than when I saw you last, by the altitude of a chopine."
Some chopines were even considered erotic symbols and therefore associated with courtesans.
Despite these efforts, chopines remained popular throughout the Renaissance, spreading to other parts of Europe, though never quite reaching the extreme heights seen in Venice.
2. The Brunswick - An 18th-Century Hooded Jacket
The Brunswick was a remarkable garment that emerged in the 1760s-1780s, representing a fascinating moment when women's fashion borrowed from masculine sporting attire. This fitted jacket was a shortened version of the robe à la française, often paired with a matching skirt, and featured a distinctive hood inspired by men's hunting wear from the German duchy of Brunswick. It could have short-length or wrist-length sleeves, and some versions even featured removable longer sleeves. It could also feature a front stomacher in matching or contrasting fabric.
What made the Brunswick particularly interesting was its combination of practicality and luxury. While designed for outdoor activities like walking and traveling, it was typically made from expensive silk fabrics and featured elegant tailoring. The hood could be worn up for protection from weather or folded back decoratively. The style was especially popular in England and America, where it offered fashionable women a more practical alternative to formal court dress.
Mid-18th century Portrait of a girl holding a spaniel from the studio of Alexander Roslin.
As you can see from the portrait above, the Brunswick created an intriguing blend of masculine practicality and feminine elegance.
3. Fingerless Gloves: Not Just for Bikers
While fingerless gloves might seem like a modern invention, they have a surprisingly long history. Archaeological evidence shows fingerless mittens were already in use during the early Middle Ages - a remarkable example from Dorestad, Netherlands (7th–10th century) survives, made of brown-dyed felted wool fabric sewn in a herringbone pattern. These practical accessories solved a persistent problem: how to keep hands warm while maintaining dexterity for detailed work.
By the 18th century, fingerless mitts had evolved into fashionable accessories, as evidenced by period portraits. In the 19th century, they became particularly popular among women, now called "mitaines" or simply "mittens".
Made from fine materials like lace, silk, or knitted cotton, they were both practical and decorative, often featuring elaborate embroidery or delicate patterns. They allowed ladies to keep their hands warm while still being able to handle fans, write letters, or do fine handwork without removing their gloves entirely.
4. The Codpiece - Tudor Masculine Display
Perhaps one of the most notorious garments in fashion history, the codpiece began as a practical solution in the 15th century. As men's doublets became shorter and hose were still two separate leg pieces, a triangular flap was needed to cover the gap and provide modesty.
However, by the 16th century, particularly during the Tudor period, the codpiece had transformed into something entirely different. It became padded, enlarged, and decorated - a prominent symbol of masculinity and virility. Some were embroidered, jeweled, or shaped to exaggerated proportions. Some sources suggest that larger codpieces could even serve as pockets for carrying coins or small personal items. The codpiece became a statement of power and status, worn by kings and nobles across Europe.
Portrait of Henry VIII from Hans HOLBEIN
By the end of the 16th century, as doublets lengthened and breeches changed style, the codpiece gradually disappeared from fashion, leaving behind a fascinating chapter in the history of masculine display.
5. Iron Stays - The Metal Corsets
Among the most mysterious and debated garments in costume history are the iron stays - rigid metal corsets from the 16th and 17th centuries usually worn over padded clothes. Examples are preserved in museums across Europe, including the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and various Italian collections.
Iron stays at Copyright © York Museums and Gallery Trust 2025. York Museums Trust is a registered charity 1092466. You can find other photos here.
The purpose of these metal garments remains a subject of scholarly debate. Many historians have assumed they were used for medical purposes - perhaps to correct spinal deformities or poor posture in young girls as orthopedic devices prescribed by physicians. However, concrete documentation of their medical use is scarce, and this interpretation may be an assumption.
The truth is that we still don't know for certain whether these were everyday garments, medical devices, or something else entirely - making them one of costume history's most intriguing mysteries.
Conclusion
These five garments remind us that fashion has always pushed boundaries and challenged our notions of practicality and beauty. What seems bizarre to us today made perfect sense within its historical context, reflecting the values and social structures of each era. The history of costume is not just about beautiful gowns and elegant suits - it's also about the strange, the extreme, and the wonderfully peculiar choices humans have made in how they present themselves to the world.