Many things have described people throughout history. One of the most dominant ways was clothing style. Thanks to cultural preferences and available materials, there is consistency as well as diversity in clothing. Even though clothing in the Middle Ages was somewhat primitive compared to clothing today, the quality of clothing had no effect on people's freedom of expression through fashion. Social classes were dominated by feudalism. Mostly, feudalism was defined as a social system that existed in Europe during the Middle Ages. People worked and fought for the nobles who gave them protection as well as land grants in return (Merriam Webster). Classes in the Middle Ages were established at birth, and there was no way to escape a certain class other than marriage. Jobs and professions dictated the quality of life. As a result, clothing played a large role in defining who a person was in society (life in the Middle Ages). Unlike today, where the abundance of clothing is made from cotton, this was not the case in the Middle Ages. Most clothing was made from wool due to its availability and affordability at that time. The wool was itchy and certainly wasn't luxurious; plus it was difficult to wash. However, medieval men used their resources to the best of their abilities. Some rare fabrics were linen, hemp, cotton, leather, fur, taffeta, velvet and damask (Life in the Middle Ages). Page 2 Although the Middle Ages have been defined as the Dark Ages, the "dark" side of this era has been modified. does not apply to fabrics. Medieval clothing consisted primarily of bright colors that varied depending on class classification. A variety of different colors and shades can be obtained through natural processes. V...... middle of paper ......and fur (Ladies' dresses of the Middle Ages). At the end of the Middle Ages, dresses became shorter and easier to wear on a daily basis. On the other hand, the sleeves of the dresses became longer to compensate for the shortening of the dresses. Women began wearing their hair in large rolls with bonnets and baring their shoulders, revealing lavish necklaces. The aim of women's clothing was to be both elegant and full of character (ladies' dresses from the Middle Ages). The Middle Ages were a very unique era. In many areas of life, including clothing, there were extremes of simplicity as well as extravagant extravagances. Showing one's personality through clothing choice was as important to them as it is to people in the 21st century. Even despite strict rules and difficult times, everyone, in their own way, was proud to show off their personal style..