The sideless surcoat, sometimes called the "gates of Hell" was what well-dressed women all over Europe wore in the 14th Century.
This is a picture of a 14th Century sideless surcoat
taken from the Manesse manuscript, which is dated around 1330.
We bought the sideless surcoat on eBay.
Although the richest noblewomen of the day
would have had wet nurses to tend their infants, most women would have nursed
their own babies. This gown is very well suited to
breastfeeding. Modern clothing companies like Motherwear have
re-invented the 14th Century design in dresses like this one.