Final answer:
During the period of 1400-1450, men predominantly wore houppelandes and fitted gowns. This attire was a status symbol and included features such as a high waist, full skirts, and wide sleeves over a doublet.
Step-by-step explanation:
This type of clothing was a characteristic fashion of the era, featuring a long, flowing robe-like garment. The houppelande had a high waist and full, pleated skirts that often had a long train, as well as wide, often fur-trimmed, sleeves. These outer garments were worn over a doublet, a closely fitted jacket with a short skirt, an evolution from the earlier tunic. Fitted gowns, similar to the doublet but longer, provided an additional layer for nobility and those who could afford such attire. The latter half of the 15th century ushered in shorter gowns and a greater emphasis on the doublet, as well as a distinctively voluminous variety of hose - the precursor to later trousers.
Men's fashion in the medieval era varied by social status, occasion, and region, but the houppelande was quite popular among the nobility and the affluent bourgeoisie for formal occasions. Meanwhile, the working classes and less affluent would typically wear simpler tunics, which were shorter and more practical for manual labor. Fashion in this period was indicative of one's social standing and was used to display wealth and status. By examining artworks and surviving written descriptions from this time, historians have been able to piece together the fashion trends and understand the importance of clothing as a marker of identity in medieval society.