Flap skirt

The flap skirt is a coat-like item of clothing for men that is closed by a belt.

The flap skirt was introduced into Central Europe during the migration period by eastern equestrian peoples such as the Huns and Avars and slowly spread throughout Europe in the following centuries. There are early pictorial representations of valve skirts on various bracteates or on the Pliezhausen rider's disc from the early 7th century.

The flap skirt consists of a back part, sleeves and two triangular flaps on the front which are folded over each other to close. In contrast to the later developed caftan , flap skirts do not have buttons or hooks. The flap skirt with the flaps turned over at the front is only closed around the waist by a belt worn over it . It is somewhat similar to the modern bathrobe in the way it is worn and cut . In length, they range from the thigh to the calves, depending on the time and fashion.

In the period that followed, the flap skirts were further developed into caftan-like jackets with fastening mechanisms such as buttons or hooks.