Final answer:
In the 14th century, changes in textile manufacturing and social dynamics led to men and women wearing more varied and less status-restricted clothing. Women began to wear less restrictive garments as their societal roles evolved, particularly after the Black Death.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 14th century witnessed significant transitions in both mens and womens clothing. For men, the adoption of more refined and varied clothing began to blur the lines of social status, with freedmen and slaves at times dressing similarly to equestrians and nobility.
This democratization of fashion was partly due to the decreased price of textiles from advancements in manufacturing and the prevalence of department stores, making a broader range of clothing accessible to more people. Additionally, clothing began to be replaced due to changing fashions, not merely when worn out.
For women, the century brought about a departure from traditional modesty, with some abandoning the stola—a long dress that was a symbol of dignity. This change in attire coincided with transformed societal roles, especially after the Black Death, which set the stage for women to assume new kinds of work and thus adopt more practical clothing.
The loosening of traditional mores and the changing expectations for women's futures were reflected in their fashion choices with shorter skirts and less restrictive garments becoming popular.
In summary, the 14th century altered clothing customs for both men and women, reflecting larger social and economic changes of the period, allowing fashion to become a more distinct expression of personal identity and less a strict indicator of social status.