Tunics and shirts are the layer every LARP kit starts with. Chow's range runs from woven medieval tunics with suede-effect panels to linen-cotton viking tunics, studded faux leather, and hooded medieval shirts. Pick the base layer, build the character on top.
What is a medieval tunic?
A medieval tunic is a long, loose-cut top worn from the shoulders to between the hip and knee, laced or buttoned at the neck. In a LARP kit it sits over a shirt and under a cloak or armour, and it is the piece that reads a character's role at a distance. Chows Emporium makes tunics and shirts in cotton, linen, wool, and faux leather.
Tunic or shirt: which layer you need
The two words get used for the same thing, but they sit at different layers. A shirt is the light base worn against the skin, usually cotton or linen, with a round or laced neck. A tunic goes over it: longer, heavier, often with a suede panel, contrast trim, or fur, and it carries most of the character. If you are building from scratch, a linen shirt plus one tunic covers the top half of almost any kit. Builds that need more padding add a gambeson between the two.
Built for LARP, not strict reenactment
Historical tunics are cut and stitched to a period pattern for reenactment, where accuracy is judged. These are not that. Chow designs them for LARP, cosplay, and Renaissance Faire wear, where the look has to read across a field and the garment has to survive a full weekend being worn, sat in, and packed away wet. The cuts borrow from medieval and viking dress without tying you to one century, so the same tunic works for a warrior, a trader, or a mage depending on what you layer over it. Chows Emporium has been designing this way since 1994.
The range
Medieval tunics come woven in two tones with suede-effect panels and cuffs. Viking tunics run in linen-cotton mixes, some button-down, some in wool. Barbarian tunics carry faux fur trim over wool for a heavier, layered look. Faux leather tunics with studs work as the centrepiece of a rogue or warrior build. On the shirt side, medieval shirts come in cotton and linen with round or laced necks, some with a hood built in, and viking shirts in cotton or wool mix. Colours run across the range, and colour is the last thing to pick, not the first.
Layering guide
Order matters. A linen shirt goes on first, against the skin. A tunic or a gambeson goes over it. Leather armour or a waistcoat straps over that. A cloak or hood finishes the top. Fur trim tunics break the rule and work on their own as a statement piece for viking and barbarian characters. Browse the LARP gambesons for a padded mid layer, the LARP leather armour that goes over the top, or the LARP cloaks and robes and LARP hoods and mantles that finish a build.
Sizing
All Chows Emporium products are one size. Measurements are listed in each individual product description. If you have a question about measurements before buying, message us and we will help.
For a full character build, browse our LARP outfit sets where a tunic or shirt is included as part of a complete kit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a tunic and a shirt?
A shirt is the lighter base layer, usually cotton or linen, worn against the skin. A tunic is longer and heavier, worn over the shirt, and it carries most of the character's look. Most kits use both: a shirt underneath, a tunic on top.
What do you wear under and over a tunic?
A linen shirt goes underneath. Over the top you can add a gambeson for padding, leather armour or a waistcoat, then a cloak or hood. A tunic sits in the middle of that stack, or on its own for a simpler look.
Are these tunics historically accurate?
They borrow from medieval and viking dress but are designed for LARP, cosplay, and Renaissance Faire wear rather than strict period reproduction. If you need exact accuracy for judged reenactment, these are not cut to a single period pattern.
What are the tunics and shirts made from?
Medieval shirts are cotton and linen. Viking tunics are usually a linen-cotton mix, some in wool. Woven medieval tunics use cotton with suede-effect panels, and fur trim tunics use faux fur over wool. The material for each item is listed on its product page.
Can women wear these tunics and shirts?
Yes. The cuts are worn by anyone. All Chows Emporium products are one size, with measurements on each product page so you can check the fit before buying.
Do the tunics come with a hood?
Most do not, but several medieval shirts have a hood built in. The product title and description say when a hood is included. For separate hoods, browse the LARP hoods and mantles.