orn by men and women of England during the mid-14th century is an example of the Christian influence. The only discernible differences in dress between the sexes were slight variations in neckline, length, and headdress (Newton, 1980, p. 3, 1980). Proper dress was an expression of piety and a reflection of attitudes toward the body derived from the religious concept of original sin, as may be seen from the following passage of English Christian prayer.
             Most gracious and merciful Saviour, Jesus Christ, thou knowest how we be born, clothed and clogged with the grievous and heavy burden of the first man, who fell away unto fleshliness through disobedience. Vouchsafe, therefore I beseech thee, to strip me out of the old corrupt Adam, which being soaked in sin, transformeth himself into all incumbrances and diseases of the mind, that may lead away from Thee (Ashley, 1988, p. 203).
             The English Christian realized that we come into the world nude and that the first man was nude, yet because of sin, humanity is to be clothed. The quote als
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