"Monks 12th century England" Topic

What were the main orders in England and what did their dress look like in the Anarchy period.

The cool new kids were the Cistercians in this period. The majority of monasteries would still be Benedictine though.

The official garb of the Benedictines was black and the Cistercians white (each using wool of that colour). I think they also wore brown for mundane tasks.

A long time ago I studied the Anarchy; too long.
As Cerdic says, most were Benedictines in black. Most of the newer foundations would have been Cistercian maonasteries (white or perhaps natural wool robes); the (much smaller) order of Gilbertines were established during the reign in England and wore a black cassock with a white hood and scapula.

I would say, natural dark brown wool for everyday wear of the Benedictines.

Wool from "black" sheep is often brownish, and simple monks would probably not have dyed robes for everyday life.

I don't know about "simple monks". Monasteries were the multi-national businesses of their day!