I would like to add some courtesies of the Medieval period just make sense given the clothes. In the Norman period if a gentleman and a lady were sitting at a trencher the gentleman , no matter his rank would spear the meat and prepare the sauces. I can tell you from experience if a lady with Norman sleeves tries to do it she will knock over half of the things on the table.
Also it is imperative that someone opens the door for a lady with a train. I was with a young squire that refused to help me with a door or getting into his car. It took me 15 minutes to get out the door. It kept closing on my train. It took me another 15 minutes to get into the car. He finally got tired and helped me. Often if you are in period dress you are so busy holding the dress up that you don't have hands for baskets. Period women's clothes are often not intended for the lady to do anything. Of course the servants are suppose to help, but in absence of servants our gentlemen need to help or get stuck waiting for us.
Duchess Willow de Wisp