Ren Faire Costumes

[SexyChele]

I went to our local Ren Faire last year with my S/O and we both loved it! Okay, I really loved and my S/O really loved looking at all the boobies on display!

Anyway, I'm going to try very hard to get him to go again this year. (He has flat feet and it can be painful to walk around for long periods of time) But this year, I'd like to really get into things and dress up in costume.

Since actually buying a costume can become a very expensive very quickly, I'm looking to make a costume for myself. I know that there are folks here who are Ren Faire regulars so I'm looking for tips and suggestions on patterns, fabrics, accessories. I used to be quite the seamstress in my younger days, though I haven't sewn anything beyond a hem recently. I think it will come back to me, though.

I believe I would need a blouse, skirt, over-skirt, and bodice, yes? I do not want to go the corset route because I want to be comfortable. I have made a couple of "bodices" more than a few years ago, so I am familar with how to fit a bodice properly so it is snug without being overly tight. Grommets will be a different thing altogether, but I'm willing to learn!!

Also, any suggestions on a purse substitute? I'm thinking a medium sized pouch tied about the waist to hold my modern conveniences? And also: hair! Is a hat or covering really necessary? While I won't mind, I think I would be more comfortable wearing it down and straight.

Any suggestions, ideas, tips would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thank you!!

 

[CelticFrog]

YAY!!!!

Okay... firstly, it's fairly easy to gauge fabric for these things.
When you look at your pattern, and it has all those ridiculous costume-y suggestions for fabric, look through and find the MOST natural fabric you can think of.

What period are you going for? Or are you just flat out looking for anything from 'back then'?

Here is my general outfit... keep in mind that I have several of each.

A full length, long sleeved chemise (with drawstring ties at the low low neck and sleeves). (If you want basic pattern info, let me know)
A simple 'vest' bodice that laces up the front. Think barmaid, almost.
A simple skirt that can either be tied closed with eyelets, 'tails', or a drawstring.
Boots. Mine? Army boots. Well, they were ISSUED. And they work.

Grommets are great. I am seriously a grommet fanatic. It can be incredibly easy with very little practice, and can look INCREDIBLE. You just need the right tools, which are also thankfully cheap.

I don't know about where you're from, but almost every female wears a belt in my area. A simple leather belt, with no holes or belt buckle other than a D ring. The knot to cinch it is easy to do once you've been taught (I screwed it up countless times before someone finally showed me) and looks very nicely period.

I have a pouch made of faux fur and a little bit of leather to give it stability to hang from my belt. I also hang my eating knife and a few other things from my belt. I keep Ranger's favor there when he can't have it on him.

On the other hand, if you find a small basket that you like that can hang over your arm comfortably, it can easily function as a purse and... well, if you are planning on doing these things a lot, your sewing or whatever other period hobbies you carry with you.

I often wear my hair down, braided, whatever. Hats are only suggested if it's really sunny out there, and then a wide brimmed floppy kind of hat is perfectly acceptable. Gauge your choices from what you see at a fair from the people who are obviously regulars. The difference can be very clear. They're the ones wearing utilitarian clothes unless they're a performer.

I'd love to help with anything else if you're curious. Also, might I suggest looking into SCA events instead of JUST Ren Faires? Sometimes they can be a lot more fun, if a little more strict about being true to the period.

For their website, hit SCA official website and feel free to ask questions. It's been a long time for me. I miss it a ton... you just might motivate me to go to an event this season.

Ang

 

[Missingmeds]

Grommets are really easy to set. Chele you can get patterns these days at nearly any fabric store where they carry them. If not, look online. I know that both Hancock fabrics and Joann's Fabrics have the ones for Ren.

 

[SensualCealy]

http://www.farthingales.on.ca/corset.htm

If you take a look at this site, you will see a corset doesnt have to be uncomfortable. In Ren days there were many forms of corsets due to a persons wealth. The one Id suggest would be a binder made with stretch fabric, it will 'pout' your breasts without constricting your rib cage.
Even if you were to make a blouse with long sleaves draw string leckline that would be wore open with the fancy binder on the outside with a long skirt ( look in the home decorating section of the fabric store for period type prints at a cheaper price). And garters and stockings- with boots of course!
Make sure if you make the out fit that you post us a picture!
Cealy

 

[zhukov1943]

Yah - Celticfrog is "spot on" about using SCA resources for clothing patterns and ideas. They'll have costume patterns and ideas for pretty much anything you want - from a "bog dress" made up of four yards of uncut cloth bound with a broach to beaded velvet doublets...

Be careful, though - the SCA is kinda like the Mafia. Once you get in, it's hard to "get out"!

 

[SexyChele]

Wow! Thank you all!

Celtic - how did I suspect you might have something to add to this? I've checked out a few Simplicity and McCalls patterns, and I think I'm leaning towards the McCalls. There are 3 separate patterns, but they somehow appear to be more....for lack of a better word....authentic. However, if you have a pattern you don't mind sharing, I would love to see it!


Missingmeds - well, I taught myself to sew, crochet, and knit, so I suppose I can handle grommets! I think I used to have a thingie that did that (I used to work in a yardage shop and got a discount, so I was buying everything!), but that's been years ago, I never did use it, and I'm not even sure if I still have it. Thankfully there is a Joann's just down the street and I will have to pick their brains there to teach me.


SensualCealy - Hello! I don't think we've "met" before! From looking at the web site you gave, and just looking at patterns in general, making a "real" corset sounds like an interesting project. At least I know it will be made to fit me! Unfortunately, time is a factor. I work full time and am just beginning an accelerated course to get my college degree. On top of that, the Ren Faire here begins in early May and runs through mid-June. I suspect we will be going mid-May as my birthday and my S/O's birthday are both in mid-May. Since I would have to create the entire costume in a limited time, I will probably take a few "newbie" shortcuts - this year. Perhaps next year, when I can invest more time earlier, I can enter the costume contest!!

 

[SexyChele]

Yah - Celticfrog is "spot on" about using SCA resources for clothing patterns and ideas. They'll have costume patterns and ideas for pretty much anything you want - from a "bog dress" made up of four yards of uncut cloth bound with a broach to beaded velvet doublets...

Be careful, though - the SCA is kinda like the Mafia. Once you get in, it's hard to "get out"!

Hmmm....I think my S/O might actually like to see me in a "bog dress" - thought I suspect what you are referring to is actually a man's costume! (And no, my guy absolutely will not dress up in period costume for this - though he certainly doesn't mind ogling the cleavage on display! )

 

[CelticFrog]

He won't even try? It's not like he'd be wearing anything that much different from what he usually wears.

Why not a simple pair of trews with a comfortable T-tunic? Both fairly easy to throw together, both look more or less like pants and a t-shirt. Just a plain t-shirt without METALLICA splayed across the front.

I have both Simplicity and McCalls patterns. One of my favorites is Simplicity but I have no clue where all my patterns are so I can't tell you which ones they are. However, I think I'll look online and see if I can't look through their patterns there.

If you'd like, I would encourage you to visit...
Ang and Ranger's Wedding
simply for the clothing. I was in an Italian Ren dress that was made for me as a wedding present, and J and the best man were in kilts I made. J highly recommends kilts, of course.

One of the pictures I was hoping was on the website isn't there, of course. It's a great picture of all of our SCA friends that came to the 'real' wedding, and they came in garb. It was awesome.

Simplicity Patterns I like 8192 and 8587. With 8192, you can make a nice simple dress with more natural fabrics and it won't look so... fake. With 8587, it's just some nice patterns to start with and tweak to your own desires. 8735 (on the next page) is my wedding dress. 8715 seems to be a pretty good pattern for my 'standard' outfit. Just without the bunched up overskirt (yawn) and all the frills. I go for simple, utilitarian, not necessarily overly plain but definitely can pass for the period fabric. Who needs much 'extra' stuff when your cleavage is all they're looking at anyways?

8715 creates awesome cleavage without keeping air from the lungs, by the way.

Okay. On to McCalls. (I'm too sick to do much else...)
McCalls Patterns okay. The three black and white patterns on this page are all fairly nice looking. I've never used them, but it's obvious they've paid more attention than most of their other patterns to realism. Their 'misses renaissance costumes' found on the next page seem like they COULD work, but as usual, attention would have to be paid to the fabric.

Here's my big thing about the costumes in general...
I hate zippers on anything that is supposed to be period. There are tons of substitutions out there for zippers. Larger hook and eye closures, grommets for anything that goes over your chemise, drawstrings in some places, 'tails' to tie skirts closed, etc.

I do believe you can pull authenticity from patterns that on the cover look absolutely ridiculous. Sometimes what I've had to do is mix and match things that the pattern doesn't call for. I'll switch sleeves around, remove bulky overskirts (I work at these events -- I cook, clean, sew, carry water to the fighters, etc. and I can't afford to have too much... foof.) and in general do what I can to make the end result as suited to my persona as possible. I'm sure it's obvious where my persona is from (heh). I have developed her quite a bit and so now I have somewhere to start when I decide what I want to wear or do.

It's too bad you're not in the Pacific NW. There is an amazing mini-event every spring (I actually think it may be this weekend or sometime in the next month) that is called the Newcomers Allthing. It is organized and run by my 'household' and is specifically designed to introduce newcomers to the SCA. They have classes (ithras) in almost every aspect of SCA life and have demonstrations of both light and heavy fighting. I have always have a load of fun at these.

As always, if I can be of any more help, just ask away.

In service to the Dream.
Ashlynn MacGregor
(Ang)

 

[zhukov1943]

>>>>It is organized and run by my 'household' and is specifically designed to introduce newcomers to the SCA. They have classes (ithras) in almost every aspect of SCA life and have demonstrations of both light and heavy fighting. I have always have a load of fun at these.


Oh, yeah - heavy weapons fighting ROCKS! Guys love it (and some girls!) Something about smacking somebody in the head with a piece of rattan just brings out the Beavis and Butt-head in all of us... (heh-heh...heh-heh...)

I loved heavy weapons fighting when I was playin' SCA. I fought down here in Atlantia, which has a reputation for hitting hard. Never got hurt too bad, but ended up with some GORGEOUS purple, yellow and black bruises!

Oh - and the "bog dress" is indeed for women. My girlfriend at the time, Tamara, looked quite fetching in her bog dress! Plus, it was easy to remove...

 

[SensualCealy]

Too bad you couldnt talk him into it, the idea of both of you role playing would be a turn on dont you think? You being a serving wench and he a man from the "HOOD" ! lol
A pair of beige dockers and suspenders and a tunic would do the trick!
Good luck!
Cealy,
ps nice to meet you!

 

[TNRkitect2b]

Hmmm....I think my S/O might actually like to see me in a "bog dress" - thought I suspect what you are referring to is actually a man's costume! (And no, my guy absolutely will not dress up in period costume for this - though he certainly doesn't mind ogling the cleavage on display! )

Well, having been there and worn the stuff, you might let him know that the women are MUCH more apt to flirt with him if he is in garb. Then again, as he is yours, you might not want to have him dress up after all...

 

[SkyyAngel]

I know about them boobies on display!! It's like dayum....I've seen women walking around practically nekkid except for some gauzy scarf and a pair of wings (fairies or pixies I suppose). Wish I could have the guts to do that...but anyways...

I made the one on the far right for Ren Fest in TX.

http://store.sewingtoday.com/cat/mccall/lead/3797.jpg



It was surprisingly comfortable.

The only difference is that I overlayed a kinda lacy soft fabric over the bodice and skirt (like the one on the left), it turned out really nice looking.

Then, I made this cape to keep me warm.

http://www.simplicity.com/assets/9452/9452.jpg


I did mine with White satin on the interior and pink crushed velvet on the outside and then lined the edges with a white ribbon on the outside and a white ribbon with pink flowers on it on the inside.

They looked awesome.

 

[watergirl]

oooo -

Ooo - have a good time, Chele! I love the maryland renfest, and used to room with a scadian in college. Insane devotion, those folks. But their clothing patterns, as far as I recall, were really idiot proof and straightforward - once you got the hang of the basics, you could start altering things for yourself to be more fitted or comlex. Standard guys do have such objections to dressing up - I wonder if I invite m'boy to the renfest, would he dress up. He does own some 13' long piece of plaid, he called it a battle kilt and showed me several ways he has of wrapping it around himself - neat stuff.

Happy sewing!

 

[zhukov1943]

Hey - Chele - see if he'll wear a monk's cassock. They're crazy easy to make, and there's something REALLY fun about getting drunk and chasing tail in a monk outfit...

"Hey, baby - I'm "Friar f**k!"

heh-heh!

 

[CelticFrog]

Hey - Chele - see if he'll wear a monk's cassock. They're crazy easy to make, and there's something REALLY fun about getting drunk and chasing tail in a monk outfit...

"Hey, baby - I'm "Friar f**k!"

heh-heh!

lol -- z, just say fuck.


Ang

 

[ABN_Ranger]

Yup Kilts rule!!! And heavy fighting.... oh sweet googamooga... I love it. Nothing feels better that smashing though a shield wall and charging head on into a group of knights trying to defend their king. hehehe. Oh the memories.

J

 

[wideeyedgrin]

RenFaire Clothing

There is a book I picked up a few years ago. It's called "Kings Queens Knights & Jesters Making Medieval Costumes" by Lynn Edelman Schnurnberger in association with The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It has some very good, basic, EASY designs for costumes. I have made quite a few of them for Halloween and other events and found them comfortable and usable later on.

Simplicity pattern 8152 has costumes that are adaptable. Remember, just because most RenFaire people think of England and France, there is no reason to not be a traveller from Spain, Italy, or the Mid East or Moorish countries. You can even think Denmark or other Norse countries.

Simplicity 7961 is Peter Pan style costumes, but they can be adaptable.

Remember, the women working in fields would dress like the men, just think what a hoe or scythe would do to a dress.

 

[Jynyntonix]

ive been doing ren faire since i was about 7 years old, im now 20 years old.

over time ive learned onething, those costume patterns you see at those old lady sewing stores are 100% shit.

they look crappy and were ment for holloween costume parties.

http://www.alteryears.com

is an awsome site to go to for people who are new to the faire costume world.
over time you will learn how to alter your own patterns and change things abit by reading historical costume books.

but yeah faire is fucking awsome, if you think that shit is great during the day, get in a guild and check out what goes on at night.

drunken naked parties gallore!

 

[CelticFrog]

over time ive learned onething, those costume patterns you see at those old lady sewing stores are 100% shit.

they look crappy and were ment for holloween costume parties.

I am afraid I have to 100% disagree with you on this point.

In 'old lady' sewing stores (I am assuming you are referring to JoAnns and Hancocks and all the other popular chains) the above referenced patterns provided by Simplicity and McCalls are in fact NOT shit.

So you've been with Ren Faires for approximately 13 years. There are others here who have been in the SCA for a while too. We have done loads of research and spent plenty of time picking over patterns made by large national companies. The patterns I suggested in my post are some that have been used with great success and minimal altering to achieve period authenticity.




wideeyedgrin -- one would THINK that women dressed like men in the fields, but in fact while I was researching for my persona, I learned that even when working the plough, women still wore bodices and skirts, in plainer fabric. To keep the skirts from catching, they pulled the back hem through their legs and tucked it into their belt in front.

Almost creates the look of trews but is still easy to undo and appear ladylike, even in the seventh century. I have pictures somewhere of a bunch of us women demonstrating the process at an event once. If I can find them, I'll scan 'em in and post the series.


Ang

 

[Psia]

I also made a ren costume, though I wore it for Halloween. It's a white satin deal, very pretty and a lot of fun to make. I've been to ren festivals but never want to wear it. I'm so much more comfortable in jeans and tennis shoes.

There is a little tool that you buy to set grommets, I don't remember but I think it was about seven bucks including a set of grommets. If you get the cheap tool I got you'll need a hammer to do it. There are fancier ways to set them, but for my purposes the cheap one rocks. They're really easy to set, just read the instructions and then you can grommet away.


Skyyangel, that is a really pretty dress, I bet it looked great.

Psia

 

[Vixandra]

I'm rather tired, so if I repeat anything someone else has said, please forgive me.
Bout the costume- look for some medivile costume books in your library, they can give you some great advice. Go with a peasent's look to start with, they're the easist to do. Hubby and I are part of a Ren Faire Guild in So Cal and, if there's a faire while we're home, we make it a point to go with our Guild.
Do NOT wear your blouse off of your shoulders unless you're a "faire bunny." The kind of girl that goes to fair without a tent but doesn't sleep outside. Not the most moraled of things, you know.

As for the hair- if its red- COVER it if Queen Elizabeth (the bitch) is there. If it's a Scot or Fey faire don't worry over it. The reasoning for this is that NO one may have hair redder then Queen Elizabeth's. ANd if you're going to dress the part you should act it.
Keep jewlry tasteful and within period. So no 4 carot diamonds if you're a peasent. Won't match well, I assure you. Same thing with necklaces and such too.
As for shoes- if you're planning on going to a lot of ren fairs' I'd invest in a simple pair of boots. Low (1-2") heel, probably mid calf or knee length.
And if you're large thighs (like me) I'd recommend wearing a pair of capri exercise shorts/pants under your costume to prevent chaffing.
Also search the web for local Guilds (groups of ppl that act in Ren Faires) never know may find one to join that you like.
Good luck!
Vix

 

[zhukov1943]

Vixandra:

What's this "Queen Elizabeth" crap? Are you kidding me?

Jeez, it's stuff like that that drove me out of the SCA... I mean really - where else but fantasy-land could a dork who calls himself "Lord Fondle-bottom" think that a made-up peerage entitles him to be a total jerk to everyone else...

 

[Vixandra]

Vixandra:

What's this "Queen Elizabeth" crap? Are you kidding me?

Jeez, it's stuff like that that drove me out of the SCA... I mean really - where else but fantasy-land could a dork who calls himself "Lord Fondle-bottom" think that a made-up peerage entitles him to be a total jerk to everyone else...

If you seriously want to do it and blend in with the "natives" at Faire, then the Q. Elizabeth hair thing is correct. At least at the So Cal faire's I've been to.
I do this as a hobby, which has rules to it, though not that many really. I play with in the rules set and have a good time. I know about the Red hair because my Guild Mistress (leader) is very accurate on details and I had red hair for one faire that I had to keep covered the entire time under either a bonnet or a tam.
I've yet to meet a "Lord Fondle-bottom" that's acted like a total jerk, be it to me or to the customers. But then, I prefer to work the smaller 2-3 day faires, not the huge ones like Southern. You do get jerks there, I won't deny it. But the smaller faires are usually, where I'm from, a pretty tight knit group. I lost my engagement ring at my first faire and didn't realize it till about 8pm, Saturday night after the first full day of faire. We asked all the guilds if they'd seen it, soon everyone was out searching, one man even drove 45 min home and another 45 back to get a metal detector to help look for it. I never did find it, but will always remember that. The good people far out number the jerks, IMO
Tis rather unfair of you to bash on me when I was just trying to be helpful to Chele, not insult anyone or offend anyones tender sensetivities. Yes, I know I can't spell.
I only know what I've been through with my faires. Yours may be different and that's okay. But don't bitch at me because you had a bad experiance.

 

[zhukov1943]

Whoops! Misunderstanding alert!

I didn't realize that the "Queen Elizabeth" thing was PART of the usual Renfaire - I thought she was just some self-important sod...

My apologies. I wasn't trying to insult you or your activities.

 

[Vixandra]

Whoops! Misunderstanding alert!

I didn't realize that the "Queen Elizabeth" thing was PART of the usual Renfaire - I thought she was just some self-important sod...

My apologies. I wasn't trying to insult you or your activities.

Nah- if she was some self-important snob I'd tell her to go fuck herself with own idiocy. But she's a played character at the faires I end up at. Great actresses too, for the most part.
Apologie accepted. Welcome to Lit, btw.