How to Dress for a Renaissance Faire

Enhance your Renaissance Faire experience by dressing yourself and your family in period clothing. Put together appropriate attire from clothing items you already own and from thrift store finds. Or, if you like to sew, you can create your own Faire costumes from scratch.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Boots
• Hats
• Sandals
• Hats
• Dark clored pants
• Dark colored skirts
• Peasant blouses
• Lace up vests

1. Plan ahead. Note the date you will be attending the Faire and begin planning your costume at least two weeks in advance - longer if you want to sew a costume yourself.

2. Search the Internet and look in costume books to get ideas for your costume. Many Internet sites focus on the Renaissance Faire, and these sites usually have pictures of people dressed in Renaissance attire.

3. Look in your closet for items that have a "Renaissance look" to them. For women and girls, peasant blouses, poet shirts, lace-up vests and long peasant skirts will do. For men and boys, look for poet shirts, pirate shirts and vests from past Halloween costumes and loose, comfortable trousers.

4. Look in thrift stores and garage sales for the items listed in step 3. Choose clothing items made from natural fiber fabrics over synthetic fabrics. Not only will these items look more authentic, natural fiber fabrics will help keep you cooler on a warm Renaissance Faire day than will their synthetic counterparts.

5. Put your sewing skills to use and create your own Renaissance Faire costumes. Some Internet sites offer free, simple costume patterns, and most fabric stores have a wide selection of costume patterns available as well.

6. Use deep, rich fabric colors to create skirts and pants; use white or off-white, lightweight fabrics for blouses and shirts; and use heavier weight fabrics for lace-up women's and men's vests or doublets.

7. Look on the Internet for retailers of Renaissance costumes and accessories. This option can be quite expensive but is a good one if you do not sew and can't find appropriate clothing anywhere else. Expect to pay $150 and up for a complete costume.

8. Wait until you get to the Renaissance Faire and purchase a costume there. This is also a more costly option than making your own clothing but is a good alternative if you are unable to locate appropriate clothing.

9. Remember accessories such as hats, boots and shoes. Straw hats - great for protection from the sun - and natural-colored sandals will do for both men and women. Plain boots in black or brown are also an option for both if more sturdy foot protection is needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Search the Internet under keywords such as "Renaissance costume," "medieval costume," "Elizabethan costume" and "costume patterns" to find Renaissance Faire clothing patterns.
• Look for appropriate footwear at discount shoe stores. For women wearing long skirts, any boot height will do. Men should look for boots that are high enough to allow for tucked-in pants. These items can also be purchased at the Faire.
• Obtain as many appropriate clothing items as you can from your own closet or from thrift stores and then supplement those with ordered costume pieces. This is less expensive than buying a complete costume, and you'll still look great!
• Use a floral wreath as an alternative to a woman's or girl's straw hat. These can be purchased at the Renaissance Faire or made at home. See "Make a Child's Easter Bonnet," under Related eHows, for instructions.

on 3/29/2006 There are many renaissance clothing vendors that actually have very reasonable prices, when you figure the cost of fabric now days. Don't let the higher prices you will find out on the Internet keep you from buying a costume. Keep looking. There are people who do sell on the Internet for a reasonable price.

Beware of the costume shops attempting to sell you their version of "authentic" renaissance clothing. It usually is cheap to buy and it shows as being a cheap costume. A good costume is one that will hold up through cleaning and wearing, the same as any good piece of clothing will do.

For children, try to find pants, etc. that they can use for things other than just faires as they tend to outgrow clothes in a hurry. Simply be careful of the fabric colors - usually black, very dark blue or brown are the most appropriate choices. Tunics are easily made for boys. Leotards and tights added to sheer organza makes a wonderful fairy outfit for a little girl. Wings are easily made or bought at the faires. Keep children in comfortable shoes.

Also, kids can use these costumes again for Halloween.