Renaissance Festival Costume Ideas
There are many choices in costume styles for adult Renaissance festivals, including personas from class rank to fantasy elements. Choose a style of costume not only for appearance, but for comfort as well. Take into consideration that you may have to travel to the festival in the costume, since facilities are often not available before entering the festival. Take into consideration the season in which you are attending the Renaissance festival. Heavy noble costumes and full suits of armor are very hot and uncomfortable to wear during summer months.
Other People Are Reading
-
Peasants
-
Peasants were the working class during the Renaissance. Women's peasant costumes include a simple chemise and skirt made of cotton, and accessories such as a simple waist apron and floppy hat. Wear a loose bodice that ties up the front, and carry a broom or gathering basket. For a more festive look, wear a flower circlet headpiece. Peasant costumes for men could include a simple cotton or twill tunic that ties at the neck, full or knee-length breeches and a long-laced up jerkin. Wear knee-length boots and a leather belt with a simple pouch around the waist.
Nobility
-
Elizabethan and Tudor are the two styles of clothing worn by nobility. Search for Elizabethan and Tudor costumes for men and women made with luxurious fabrics such as velvet and brocade. Women's costumes consist of very full, heavily pleated waist skirts and a kirtle. Wear a bodice with fitted, attached sleeves for Elizabethan, or long and full sleeves for Tudor. Wear the skirts over a hoop skirt to accentuate the fullness. For men, wear a fitted doublet, with or without sleeves, a pair of knee-length breeches made of velvet and a fine linen shirt.
-
Knights
-
Wear chain mail or armor for a knight's costume. Wear a knee- or calf-length tunic with a crest design on the front. Wear a full, small-collared cape. Wear straight-legged, fitted pants and knee-length leather boots, and wrap a leather belt around your waist. Add a chain-mail coif and shirt to finish off the look. Alternatively, wear a helmet and a full suit of armor. Carry a shield and a fake sword, since many Renaissance festivals do not allow the use of real swords.
Fantasy
-
Fantasy personas are festive for a Renaissance fair. Take on a gypsy persona by wearing a full, flowing gypsy skirt, a wide belt and a chemise. Wear a fitted bodice with coins attached. Carry finger cymbals or a tambourine and wear a cloth belt with coins. Dress as a pirate by wearing a cotton pirate shirt, knee-length breeches, tall leather boots, a pirate vest and hat. Create a fairy costume by dressing in a pointed tip skirt, fitted bodice, fairy wings and a flower circlet headpiece. Paint swirling, scroll patterns on your face and around your eyes with face makeup.
-
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
