Project 2

How to Thrift Your Own Renaissance Faire Costume

Official Renaissance garb can go for a pretty penny in online stores and at fairground vendors. Sometimes, the best option to look good, have money and save some coin is to thrift your own medieval costume. Not to mention, it is better for the planet and gives great use to clothing and items that would otherwise be put in landfills.

There are no rules to dressing for a faire. You can go in your pedestrian clothes if you want, but why not frolic as a serf or elf or peasant? The only rule one must know before preparing a costume for the faire is to have fun! Follow that one rule, and you’re sure to have a look that will leave all the lords, ladies and the rest of the royal court impressed.

Part 1

Beginning Thoughts

• Weather

Temperature of the fair is important and dictates what you wear. Think light layers and breathable, moisture wicking materials like cotton and linen if the weather is supposed to be hot and sunny. Dress in layers and heavy materials if the temperature or weather is going to be colder. Thrift stores usually have certain styles of clothing sectioned off based on what time of year people would wear them. Long sleeves are separate from short sleeves and so on. This helps you save time by knowing where to start your search.

• Comfort

What are your personal comfort levels when it comes to clothing? There are no rules for dressing for a ren faire, so you can show as much or as little skin as you would like. Would a slit up the skirt make you uncomfortable? Would an open chest shirt be too much for you? Know your limits ahead of time, and it will make it easy to narrow down the options as you go along.

• Mobility

Since Ren Faires are usually outside, the Faire grounds can differ from place to place. When preparing your costume to fit your mobility needs, extra accessories may be desired to decorate a wheelchair, crutches or oxygen tank. Know what makes it easiest for you to get around the way you want, and still look like royalty!

• Resources

Sometimes a purse or backpack to carry your belongings is sometimes necessary, but clashing with the costume you want. What do you need to bring along with you? An umbrella, water canteen, wallet, and good walking shoes are things that are almost always needed at a ren faire. There are often medieval accessories that can help you carry these items. Pre-loved leather bags and belts with loops are ways to stay on-theme and still carry what you need.

• Cost

Finally, budget is the most important thing to think about. Remember to thrift what you can at first, and buy what you can’t make or thrift afterwards. Depending on how elaborate you want your costume, the price point may vary.

Part 2

Research

• Accuracy

Supposing you want to look just like Queen Elizabeth I, you’ll have to do your homework. Sometimes, thrifting historically accurate costumes can be limited only to common peasant attire, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try! Crafting may have to play quite a role in your final product, but raw materials and basic essentials can be found in thrift shops if you keep a lookout for them.

• Access

Look up the thrift shops near you to look for your costume or costume materials. There are also online apps and markets that resell costumes or thrifted clothes if you are limited for physical places. Garage sales and yard sales that sell clothes are specific, but can sometimes sell the shoes or accessories you may need. It is best to have multiple options when looking, so you don’t have to find yourself being limited.

• Know Your Faire

Don’t be afraid to contact your faire officials ahead of time if you have any questions. The staff is there to help!

Common questions to ask:

• What is the terrain like?
• What is there for seating?
• What is the parking situation like?
• Do the fairgrounds get muddy when it rains?

All of these questions can help you plan an outfit ahead of time, or simply decide if you want to bother with a costume in the first place!

• Ye Old Posse

Maybe you’ve been going to faire’s for years, but this is the first time you want to go dressed up. Maybe you have a group who will coordinate their garb with you. Would be nice to know if they are planning to go as pirates so you don’t show up dressed like a peasant. Unless you like to stand out from the crowd, that is!

Part 3

Building that Costume!

• Layer Up!

Obviously not too much if it is going to be sweltering at your faire, but layers add depth and complexity to any costume. Even if you are a simple peasant or a proud monarch, layers make even the most basic costumes look official and visually interesting. Layer with a scarf, beads, belts, skirts and vests to add texture and visual hierarchy in your silhouette. The way you layer things in a thoughtful way will get your costume noticed!

• Color

If you researched medieval dress, you probably noticed that a lot of the clothing was muted or earth tone colors. Though there is no rule to Ren Faire costumes, remember that colors can help you play the part. Match earth tones with a pop of vibrant color for contrast and fun. Muted tones help play the part, but are not required. Browns, creams, muted greens and white are good bases to be accented with brighter colors as you build and accessorize. Dark, rich colors like blue and purple are often related to royalty. If this is the look you hope to achieve, start there. It’s all about the base costume you want, and the feeling you want to evoke through color.

• Material

Certain materials can also sell the costume of a medieval peasant or swashbuckler. Leather items are heavy and add the intricacy that you might need for a look. Leather is a good thing to thrift as well, since it gives a new life to a material that is exclusively non-vegan and not always economical to buy new. Any material is good to thrift for your costume, since textiles use a lot of water to be made. Also, the pre worn texture of the materials will be more comfortable and look more authentic to the time period.