The Costumer

In Section I of this discussion, I described how and where to find help with your first costume and also talked about the necessity of passable footwear. This part of the discussion will focus on basic clothing components for your first LARP or renaissance faire costume, some of which are unisex.

PART III: Versatility

When selecting colors and sizes for your first garment, have some consideration for versatility. If you are serious about fairegoing and/or LARPing, you’ll want something that you can wear or alter for other costume pieces later. Also, if you happen to be a LARPing couple, consider a unisex garment that could fit both of you at different times. Thinking ahead can save time and money for individuals and couples.

PART IV: The tabard–oh so sweet

Everyone loves the tabard. Tabards can be worn by men or women in a LARP or faire setting. They can be plain, or indicate family history or allegiances without too much effort or talent. Tabards are very easy to make, and when women belt them, they sit well over skirts and are flatting on most figures. Tabards can also cover up some non-historically accurate clothing and keep you warm. They are pretty recongizeable as a medieval/fantasy garment. They’re also a great group costume idea, as it’s easy to make several in the same colors. You can even make your World of Warcraft guild tabard and wear it!

If you have even the slightest interest or ability in sewing, make your own tabard or find someone to help you make one. You’ll find that others will respect you more if you show up with a hand made garment, even if it is basic. Dawn’s Costume Guide has simple, clear, illustrated instructions on how to make a tabard for any size.

Over at a blog for LARPers, TinaMarie86 posted a phenomenal resource for new players and fairegoers: Garb The World. This site offers inexpensive shipping. Their costumes are very basic, and you can add to them (trim, etc.) as you see fit. This is a highly recommended site for beginners. Their tabards start at only $20.00 ($25 as pictured).

PART V: PANTS 

In the world of LARP especially, men and women can both wear pants. Females considering partaking in LARP combat should strongly consider pants versus a skirt; if they go with a skirt, they should think about a skirtkeeper (rings on the belt) or a kirtle skirt style to allow for easier movement. Remember, many LARPs run through the night and take place in the woods. It’s easy to get caught on something, which can lead to unsafe conditions, embarrassment (if the skirt goes up and there’s nothing underneath on a hot day) and slow movement. Ultimately, this can lead to character death as well, which means you will not succeed in the game as you might with pants. (This is also a consideration for men considering a kilt for LARP.)

Garb the World offers bloomers to prevent such embarrassment, and also offers a description of how and when pants and breeches were worn historically. Your Dressmaker also offers woven pants. They ship a quality product, but beware of shipping prices and slow ship time.

Check back tomorrow for further discussion of basic costume components, particularly for ladies.

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