Any folks here go to Renaissance Fairs???

[bleedingheart]

I have always wanted to go to one...and there is an annual one here in Pittsburgh..

I would love to wear a costume...and have many beautiful patterns I could use...in fact i already made my daughter a gorgeous (more medieval gown for halloween last year that she could wear again and again)....

however...I don't want to be a dork if I show up dressed up...and especially if I am a newbie...

any info?

[LastKnight]

1. Joust for the honor of your house

its the only way, really.

[wildhorses]

2. went to one in Florida in February...it was a Blast

by all means dress up...drink the mead and have fun

[bleedingheart]

4. I have gotten a great deal of fabric from a friend of mine

and some of it is absolutely gorgeous...I also have a pattern for a dress similar to the one in this portrait...including the headpiece...

<>

[wildhorses]

6. that is gorgeous...

there were booths set up with people selling costumes...you could make a fortune, if you are so inclined...

[bleedingheart]

10. I have seen a ton of web sites that sell costumes...but most are

kind of cheapy...and yet they charge prices that would warrant good quality fabric..

I am going to make my dress out of brocade and velvet...and perhaps make the jewelry myself...

[wildhorses]

11. oh girl ...you are so talking my language

I wish you could've seen my bridesmaids dresses (wedding #1)

they were velvet and I designed them along that same style

they were prettier than my wedding dress

I wanted a velvet gown but, I let myself be talked out of it (the velvet NOT the gown)

they said I would stand out more if my fabric contrasted with my maids

wedding #2....drove to the JOP

[bleedingheart]

15. check out this child's costume...this is gorgeous...

it is far more elaborate than the one I made for my little girl ...

http://lynnmcmasters.com/linseyatfaire.html


this looks like something that Elizabeth I would have worn as a child...

[wildhorses]

17. those pics look like they were made at a Fair

make your costumes, wear them, and have a jolly good time!!

take pics and post them in the lounge!!!

I can't wait to see them...

[Aristus]

16. Try this site:

The clothes are CLOTHES, not costumes.

http://www.museumreplicas.com/webstore/home.aspx

[bleedingheart]

18. those appear to be good quality and rather reasonably priced

I like making clothes and I have found two different patterns that I can use. The thing I find of greatest importance is using the right fabric. There is a huge difference and if you use cheap fabric it makes the outfit look awful...especially if you want to wear it again.

[NewJeffCT]

3. well, go this first time without dressing up

If you see a lot of dressed up folks, you can dress up next time.

And, isn't everybody going to one of these things something of a dork anyhow? (I'm a D&D playing geek, so I say that with affection)

[bleedingheart]

5. I am a huge history dork...and a LOTR fan from way back before

the movies...I married a guy who played D&D as a teen and together we can get pretty dorky...

I studied the period of the Renaissance over and over on my own...I love it..

perhaps I will bring costumes and if I see a lot of folks in them...I could change me and the family into them when we got there...(minvans are sometimes very convenient)

[LynzM]

7. Ooh, go and have fun!

You'll have fun whether you dress up or not, though maybe *more* fun in costume... be prepared for people who stay totally in character, even when you don't expect it! (in the bathrooms, for example, lol) I think they're a lot of fun!

[LeftyMom]

8. I do.

You'd stand out more in street clothes. That screams newb.

[WCGreen]

9. The first time I went....

It was fishy...

I stuck a filet of Cod down my pants....

Someone told me not to forget my Cod Piece....

I said, okay....

Where does it go...

They said, down your pants, man....

[rug]

12. If you dress up remove your watch.

[bleedingheart]

13. normally don't wear one anyways...but that is good advice

[CBHagman]

14. I hope you go, and do consider dressing up.

I've only been to one Renaissance fair (in Crownsville, Maryland, at a perfect setting on a perfect weekend afternoon) and thought it was great fun.

The whole point is to bask in the customs, food, arts, crafts, and clothing of bygone days, so go ahead and think about costumes!

I assume you're female. Well, a basic shift, bodice, and skirt would be appropriate. You can check patterns, or perhaps a costumer, such as Moresca (which makes the rounds of the fairs anyway).

http://www.moresca.com

Have fun!

[khashka]

19. As a member

of the Society for Creative Anachronism... I have this to say.......


Go for it, girl! And have fun!

As a newbie you might have a lot to learn.But "dork"? Never!

So do it and have a great time. I'm the bastard son of a duke and "use of weapons" is my middle name, So if any one messes with you....


Khash.

[joneschick]

32. aHA!!!!! I knew they were around here somewhere!

I met my husband in SCA many years ago. We still have active SCA friends. ahhh, Pennsic War:bounce: (a bouncy in elizabethan garb would be fun)

[ashling]

20. Love 'em, but

what's with the damn turkey leg?
The turkey is an American bird, is it not?

[XemaSab]

24. Call it a Capercaillie and you'll be good

[BreweryYardRat]

21. It depends on the temperature.

I went to one this spring in street clothes (basketball shorts and a white T-shirt), because a: it was 90 degrees, sunny, and humid as hell.

b: I don't have any Faire gear. I'm broke, so even a pair of breeches and a gambeson are out of the question.

Florida is not designed for wearing clothes appropriate to a European climate. Neither is most of America during the summer, for that matter.

But, if you don't mind sweating, go in costume and have fun. I guarantee you won't stand out.

[LaurenG]

22. I've been twice

Once in Larkspur in Colorado and one "up the street" here in Ohio. I didn't dress up but had a blast. I really liked the one in Colorado the best. We ate artichokes and visited many booths. The drum makers and swords and knife makers shops were fascinating. I hope you have a blast too.

[NV Whino]

23. I am a veteran of the "original" Renaissance Faire in CA

We used to get in free if we came in costume. We not only came in costume, we costumed our horses and rode in.

Go in costume. It allows you to be someone else for a day. Word to the wise, however, design your costume for comfort rather than authenticity. And wear comfortable shoes/sandals.

[bleedingheart]

25. so rather than velvets...it would probably be best to use linens

and cottons.....the dates in our area look to be early September and I think that will still be too hot for most heavy material..

[yellowdogintexas]

29. I would add a comment about the heat and humidity. Do think

about the temperatures in your area. I really feel for the folks in armor, wool, brocade, velvet etc at our Faire, esp as we get into May. We try to go early so we don't swelter.

Think Italian Renaissance Summer clothing, like in "Much Ado About Nothing"

soft muslins, lightweight linens, cottons etc

[yellowdogintexas]

26. at our annual REnFair, many folks dress up, and just as many

do not. RenFairs are a blast. Ours starts in April and runs through Memorial Day Weekend. If the mud fighters are there, they are hilarious also the singing nuns.

There may be a costume rental shop on the premises.

But if you have a long cotton skirt of some sort and a peasanty blouse and comfy shoes, you can blend in very well.

My daughter has several outfits. Those blousy full drawstring cotton pants are nice again with a peasant blouse..

I just wear shorts and a tee with good walking shoes, and if you do, you wont' be alone.

Some of the faires are very picky about costumes..if you are going to dress up they want you to be authentic. But if you are just wearing comfy casual modern clothes no problem.

[grannylib]

27. Yes, we go to the annual Ren Fair here in Minnesota every year.

Love it! Lots of folks in costume, others just dressed 'normal' - it's a blast either way. I particularly like seeing the demonstrations of pottery, wine-making, glassblowing, etc.

[Guava Jelly]

28. Back in the 90's i was in a wedding at the ren festival

I was best man.
check out the du

[hyphenate]

30. Get dressed!!

Ren faires are great when you can get into character. You won't be alone, trust me!

[hyphenate]

31. PS

The only warning I will give you about dressing is this:

Most ren faires are out "in the woods" or at the very least on unpaved ground. Keep that in mind when designing or considering the length of the outfit. You won't want anything dragging on the ground to get destroyed, so make it to about ankle length in order to avoid ruining the bottom of it. And wear as comfortable a shoe as possible, too. It's essentially like hiking around, and you don't want to compound that with shoes that are going to kill your feet.

[uppityperson]

33. Ren Faire costuming can be very creative, not as strict as SCA

I like Ren Faires for that reason. People come dressed in "authentic" to totally out there costuming and have fun. Yes, authenticness of SCA is good in its own way, but I prefer RenFaires.

You won't look like a dork whether you are costumed, clothed or regular wear.

[China_cat]

34. Pittsburgh or the annual Pennsic

up in Slippery Rock?

Go as a tourist. Get information about the SCA before you try going in costume. They have some pretty stringent requirements for costumes...to try to preserve authenticity.

If you go, look for a booth 'Ye Dragon and Unicorn'. Leather flagons and mugs. Really quality products. (I do their website for them, but I'm not biased, no I'm not...not at all. B-) )

[BreweryYardRat]

41. That's one of the ironic things about the SCA...

They have such high standards for costuming...and yet their fighting style is so severely limited for safety reasons that some of the best historical fighting tricks can't be used. Shield bashes, kicking the opponent in the knee or the balls or stomping on his foot, pommel strikes, moves like the one below, etc...


Plus, the wrap shot doesn't really work with anything BUT rattan swords.

[tigereye]

35. oh, the one here is great fun!

we've gone the last 2 years! (maybe we should have the next meet-up at one!)

:hi:

But if you want authenticity, I agree with CC, the SCA people are very serious about this.

[TimeChaser]

36. I go to the Pittsburgh one every year!

I usually wear a costume if I can. Even if it's just ears and a tail added to a cool outfit. :3

[deadparrot]

37. Went to one earlier this summer.

I didn't dress up (way too hot), but lots of others did. Whichever way you go, you won't be alone. :hi:

[femmocrat]

38. If you mean the one in Westmoreland County, it is closed.

It was in the news this past week. The owners are not opening it this year due to lack of patrons. Sorry!

[bleedingheart]

39. I just found out....I am devastated...hopefully I can find another one

i am bummed...

[China_cat]

40. Here you go.

http://www.parenfaire.com/
http://www.renfestival.com/