Best products from r/renfaire

I quickly checked amazon for a ballpark on what an actual metal axe would cost. Here's the cheapest but best looking one I could find.

search results in amazon for "Viking axe"

I'm usually the first to advocate for buying from local artists but this should get you started. You can always work your way up to a more complex set of gear if you continue to go. I started dressing up in 2007 and my first costume was from some cheap online store. I made due with what I had being a freshly graduated college kid. Now I've made dressing up in garb a regular hobby... It's a slippery but fun slope you're about to venture down. Good luck putting together your kit! I hope you love your time dressed at the fest. Hopefully we'll see you post again with an update.

I cannot stress enough how happy i am with these DanceNwear tights. They come in a nice selection of colors, and cover the whole foot, as period hose should.

I love these because they're comfortable, and don't show your skin when they stretch.

My only complaint is that the legs seem to be a bit on the long side, so you may end up with extra fabric bunched up along your legs. But i tuck all that extra fabric around my thighs where my pants hide it.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EKQDM32/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1503948785&sr=8-3&pi=AC_UL420_SR280%2C420_QL65&keywords=dancenwear%2Btights&th=1&psc=1

Nope. That is one hundred percent modern. The elastic at the waistline and the overall shape of the sleeves as well as the color are all not accurate.

This one in the white and the cream isn't bad - there was something similar worn in the early 16th C in Italy, Spain, and Germany.

This is better

But, really, if you know how to sew, shifts/chemises are really simple to make. It's what I tell most people to make first when they are learning to sew. It's two big rectangles for the body, two smaller ones for the sleeves, squares for under the arms (no matter how full the sleeves are, you need the squares!), and maybe four right triangles for the gussets on the sides if you want the bottom part wide. From there, it's just gathering the neckline and the cuffs. That's it. Here's a better write up.

It takes me maybe an hour to cut out the chemise and sew it up on the machine any more. I can hand sew one, in the completely accurate way, in 8 hours.

Just get some cotton voile (sheer, hanky weight cotton) or linen (more accurate - joanns has a hanky weight linen/cotton that is FABULOUS for chemises) and sew it up.

Here is a list of free medieval and renaissance patterns that are online. Most have very simple instructions.

Couple places to get boots.

www.renboots.com

www.SCAboots.com

www.medievalcollectibles.com

http://www.pirateboots.com/

http://justintymeboots.weebly.com/


http://sonofsandlar.com/products-page/boots/peasant-boot/



At least 1 pirate boot I'm aware of on amazon (though I'm sure there are more):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002O6MLX2/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Edit: Added another site. Also, these are some of the cheaper solutions that I'm aware of. If you want to got more expensive ($500-$1000 range) you can look into custom molded to your feet, hand made shoes from places like Native Earth, Olde Soles, Windwalker boots, etc.

Thanks! Do you have a recommendation about what type of hat? I'd love to find something like Matt Cawthone's hat in The Wheel of Time, but I'm not really sure what to look for.

Edit: Would something like this work for the hat?

Such great answers! Thanks so much!

As far as bell sleeves, I was wondering about this:

https://www.amazon.com/Renaissance-Shoulder-Trumpet-Medieval-Victorian/dp/B07HKDF9HD/ref=pd_sbs_193_2/144-9980304-8426857?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07HKBMZ8T&pd_rd_r=11012014-5a0a-11e9-9d06-a332060cea22&pd_rd_w=i4QZo&pd_rd_wg=iTEm9&pf_rd_p=588939de-d3f8-42f1-a3d8-d556eae5797d&pf_rd_r=S0BN8696NMCWVQDC29GW&refRID=S0BN8696NMCWVQDC29GW&th=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002O6MLX2/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's a pretty cost effective boot, not the longest lasting ones though. Get some insoles.

Otherwise buy some work boots, you'd be surprised how they blend in with a full costume

I use a pressure sensitive tablet called a Cintiq 12wx which is essentially a monitor you can draw on. So when I say painting I mean the strokes are laid in by hand like you'd expect on a traditional painting. I have other examples of my work, virtually all of them digital, at www.caycegoldberg.com.

Thanks for looking!

As fun as they are, some people may not want to carry coinage. It's heavy and not as easy to fish out of the front of your corset if you're not wearing a purse/pouch.

Don't forget to drink a lot of water, wear SPF 1billion, and comfortable, well broken in shoes even if they're not 100% period perfect. Getting one of those anti-fatigue kitchen mats. (Like so http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EEG2UK4?psc=1) can really help too if you're standing for a long time.

Sure! I spent way too much money on all of it, haha.

Skirts from Amazon.

Mug from Amazon.

Mug frog from Medieval Collectables.

Belt from Medieval Collectables.

Bodice from Etsy.

Chemise from Etsy (but not worth it for the price, I'd probably buy one of the cheaper ones from Medieval Collectables next time).

You could get a 20 Yard Skirt. For $38, considering fabric from a local store would run you probably $2/yard and then time to sew all of that, is a steal. That's the skirt I have for my gypsy outfit (plus a peasant blouse I sewed myself, a steam-punky under bust corset bought at MI Ren Fest, shimmy belt from my belly dance club, belt from MI Ren Fest and skirt hikes I made myself). A skirt like this will run you over $100 if bought at a faire.

Amazon also has some peasant blouses for cheap:

Option 1

Option 2

But from experience they are made of a poly/poly-blend, and not a linen material. The skirt I bought that is very similar to the one linked was made from a more linen-y cotton material.

I also made the outfit of the lady sitting down in this pattern: Simplicity 5582. Was easy enough for a beginner. The bodice/vest was a bit difficult for a second-thing-ever-sewn project, and you will definitely want a sewing machine. I probably spent $50 or so on the bodice + shirt - and I bought extra fabric because I was nervous. I spent maaaaaybe $20 on both skirts. If you are crafty and can get access to a friend's sewing machine you can sew both tops and the skirts in a couple days.

I bought a pagoda style umbrella this year in case of rain. It doubles as a parasol for sunny days. I’ve just started investing in a lot more garb and needed a way to protect it somewhat! https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NTN3XVI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I haven't personally used these shops but etsy is probably still your best bet.


https://www.etsy.com/listing/605707892/pagan-style-pointy-pixie-hemmed-dress?ref=shop_home_active_29&pro=1&frs=1


https://www.etsy.com/listing/567310582/wonderland-hooded-pixie-dress-cowl-hood?ref=shop_home_active_1&crt=1


If you are working on a tight budget this might work - it's a similar concept but you lose the sleeve flares.
https://smile.amazon.com/Invug-Casual-Crewneck-Pockets-T-shirt/dp/B0753YVYN2

Another book that might be of interest is "performing the Pilgrims" which discusses the history of how the Pilgrims have be portrayed at Plimouth Plantation over the years
https://www.amazon.com/Performing-Pilgrims-Ethnohistorical-Role-Playing-Plantation/dp/1604731818