Garb question from clueless new person

[Erezebet]

***Disclaimer***I have a ridiculous question that google can't seem to find the answer for. I am stupidly new to Belegarth, have recently made several abominations of swords, and am currently nursing a shield to the head wound. If this has been covered somewhere, please feel free to flog me with whatever is handy.

My group has suggested that I get some real live garb. I sew, so that part isn't a problem. However, everyone I see have been wearing very loose pant like substances. I am recovering from a serious leg injury and have a tendency to trip over anything baggy and loose (of course, I apparently have a tendency to trip anyway as evidenced by the injury). Is there anything against having more form fitting clothing? I don't necessarily mean Catwoman in latex tight but anything that isn't baggy?

[Tiercel]

I wear very simple grey sweatpants (no logos or stripes of any kind) which are slightly split at the ankles. The best garb is always hand-made, I understand, but I'm just responding to your question of relative looseness.

A lot of loose-fitting garb is actually snug in all the right places, but that may not be apparent due to footwear. Look at this:


Not knowing whether you be male or female, there's always the option of period clothing that doesn't go all the way down to the feet. Kilts/skirts are fine if they're durable enough.

And, you know... there's always traditional pants (but not blue jeans).

There's nothing against wearing tight clothing, I suppose, as long as it doesn't look grotesque. (decided not to insert sample picture here...)

[Peanut of Loderia]

No, there isn't. Looser clothing allows for greater movement when fighting and is easier to make than form fitting clothing that does the same. However, there are a (few) people out there that I've seen in hosen.

If you like baggier clothing but dont want to trip you can always make the pants shorter or put drawstrings on the bottom of the legs.

Edit: Tiercel makes a great point.

[Erezebet]

Ah, Good points. (I be female usually. I forgot that might make a difference)
I just want to be sure I don't make a garb faux pas. There only seems to be one or two female garb guides for actual fighting.

[NessiePop]

There are VERY few rules as to what is and isn't acceptable garb. As long as it might possibly have been made before gunpowder was around (and in certain cases even that isn't a hard and fast rule, i.e. pirates) it's pretty much free game. I myself have fought in a dress several times, as well as once in a severely over-large tunic with no pants to speak of (compression shorts for modesty's sake only). It would probably be reasonable to mention my male-ness to put that into perspective.

[No'Vak]

1. Garb

1.1 Garb is defined as the clothing to be worn by all participants of Belegarth.
1.2 Minimum garb is the basic requirements for all participants. Minimum garb is defined as.

1.2.1 A tunic or tabard covering the torso.

1.2.1.1 Neutral colored t-shirts, with no visible printing, or sports bras may be worn underneath a tunic or tabard.
1.2.1.2 Wearing nothing on the torso is acceptable for men.

1.2.2 Baggy pants or trousers covering the legs.
1.2.3 Skirts, Kilts, and Dresses are acceptable substitutes.
1.2.4 Footwear should be muted colors, boots are preferred athletic shoes should be of a dark color and not unnatural. Barefoot or Sandals are acceptable.
1.2.5 Any piece of modern equipment or clothing required out of medical necessity overrules the minimum garb requirements.

1.3 Forbidden items:

1.3.1 T-shirts that are brightly colored, white, with visible logos, with visible collars, and or visible pockets.
1.3.2 Camouflage or military issued cargo pants.
1.3.3 Modern jeans of any color.
1.3.4 Modern hats.
1.3.5 Any fabrics with modern prints.
1.3.6 Any realistic weapons.

Edit: Also nothing on the torso might be acceptable for women. Ask around.

[Erezebet]

I wonder if "clumsy and prone to being tangled in own clothing" counts as medical necessity. I might go the skirt route as the worst that can happen is I end up de-skirted as opposed to tripping in my own pants legs (and now that I have said that, I fear the Gods of skirts and humor are having a meeting right now.) Thank you everyone for your help!

[Arrakis]

Hosen or just moderately fitted worsted wool pants would probably be the way to go if you're trying to look medieval at all. As a girl, you can get away with wearing basically ANYTHING on the field and almost no one will call you on it, so don't worry about faux pas. ****, even guys get away with wearing a hippy skirt and a home-made shirt.

Got any particular look or concept you wanna go for?

[Todo]

I hear Underarmor is pretty sweet.

[Erezebet]

Got any particular look or concept you wanna go for?

I'm still working on that. I did a GIS on Belegarth. I am going to attempt to copy what appears to be the norm and just make it a bit more form fitting. If that doesn't work, then I'll try the underwear solution.

[Thomas MacFinn]

I think some type of guarb should be worn at every practice. Public practices in guarb are a great recruitment tool. However, I also think guarb shouldn't be something you dread or feel forced to wear.

If you are just trying to "fit in", may I suggest sweat pants and a knee length top with slits in the front/back and/or sides up to the hip? It is minimal, you can move in it, and (depending on the fabric and cut) can be quite feminine or masculine.



As one variation on that idea, make the "fighting dress" above out of durable cloth and sleeveless with a scoop neck and fairly big arm holes. Add a shirt under it (not a t-shirt). The shirt can be a gauzy swashbuckler shirt in summer and warmer layers in winter.

I strongly encourage you to find a style that you like and run with it, whether that style is princess or pirate, monster or knight. But until that time, if guarb isn't your thing don't force it too much: make something simple that you can fight in and run with it. For practice, a belted tabard worn over a plain t-shirt and sweat pants with combat boots is still a big step up from t-shirt with words on it, blue jeans and tennis shoes.

[Derian]

A lot of people have suggested sweat pants. Don't listen to them.

Find a pattern for, say, pajama pants; even something like Simplicity would be fine. If you don't want to spend money, this one doesn't look bad: http://www.craftandfabriclinks.com/pj/p ... ttern.html. Get a nice, neutral colored fabric that's not terribly expensive (unless you want to spend more) and go with that. It will look a hundred times better than sweat pants and perform the same function.

Also, don't worry about any kind of faux pas; Belegarth is large enough and old enough that someone, somewhere has done it before. As long as you're making a reasonable effort to be in garb, you'll get no guff. Who knows, you might even come up with something others will emulate.

[Erezebet]

Thanks to all! I hit up my local Goodwill type shops and concocted a garb like outfit for the moment until I can actually sew something. I appreciate all of the suggestions and help.