Garb upgrades/additions

[Matthias - Dun Abhon]

There've been a billion similar threads already, but virtually all of them are old with broken links and whatnot.

I'm currently looking to expand my garb wardrobe beyond the tunic + pants combo, as well as upgrade some of my gear. The three big things I want to upgrade:

Gloves: I'm currently using a single lacrosse glove for my sword hand because I got tired of hurt fingers from red weapons/hard hitters. Lacrosse gloves are enormous, way too hot, and exceptionally not-period-looking. I'd seen someone recommend these gloves (http://www.centurymartialarts.com/Glove ... loves.aspx) before, but before I go dropping $60 on a pair of gloves I'd like to know how breathable they are, how long they last, and maybe a recommendation for covering up the logo in a way that doesn't destroy the gloves or look really terrible.

Kneepads: I've been using volleyball kneepads virtually since I started fighting, and they've saved me a lot of pain, but they require semi-frequent adjustment, which is really lame. They're also not terribly comfortable, and they make my knees sweat a lot inside them (I wear them under my pants), which then makes my knee-skin all nice and soft and the inside of the kneepads promptly tear the skin all to pieces. Not cool. They're also bulky, which isn't always a problem but is often an annoyance. I've seen lots of recommendations for gel wrestling kneepads, but the fews links I saw were broken.

Shoes: I'm lame and don't have any cool period-looking shoes. All I've got are tennis shoes, and they're the same ones I wear every day. It'd be nice to maybe get some boots or something like that that are acceptably period-ish that are also rather durable and useful for general activities like occasional hiking or whatever.

Aside from those things, I'm thinking of potentially adding to my slowly-growing collection of tunics. What are some of the best ways to layer garb, and what are the best things to layer? I do most of my fighting in the summer and fall, but cold-weather ideas are also great. I've been toying with the idea of a tabard too, but I don't have any sort of emblem or anything to put on it, so it'd be a tad plain. Any other recommendations for various accessories? I don't really have any sort of specific persona/historical thing in mind; I'm more of a generic vaguely-medieval sort of guy when it comes to garb.

Any other advice is, of course, welcome!

[Artemis]

Okay this is going to be the first in a series of very long posts

Tunics. Lets start with tunics.

The basic piece of garb is the tunic. It is the first thing most players get and certainly the most common thing worn is the tunic.

There are many different kinds of tunics.
The easiest to make, the T tunic, is incredibly simple and can be made by anyone able to sew straight lines with a sewing machine. It is comparable to a t-shirt.

Instructions for making it can be found here: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-T-Tunic-f ... sance-Fair

The tunic with gores (or Viking Tunic)

This tunic is more difficult to make and i would not recommend it to anyone who hasn't sewn before. It involves measuring yourself, many more steps, many more pieces of fabric to attach together, and many more seams to sew. Be prepared to do it over the first time. It may not turn out as nice as you want. It certainly can look nice on the field though.
Here's instructions for making it: http://www.virtue.to/articles/tunic_worksheet.html

Viking Wrap Tunic

Unfortunately, i don't have the instructions for making this tunic. here's the website i found the picture from: http://www.cs.vassar.edu/~capriest/viktunic.html
If i were to make it, i would measure a rectangle for the back, as long as from the top of my shoulder down to where i wanted the tunic to end (plus a few inches) and as wide as my circumference at my waist divided by 2 and adding a few (4?) inches.
then i'd cut 2 trapezoids for the front, with the side as long (up and down) as the back panel, the bottom slightly wider than the back panel, the top as long as my shoulder, and then a diagonal line to connect the top and bottom.
I would then make sleeves by making trapezoids (these are symmetric, unlike the ones used for the front of the tunic) Measure the circumference of your wrist (or whereever you want the sleeve to end) and add 1.5-4 inches (it depends on how loose you want your sleeves to be). measure the circumference of your armpit to the top of your shoulder and back down. Add a few inches again. The wrist measurement is the top of the trapezoid, the shouder measurement is the bottom of the trapezoid. The height of the trapezoid is as long as you want the sleeve (plus an inch or two)
I would then sew the front pieces to the back piece at the shoulder seams. I'd lay it out, center the shoulder part of the sleeve with the shoulder seam on the tunic, and sew the top of the sleeve to the tunic.
I would then sew a very long seam down the edge of the sleeve (making it a tube) and sewing the front pieces to the back at the side. This should be able to happen in one big long seam.
you now have your basic tunic! I'd recommend sewing long straps to the corners of the front so you can wrap it around you and tie it in the back. Hem all your edges so it doesn't fray. if you want to add designs, go ahead!

Tunics from Patterns
For those of you who use sewing patterns to make your tunics, there are several very nice patterns available. These are definitely for advanced garb makers. If you decide to make these, you will need to understand how make gathers and how to read the instructions. If you get confused on something (such as how the yoke of the shirt (the top part at the shoulders) fits together) ask someone or look it up. there are videos that help a lot.
(Simplicity 3519)
(Simplicity 3758)
(Butterick B5008)

Other Tunic Ideas
There are all sorts of tunic ideas you can find
I am very interested in this men's russian blouse style.

Here's a variation of the Viking tunic i showed you, and an interesting website about some Viking/Norse clothing ideas: http://www.hurstwic.org/history/article ... othing.htm

Here are some nice decorations you might like to add

Here's a beautiful tunic with some very nice embroidery on it

Roman tunics look pretty easy to make too, if you look up the directions

Greek tunics, called Chitons are very easy to make. You can look up the instructions and make one for yourself.


That's all i have on basic tunics for right now. I'll come back later with sections for pants/kilts, tabards, vests, hats, and other accessories!
I hope this was helpful!

[Aimish]

Artemis, if you keep going like this, I think you will have created the most in depth garb thread I've seen.

Thank you.

[Cailte McDonough]

I just want to point out that if anyone goes Roman, I promise to out extra "stank" on any shots I throw your way. Just saying.

I am not terribly handy. I do not foam forge well (outside of maybe spears). I cannot sew exceptionally well (enough for repairs, not for ground up work). I am old, and have a job. I do not mind paying for quality work. I know that is not the case with most of our members.

I got my linen tunics for $49. I swear by them now. They bring both a period material feel, as well as breath very well (and even help cool you off once you sweat through them). Try http://www.linengarb.com/

As for gloves, I too need a bit more than my leather bracers can do, I love them, but having fought folks like Dagg, even a good bit of leather will not take the "stank" off one of his solid red swings. I have considered military style, fingerless knuckle gloves. Cheaper, but since I have only shopped online, I too wonder about actual feel and comfort. Any other suggestions that people have are welcomed.

[Ragefire]

For gloves, I'd suggest leather clamshells with padding. Order from Forkbeard, Burke or any of the other awesome leather workers in our community.

[Dabbanoth]

Kneepads - Underarmor kneepads don't have the problems you were talking about, and provide nearly as much protection as the much thicker volleyball pads. They also have padding on the sides of the knee - bonus! Best kneepads for this game, in my opinion, worth the price.
Tabards (and tunics) - Trims/Bias tape go a long long way. Bi-Color tabards, with trim, will have as much going on visually as simple Logo-on-Field tabards.
Vibram FiveFingers may not look overly period, but they are widely accepted and popular form of footwear on most national fields. I wore a pair to death in about 2 years of nearly-daily heavy use, so I definitely recommend them on the basis of durability (make sure to wash them often - the smell is lethal). It's more or less like fighting barefoot without having to worry about your feet getting chewed up - a definite plus.

[Matthias - Dun Abhon]

For gloves, I'd suggest leather clamshells with padding. Order from Forkbeard, Burke or any of the other awesome leather workers in our community.

Will those enable me to think nothing of punchblocking a red shot? Because I can do that most of the time with the glove I've got now, and I'd rather not downgrade in protection if at all possible.

Kneepads - Underarmor kneepads don't have the problems you were talking about, and provide nearly as much protection as the much thicker volleyball pads. They also have padding on the sides of the knee - bonus! Best kneepads for this game, in my opinion, worth the price.

http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/a ... pid1218126
http://www.underarmour.com/shop/us/en/u ... pid1223509
These are the only two types of kneepads I've been able to find on their website, and neither of them look like they have much in the way of side-padding (except maybe the second one). Are either of these what you meant?

[Artemis]

PANTS/KILTS/STUFF

There are several options for what you can wear on your bottom half. Most people chose to go with pants, though kilts are fun additions, and some tunics (sometimes roman or greek styles) are not made to be worn with pants. I would first like to say that no matter what you are wearing, SOME kind of pants/shorts should be worn! I don't care if you want to go regimental. You WILL fall on the ground, you WILL spin/jump and your tunic/kilt will fly up, you WILL sit wrong. I don't know what the official rules say about this, but i can assure you no one will find it amusing if you aren't wearing shorts/boxers/swim trunks underneath.

Now, back to the garb ideas

The easiest garb you can find for pants is just go to a thrift store and look for black sweatpants.

Find ones with a drawstring that are slightly too big. Make sure they don't have any designs or stripes on them. Take them home and neatly cut off the elastic at the bottoms (this is also your chance to cut them short enough to fit you). Hem the bottoms of the pants with a zigzag stitch so they won't fray when you wear them. You now have baggy black pants that are acceptable to wear. This is only temporary garb though and you need to be on the lookout for something better to wear.
You can also sometimes wear pajama pants if you can find ones that work (this isn't a guarantee). I can't find a good picture to show you, but generally they would be loose and baggy, brown or black, and have no decorations or patterns on them (though i've seen small brown stripes that looked alright). If you find a pair of pants that are too light-colored to use, you might want to experiment with dyeing them darker brown or black. As with sweatpants, pajama pants are only temporary and you need to find a better pair of pants soon. (especially because i rarely see good pj pants for garb)

Beginner Sewing Pants
For people who don't like cutting a lot of strange shapes, this pattern is for you: http://images.km.ru/images/tourism/porty.jpg The picture isn't drawn well so i'll explain. You have 3 pieces of fabric. the two outside ones are the pant legs, and need to be wide enough to wrap around you leg comfortably. The centerpiece is the crotch piece and needs to be 5-8 inches wide and long enough to go between your legs and back up to your waist. The picture doesn't really show proportions very well. Part 1 just shows your fabric lying out. the side pieces are much wider than the middle. Part 2 is the middle piece folding up to make the crotch. Part 3 is the side pieces folding in half to make the legs. After you fold them like shown and pin the pieces together, you just sew the crotch to the front and back of the legs, and then sew the legs into tubes.
For people who want a little less sewing, but don't mind cutting funny shapes, here's your pants.

the directions are a bit wordy, but it's not too difficult.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to- ... /?ALLSTEPS
simply put, you cut out the fabric like it says using another pair of loose pants (remember your fabric is folded in half), you sew up the side until you get to the curved part near the top. You turn one of them inside out and put the other one inside it, matching up the curved U openings. Sew along the U. You can now pull the pant leg out of the other, and ta da, you have pants. You'll need to put a drawstring in it or put belt loops on. drawstrings are easy. just look them up. REMEMBER: WHENEVER YOU MAKE PANTS, REINFORCE THE STITCHING ALONG THE CROTCH. YOU DON'T WANT IT TO RIP

Baggy pants/Rave Pants/Phat Pants

These pants go by several names but i've seen a number of pictures on the boards of people wearing them. They're not too difficult to make, but they require quite a bit of fabric. The following link will tell you how to make them (please ignore the fact that these pants are blue and shiny)
http://www.instructables.com/id/Phat-Pants/?ALLSTEPS
NOTE: the directions are a bit unclear as to how the pant legs are sewn together. They are sewn together the same way the pants above are put together. Turn one pant leg inside out, and put the other pant leg inside it. Match up the U and sew along the U. Reinforce the seams, and flip the other pant leg back out. Hem everything and put a drawstring in.

Dagorhir Pants (pretty much the same as above)


Wrap Pants

I think these pants would work really well, especially since you can tie them over the pants you're already wearing!
The directions are nice and clear, and also check out the pictures at the bottom of the page. Those wrap pants look like they would work well too.
http://laupre.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/ ... -tutorial/

Pants from Patterns
Using patterns is nearly always more complicated, and gives you more authentic/official looking clothes. Here are a few patterns with pant instructions
Simplicity 4059
Simplicity 8913
Butterick B4574

A Few Other Ideas

Patiala Pants


Knee Breeches


Persian Pants


Leather Leggings








Now for KILTS!!!!

Kilts are wonderful and fun to wear, but they can be expensive. Since there is so much tradition behind the kilt, you may want to research tartan patterns before you buy anything. It's always fun to wear your family/group's colors. If your family doesn't have their own tartan, you can pick one randomly or pick one that has some significance to you (you can pick one that has the colors of your realm, there's an official tartan for people who don't have claim to other tartans, many countries, states or cities have their own tartans too).
I ask you again, please make sure you wear shorts/boxers/swim trunks underneath your kilt. Nobody wants their day ruined by you falling down.

UTILIKILTS ARE NOT GARB! They are made to look like a modern. Often they are made from denim, which is not usually approved for garb making.

Regular Kilts


First of all, i don't know if i would recommend going out and buying a kilt to fight in. Most kilts you find will be made as formal wear and can be extremely expensive, and it would be very unfortunate if you were to mess yours up. While it would be awesome to have one, most people don't have the money and must figure out another way to go.

The easiest (and worst looking) way to make a kilt is simply wrap a plaid or tartan fabric around your waist and belt it on. While this is neither correct or nice-looking, it might pass.

Here are instructions on how to make a basic kilt. Be warned, this isn't for beginners. It can be difficult to get the pleats correct, and i would make sure i knew what i was doing before i started this.
http://sewingsteps.com/blog/sewing-tips ... ep-by-step
This video is also shows a very good way to make a kilt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a02zjNcW ... re=related

The Greatkilt

The Greatkilt is much closer to the original kilt worn by scotsmen. It is not the same as the modern kilt (which is very different and has changed quite a bit). It uses quite a bit more fabric but does not need any sewing (besides making sure the edges don't fray)
This video give an EXCELLENT demonstration of how to put on a greatkilt and various styles and uses it has.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBbg953p ... re=related

The Sporran


No kilt is complete without a sporran (and some consider it wrong to wear a kilt without a sporran). As you want to look your best, you certainly will want to wear a sporran.




Other Garb
I mentioned before, some styles of garb may not call for pants underneath the tunic. I find that roman and greek styles often do not call for pants.


The roman tunic and the greek chiton above do not need pants. They look best when worn with high-lacing sandals.


Okay everyone, 2 posts down. Several more to go! if you see any mistakes or something i should correct, please message me! If you know of something that i will need to add, tell me! i'm hoping to create an extremely in-depth and comprehensive list of garb recommendations and i dont want to leave things out.

[Dabbanoth]

The first one - The circle, at least on my knees, runs onto the sides of my knees partially

[Artemis]

Wonderful! now that we've got the basics done, shirts and pants and such, we can move on to layering, decoration, and cooler looking stuff.

TABARDS DOUBLETS AND VESTS

The Tabard


For those of you who don't know,
"A tabard is a short coat common for men during the Middle Ages. Generally used while outdoors, the coat either sleeveless, or had short sleeves or shoulder pieces. It could also be worn with or without a belt. Tabards might be emblazoned on the front and back with a coat of arms, and in this (livery) form they survive now as the distinctive garment of officers of arms in heraldry..... In the late Middle Ages tabards, now open at the sides and so usually belted, were worn by knights over their armour, and usually emblazoned with their arms... These became an important means of battlefield identification with the development of plate armor as the use of shields declined."
~Tabard, Wikipedia

Tabards are extremely useful for garb because not only can they be very simple to make, they are very good for making you look great since they are so customizable.

As usual, i'll start with the simplest first.


This pattern is the easiest piece of garb there is. There isn't really even any sewing to do, unless you choose to hem it. The only other thing you will need is something to belt it with.
here's the website explaining how to make it: http://amtwiki.net/amtwiki/index.php/Tabard
You don't need to put any sort of shield, symbol, or heraldry on the front, but it makes a beautiful personalized touch.

Two Color Tabard (Quartered)

This link will explain how to make a quartered tabard. The second set of instructions is what you are looking for. The instructions are a bit complicated, especially dealing with the neck hole. There are several easier ways to make it, and you can use those if you want.
http://www.amtgard-wl.com/library/howtos/how2tunic.pdf

The following pictures will show you different common styles and themes tabards usually have. You can experiment with various things until you find the right thing for you!






Musketeer Tabard
While i'm not sure whether this would be considered legal garb or not (it may depend on the realm. My realm would say no because it's after gunpowder), This style of tabard could be fun. Be sure to check with your realm leaders before making it. You might want to just change the heraldry or colors so it does not directly represent the Musketeers.




VESTS and DOUBLETS!
(Doublet)

(Vest)

We are now at the point where it becomes very difficult to make things without having a pattern. Unless you know something about pattern drafting (making your own patterns) you will need to buy, borrow, or find a pattern to use.
if you do happen to be good at pattern drafting, here
http://www.renaissancetailor.com/demos_patterndraft.htm
If you don't, i'd recommend some of the following patterns.
(Simplicity 4059)
(Butterick 4828)
(McCalls M4695)
(Simplicity 5925)

Here are some great examples of Doublets, Vests, and Jerkins done right


This link is a pattern for the above picture: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wT16fLPa0Oo/T ... oublet.jpg

[Artemis]

Alright girls, this is what you've been looking for! Here's a section entirely about all the stuff that girls can be deadly in! (most of this is lifted from the Garb for Chicks forum, there's a better list of stuff there)













This dress is called an Apron Dress. I've found it really useful. It laces up and looks nice. I made mine calf length so that it wouldn't hinder me much when i was legged. You can find the instructions for it right here: http://beryndor.runboard.com/t29710









Dresses
The most common form of garb for girls to wear (besides regular tunic and pants) is a dress. They can be simple or elaborate, but if you think you can fight in it, go for it. I find long skirts can be a bit annoying when you've been legged, so my favorite dress to wear is this Apron Dress. http://beryndor.runboard.com/t29710
I made it calf-length so i could avoid stepping on it, and i made it out of a tan denim material for it's sturdiness.

Corsets
Many girls fight in corsets and while some may find it more difficult to fight in them, that's not a guarantee. If you find a corset that you are comfortable fighting in, there are quite a few benefits. The first is that you look great. It's so much easier to fight when you know you look awesome fighting in that garb. (Also, guys are easier to kill when they're distracted.) I've found that corsets can be helpful as padding/armor. While they don't count as real armor, it still feels better to have that boning there when you're up against a heavy hitter with a red.

Tunics, Bodices, Tabards, and Pants
Most of what guys wear can be directly or indirectly re-purposed for girls to wear. You can just wear the exact same thing with no modifications, or you can alter the pattern slightly or get a female version of the pattern to make it fit better. This often includes adding laces to the garb.

Some Patterns
(Butterick 6196)
I've found the bodice on this pattern is very great to pair with any shirt/skirt/pants combo.

(Simplicity 3623)
This one has a good bodice pattern also

Butterick B4254

[Celtic Christ]

As far as kilts go there are several cheaper options. I fight in an ancient kilt and love the cooling draft it gives. Technically you're allowed to wear any tartan that you can find. There used to be specific laws against using a tartan that you weren't associated with and it's still considered bad form but not nearly to the extent that it was. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=338643832860024&set=t.100003686779916&type=3&theater this one I picked up for $60 at http://www.kilts-n-stuff.com/tartan-kilt/homespun-kilts/clearance-non-clan-15.html . They offer a whole mess of other tartans and kilt styles. Mine's just 6 yards of single width fabric. Learning how to pleat, wrap, and keep from having a wardrobe malfunction took a bit of doing though. Roaming around their site will give you a better idea of kilt styles, tartans, and pricing for them.

[Artemis]

Hats and Shoes

People often forget that good headgear and good footwear can really add to your character. Proper shoes will make a huge difference in your garb and fighting. A hat can not only make you look great, it can also provide shade so you don't get sunburned or blinded and keep sweat out of your eyes. Some hats are easy and cheap to make, while some must be bought. Shoes, unfortunately, are rather difficult to make and i won't be providing any links so you can make your own.

Hats

Bandanas and Headscarves




Scarves and bandanas can be very useful for keeping your hair controlled and the sweat out of your eyes. You've gotta be careful though, because most scarves or bandanas with patterns on them will be illegal. I would recommend only wearing a plain colored one with nothing on it.

Floppy Hats

Both of the hats in this picture are the same style hat. We call them floppy hats though their official name may be Renaissance Flat Caps. They are incredibly easy to make. Also, they make really great Frisbees and fans.
http://www.costumes.org/history/100pages/renhat.htm

Muffincap

This video shows how to make one. I know she's speaking in German, but there are english subtitles that explain everything you need to know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9AKatBlAL8

Cavalier Hat

The cavalier hat is an extremely popular hat. I imagine it's rather difficult to fight in (especially with the feathers), but it makes an excellent addition to any set of garb! Unfortunately, They are rather difficult to make so I'm going to recommend buying one.

Tricorn Hat (aka Pirate Hat)

The tricorn hat is another very popular hat. This one is possible to make on your own maybe? I haven't tried it. I will leave you to figure out it you want to/ mess with making one or just buying one.

Cowl

A Cowl is a piece of clothing that covers the shoulders and has/is a hood. (It is also a monk's robe with a hood) They are not too difficult to make and since they aren't often worn by other fighters, will set you apart from them. You'll most often find Archers wearing them.
Instructions: http://www.costumesupercenter.com/csc_i ... lhood.html

Robin Hood Hat

These are pretty simple to make too. Try to use a stiffer fabric. Soft floppy fabrics don't work very well.
http://craftystaci.com/2010/04/17/robin-hood-hats/

Snood

All of the other hats can be worn by either sex, but the snood is specifically for girls. When attached with hairpins, it will stay on your head and keep your hair out of your way, while looking pretty at the same time.
If you know how to crochet, here's the video you want. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnwML6mCTyg
If you don't know how to crochet, you can buy them online relatively cheaply.


SHOES!

While i know some people who prefer to fight barefoot (myself included occasionally), most of you reading this will want proper footwear. Unfortunately, this can be an expensive proposition. Nothing i post here will be easily makable and quite a bit of it will cost over a hundred dollars. Generally footwear is one of the pieces of garb left out for that reason. Please remember that sneakers or tennis shoes are discouraged. I'm sure your realm will understand if you have absolutely nothing else, but sneakers are definitely a bad thing.

Athletic Sandals
(Teva) (Chaco) (Vibram)
Athletic sandals are acceptable to wear as long as they are securely attached to your foot and will not accidentally come off. They should also be brown, black, tan, or some other earth-toned color. I've listed the top 3 brands that i know (though i think walmart sells them too. but those are nasty and give you blisters). Most people i fight with wear some kind of athletic sandal. The upside is they are usually cheaper than leather boots, can be worn almost anywhere all summer, and can last a long time. My pair of Teva's are going on 7 years of daily summer use. The downside is they can still cost quite a bit (unless they're cheapo walmart ones), they don't look as good as leather boots, and you have a tendency to get your toes stepped on (and tonails broken). The last point is my least favorite thing about them. Be warned, if you wear athletic sandals, you will occasionally get broken toenails and end up bleeding somtimes.

Boots


Boots can possibly be the most expensive piece of garb you own. I've seen boot prices ranging from $50-$800. It's possible to buy leather boots for $30 or $40, but i'd be willing to bet they wont' last you the summer. If you want a good investment, do a bunch of research and figure out which boots will last you a while. I'd guess a good price range would be $150-$200 for a pair (someone correct me if i'm wrong). I think once you get above a hundred dollars (or if you buy them from a renaissance faire) they should last a few years at least.

Mary Janes

I know quite a few girls who wear Mary Janes (flats) when they dress in garb. These shoes tend to be less expensive than leather shoes and look fine with skirts. If you're on a budget, i might recommend getting these

Other Shoes









Boot Tops

I would like to mention boot tops. These are made to be put on over your shoes and then strap underneath your arch so that it looks like you are wearing boots. This is a cheaper alternative if you want the look but don't have the money.




That's my section about Hat and Boots!!! All i have left is Accessories, and what a section that will be.

[Shell]

That's my section about Hat and Boots!!! All i have left is Accessories, and what a section that will be.

F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5

[Arrakis]

Quick notes:

What time period do you want to do and where do you want to do it? 14th C. English is one look and it's Completely Different from 12th C. England and from 13th C. Italian, let alone from 3rd C. Italian (Roman) or 8th C. Turkish or 15th C. Japanese. Mashing up styles and pieces from different eras and locations has some small potential, occasionally, to look neat, but it mostly just looks insane and ridiculous, so picking a place and time for any given outfit is very important.


There is no reference of the Scottish kilt until after the widely-accepted time cutoff for Belegarth garb. If you simply must wear plaid, there is documentation of playd (plaid) cloaks and tunics earlier in Scottish (and British, in general) history; great kilts are probably the absolute latest you can get away with without leaning heavily on the very shaky "but it's fantasy!" excuse. If you just like wearing skirts/not wearing pants, however, there are plenty of options: The greek chiton, the Roman tunica (no pants for the early Romans! Pants were considered barbaric by the ancient Greeks and effeminate by the Romans), the skirts and kilts worn by the ancient Egyptians, Sumerians, Babylonians, the long tunics of the Assyrians...


Mary Janes-style shoes are very similar, superficially, to the sort of buckled shoe (kuhmaul) worn by (Landsknecht) mercenaries (and others, as they became a fashion trend) in the late 15th C. and early 16th C.


Tabards as they're worn by reenactors (SCA, LARP, etc.: as a sideless garment with no sleeves) do not appear to have been as common historically as oversized tunics, sleeveless or with sleeves worn over the first layer of clothes (which were almost always worn over a layer of underclothes (braies, shirt)) or over armor.


Re: Doublets and the like. THE book to buy to make garments from 1200-1500 is "The Medieval Tailor's Assistant" by Sarah Thursfield. Most of the patterns are conjectural or at least partially speculative, but she worked to make sure the finished silhouettes are correct and the level of detail is very high. It is available on Amazon.com.


The pants listed above as "Persian" are really closer to a late period Japanese style of a viking style from Sweden than to any Middle Eastern style I've heard of. For most of the high middle ages, you want either split hosen or joined hose for European characters/outifts. Google "Thorsberg trousers" to get an idea what type of trousers would have been worn early in the period by some European peoples. A nice, easy way to make split hose and braies (the underwear worn with them) may be found: http://www.scribd.com/doc/30096326/13th-Century-Braies and http://www.scribd.com/doc/7676396/Makin ... -Cut-Hosen



So, to the OP: What time period and location do you want to do?

[Artemis]

So, to the OP: What time period and location do you want to do?

Thank you Arrakis for all your input. I'm not sure if this is directed at me or not, but i'll answer it anyway. I'm not aiming for any one look with this post. I'm building a list of garb ideas and what is generally acceptable garb (as far as i know) so that others will be able to plan and build their garb more easily. I plan adding a post at the end of several different costume collections so that you can have a specific character such as a Viking, Roman, Pirate, ect.

As for the names of the garb, I listed the names which i found them under when i looked them up. List the ones that might need correction and i'll check them out.

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.

1.2.3 Skirts, Kilts, and Dresses are acceptable substitutes.
I believe this clears up any issues with wearing a kilt. I'd assume this would apply for both Greatkilts and more modern kilts.
Thank you for mentioning some of the more ancient cultures, I need to remember to add a list of what could be considered an outfit for them.

That's a very interesting bit of information about the Mary-Jane shoes. I didn't know that. I honestly didn't know whether they were technically acceptable or not, but as we're allowed to wear them in cast at the RenFaire, i guessed no one would have problems with them. Thanks for the info.

[Matthias - Dun Abhon]

OP = original poster. It was directed at me.

Arrakis, I don't actually know yet. I'm in the process of researching something at the moment. I don't know if you remember me well enough to make a recommendation for a time period/geographical area from the day you came to Dun Abhon.

[Arrakis]

OP = original poster. It was directed at me.

Arrakis, I don't actually know yet. I'm in the process of researching something at the moment. I don't know if you remember me well enough to make a recommendation for a time period/geographical area from the day you came to Dun Abhon.

It's really entirely up to personal preference. I have some generic viking outfits, a generic middle eastern outfit, and some 14th C. English stuff in the works for my SCA kit, as well.

I'm just now starting to hone in on the specific centuries and local areas I want to do, myself. Possibly 9th C. Anglo-Dane, or maybe 9th C. Rus khaganate, for my Viking, and perhaps Berber for my Middle Eastern...

Most of the differentiators are in the details. How long your tunic is, what kind of hat you wear, what colors you wear most, do you favor X or Y kind of this or that (pins, pouches, armor), what color and how long your turban is, etc.

[Artemis]

Alright Everyone, here's the fun section! here's all your Accessories! First, i need to remind you that according to the rules 1.3.6 Any realistic weapons are forbidden. We don't want anyone getting hurt

A few notes about this section.
I am posting this almost entirely so you can make your character/costume look better. I'm not sure if everything on here will be legal to wear during fighting, but i can guarantee that there will be some things that you just wont want to fight with. I'll try to mention what's not recommended, but just be intelligent about what you decide to wear. It may look cool but it could also be encumbering or breakable. Please choose wisely.

Cloaks and Capes


Cloaks (with hoods) and Capes (without hoods) are always fun to wear, especially if it's cold, windy, or raining. Some of the fuller cloaks can get a bit expensive, due to the fabric needed. (seriously, it takes 7-8 YARDS of fabric just for that first cloak i posted) Some Realms allow cloaks to be worn and some do not due to the possibility of entangling a weapon. I know some people like to use them as defense, or to confuse their opponent, but be careful because you don't want to entangle their weapon.
Also, the second picture i posted is a Fencing Cape. I believe it is Elizabethan Era? anyway, be careful if you decide to wear this. It may not be from your time period.

Bracers, Vambraces, and Greaves

Bracers are arm-guards worn mostly by archers. They are designed to protect both the inside and outside of the arm, from bowstrings and weapons respectively.
Vambraces are also arm-guards worn to protect the arm. Unlike bracers, they may not cover the inside of the arm and wrist.
Greaves are armor designed to protect the legs and shins.
It's not difficult to make your own Bracers/Vambraces our of leather. here's a basic pattern to cut and decorate as you choose. http://www.bladeturner.com/pattern/lvamb/lvamb.html
You don't need to use the measurements written. You should measure your arm and use the circumference at wrist, circumference below elbow, and forearm length instead of their numbers.

Mugs

Mugs are a nice thing to carry around with you. They come in useful when you're thirsty, they carry ale, and they look pretty cool hanging from your belt on a Mug Frog (see next post). Generally wooden, pewter, ceramic, and leather are all acceptable. Be careful because ceramic can break, and none of them will appreciate getting hit with a sword.

Mug Frog (Mug Strap)

A Frog is a strap (usually leather) that attaches things such as sword sheathes, mugs, and whatever else you want to hang onto your belt. Mug Frogs in particular have a snap or button so you have easy access to your mug. These are incredibly useful for hanging pretty much whatever you want on your belt.

Belts

D-ring belts are the most common belts you'll find. They are named thus because of the single D-ring on the end instead of a buckle. Once you learn how to tie them (not difficult), you'll look great! A much cheaper belt is a simple rope belt. Jeweled girdles (2nd picture) were worn by noble ladies. They are not meant to have anything hung on them, so no swords or mugs hanging from Girdles. The 4th picture is a rapier sheath and kudos to you if you can find/make a decent sheath for hanging belegarth weapons. That picture was mostly just included to show you can hang sword sheaths on your belt outside of belegarth.

Pouches

Bags and pouches are wonderful for carrying all sorts of things, be it money, a sweat rag, keys, or anything else you might want on your person. You can buy them or make your own easily enough

Horns/Drinking Horns

Horns are really fun extra decorations you can wear and carry. Drinking horns are specially coated on the inside so your drink stays clean. Other horns are made for noisemaking and have a hole carved into the tip. While both are fun to have, i wouldn't recommend fighting with them hanging from your belt. They would crack and break with the first hit.

Gorgets

The gorget was originally a piece of armor worn by knights and swordsmen to protect the neck. It has since changed more into shoulder protection and/or a simply decorative piece. It can be made of leather or metal, and is possible for you to make. For a gorget that will protect your neck, you can look here for directions. Be warned, it's not easy to make. http://www.mrows.org/isles/gorget/index.html
For a gorget that is more shoulder protection/decorative, click the next link. It's extremely simple. You'll need to scroll nearly halfway down the page to the Mantle/Yoke/Gorget section.
http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/Hum ... Ranger.htm

Fan

These fans are wonderful! They are extremely effective and you can generally hang them on your belt. Who wouldn't want a fan to cool off after a fight? Try not to get one that looks too Aisan-y.

Hip Scarves, Coin Belts, Bells, Jingleys and Shinies

Jingles, Shineys, Coins and Bells are fun to wear. I suppose you could fight in them, but they are more just for looking good and making noise. If you learn/know how to belly dance, kudos.

Belt Flag/Belt Sash/Butt Flag

There are two in this picture being worn from the belt. One is on the far left on the man in the kilt and one is the bottom right corner.



A belt flag is a piece of fabric (usually rectangular and about as large as your spread hand) that attaches to your belt to display your heraldry or realm symbol. It can be used to identify teams or realms t events, and is often worn in place of a tabard (for identification). Belt Flags can be all shapes and sizes, as shown above.

Armor

I think everyone on the field wishes they had a really cool set of armor. They might not want to wear it, but i'm pretty sure they wish they had it. If you can get something wonderful like this together, you shouldn't be reading these posts.



alright, that's pretty much it for right now. If i missed things, tell me. One more post left i think I'll be explaining different sets of garb from various time periods/cultures/professions/characters. =)

[Aimish]

This thread needs to be stickied for future generations.

[Arrakis]

I sort of hate to do nothing but throw in addendums and restrictions and quid pro quos... but you're doing such a good job bringing up and writing about all of this stuff and I have details in my head that may provide enrichment, so, well: No shade, alright?

Re: Armor history and armor worn with garb

Bracers/Vambraces, Greaves, Gorgets, and all other armor is not garb in Belegarth and you're supposed to be wearing passing, field-legal garb regardless of any armor you may or may not be wearing (but me no buts about the enforcement of this stipulation). That said, armor can look very very nice and definitely enhances your appearance as a warrior; the best warriors throughout history armed and armored themselves as well as possible in their time and culture.

Speaking of which: Armor history is almost as crazy as fashion history as far as trends go, but it much simpler as far as available manufactury was concerned. The primary armor from the decline of Rome to the 15th C. was maille. It was almost exclusively either riveted rings or half-stamped-from-a-solid-sheet rings (like washers), half-riveted rings; there are no surviving examples of butted maille (to my awareness) that are believed to have been intended as anything more than ceremonial wear; not real armor. Riveted maille is significantly more time-consuming to produce and therefore more expensive nowadays, so many people use butted, but butted is commonly heavier (due to larger wire thicknesses needed to keep the maille from pulling itself apart). Again, this is the most common non-cloth defense for over 1000 years. The main variations over the centuries were proportion of solid rings, flattened wire or round wire, pin rivets or wedge rivets, and some preferences as regards ring diameter and wire gauge.

Earlier than maille you see some harnesses of scale (either riveted in overlapping rows to a leather or cloth backing or laced one to another): the Roman lorica squamata or the tunics of scale seen in some artwork depicting Assyrians and other Mesopotamian peoples); some solid plate pieces: the bronze greaves and breastplates of the Greeks, the very thick and heavy iron segmented cuirass of the Romans (lorica segmentata); and of course plenty of cloth armors.

Later than maille, solid plate armor makes a return (in the interim there isn't, generally speaking, enough industry available to support the large-scale manufacture of solid plates of considerable size and number, resulting in very little non-maille metal armor outside of helmets, often constructed from smaller plates in the style of the spangenhelm). First came elements like the armored surcoat and the various kinds of Coats of Plate (such as those found at the Visby/Wisby, Sweden excavation), many with small integral shoulder cops; greater numbers of one-piece raised helmets; then metal knee cops and elbow cops, to defend the fragile joints; then solid breastplates and backplates; vambraces, greaves, rerebraces (upper arm), spaulders/pauldrons (shoulder), cuisses (thigh); various arrangements of faulds or tassets (to protect the hip); and finally gorgets, to replace the maille helmet drape and/or coif of earlier days. At first, these were worn over maille and padding, then, later, as they became more encompassing and complex, they were more often worn over only some maille and very little padding if any. This is a very general outline, mind you. Look for details for your period on the internet: The Armor Archive is an excellent resource, as are museum's websites and intelligently-worded Google searches.

End armor history section lol


Cloaks and capes aren't very well distinguished in period literature and writings, much as with many other articles of distinction we'd make today; Medieval languages weren't very well known for differentiating between things with specific words when one blanket term or set of terms will do for all of them. Most medieval cloaks, for example, did not have integral hoods; the hood, rather, was almost always a separate garment entirely and often hoods were worn in colors that contrasted with the cloak or surcoat; that was what passed for good taste, back then.


Regarding belts, "ring" belts are pretty much an SCA-ism that has snuck into all of Medieval reenacting; there is pretty much no evidence that people ever used such a thing. Mostly because simple buckles with tongues aren't very difficult to make, especially compared to, say, a good scythe or plow, or even a hinge. Leather was pretty expensive, though (raising cows was a land-intensive proposition!), so belts tended to be rather narrow: 1/2"-1" is plenty wide for a medieval belt. Often belts were of woven thread, instead (Google tablet weaving or card weaving or inkle weaving). Raymond's Quiet Press has an enormous amount of nice, period buckles and chapes and such to finish any belt you like and I'm sure there are other retailers offering similar services, as well. Ring belts do look perfectly fine to most folks, though, if that's the look you fancy. I consider it "plausibly fantastical", personally.


The "Heraldry/Ream Symbol flag thingies" are an anachronism referred to as "belt flags" and are at the same time very common on modern foamfighting, and to a lesser extent SCA, fields, incredibly non-medieval, and exactly the sort of thing I'm surprised no one ever thought up and used in the middle ages. Surcoats, flags, banners all were commonly splashed liberally with the colors or arms or flag of whomever one happened to be fighting for; armor was even painted and horses bardings were coordinated! So, while it would be infinitely preferable from a historical standpoint to put these devices on a tabard or surcoat or helm or banner, these bizarre belt accoutrements are kind of in the spirit of the middle ages. They're hard, in my opinion, to work in a non-jarring way into historical garb, but they're probably here to stay and that's alright.


Pockets and pouches: Interestingly, what we now call pouches were once called pockets! Often, they were worn openly on the belt over the outer garment, as you see in many pictures of event-goers nowadays, but just as often they were worn on a belt over the inner garment (undertunic below a tunic, cote under a surcoat, doublet under a cotehardie or gown) and accessed by means of a slit or unsewn length of the side seam of the outer garment. This let the wearer keep their valuables close and out of reach of thieves without having to disrobe to get money out for a purchase.



And remember, everyone: These guides and the like are fun places to start, to get a feel for or an idea of what you'd like to do or what direction you may like to take your garb, but there's nothing like focused research to really help you understand just what your character would be wearing or what your impression is missing to really look and feel just right. The devil, as always, is in the details, and be sure to be respectful of the cultures you're drawing on, as well. Just because something looks weird to you, or is foreign, doesn't make it garb!

[Matthias - Dun Abhon]

It's really entirely up to personal preference. I have some generic viking outfits, a generic middle eastern outfit, and some 14th C. English stuff in the works for my SCA kit, as well.

I'm just now starting to hone in on the specific centuries and local areas I want to do, myself. Possibly 9th C. Anglo-Dane, or maybe 9th C. Rus khaganate, for my Viking, and perhaps Berber for my Middle Eastern...

Most of the differentiators are in the details. How long your tunic is, what kind of hat you wear, what colors you wear most, do you favor X or Y kind of this or that (pins, pouches, armor), what color and how long your turban is, etc.

http://www.hurstwic.org/history/article ... othing.htm
Based on that (previously linked by Artemis), I think that that sort of Norse style is what I'm going for, though suggestions of any sort of similar styles are, as always, more than welcome. I've got a couple of tunics that run in that vein, but that's really about it. I've never tried those leg wraps before, but I've seen other people wearing them. I think I'd need a good footwear upgrade before wearing them, though, seeing as I'm still using tennis shoes.

It was also suggested to me to consider a Teutonic-style of garb because of my German ancestry (and the fact that I'm studying to be a German professor probably doesn't hurt), but the only pictures I could find looked exactly the same: armored dude with a white tabard bearing the teutonic cross. Is there something I'm missing?

[Arrakis]

Norse is a classic style; that site's information is a good place to start: none of it seems, on the surface, to be massively wrong in any sense.

As far as German characters, you're getting results for the Teutonic Order of knights that was involved in some of the Crusades. There are many Germanic cultures whose garb you could do, from the German Landsknecht mercenaries of the late 15th C. back to the "barbarian" tribes the Romans first encountered in those lands. Just research each individual culture you're interested in; I'm sure you know the history of the region pretty solidly, given your choice of intended profession.

[Artemis]

Thanks for all the info. We don't need to sticky this thread, I'm planning on making a much more streamlined thread once i finish writing. This one i'm kinda just using for storing the info and adding/editing based on your comments. When i'm satisfied with the results, i'll copy everything i've written (and quite a bit of what you all have written) to a new thread. Hopefully we can sticky that new thread for future easy garb reference for everyone.

Until then, i'll just keep working on what i've got.

[Arrakis]

Oh man, you should definitely put it up as a wiki page, instead of a stickied thread. Then, we can all edit it continuously as we get new information.

Maybe we could get a stickied thread that points to it and other resources of interest.

[Aimish]

Maybe we could get a stickied thread that points to it and other resources of interest.

The Tutorials Sticky would probably work for that.

[Arrakis]

Maybe we could get a stickied thread that points to it and other resources of interest.

The Tutorials Sticky would probably work for that.

...


OH YEAH!

lol

Forgot about that one...

[Derian]

Baggy pants/Rave Pants/Phat Pants

Your posts are good, but let's go ahead and get this fixed here. These names (no offense) are stupid. The pants I'm wearing here are hakama, or rather, the common Belegarth interpretation of hakama. Here's a more traditional version of these pants:

[Arrakis]

Baggy pants/Rave Pants/Phat Pants

Your posts are good, but let's go ahead and get this fixed here. These names (no offense) are stupid. The pants I'm wearing here are hakama, or rather, the common Belegarth interpretation of hakama. Here's a more traditional version of these pants:

Actually, the kind you're wearing are closer to those worn in period than the late-period (1800s+) lower-back-cardboard-stiffened, ultra-pleated version in the second pic in your post.