Thursday, April 18, 2013

Twenty Nine - Renaissance Halloween Costumes: Reusable Costumes for Queen Or Pauper

By Jacob Samuel


A unique characteristic of Renaissance Halloween costumes are that they may be worn for occasions other than for trick or treat and seasonal parties. The popularity of Renaissance Fairs provides a number of occasions to wear costumes of the period. Whether a lovely lady of the queen's court gowned with a flowing veil or a village wench with a bawdy laugh - many options are available to you. You might be royal or common, good or evil, brave or cowardly. Renaissance costumes can be interpreted easily with color and accessories.

Creating a quality costume is realistic if you plan to attend Renaissance functions other than Halloween throughout the year. For apparel that can be worn on multiple occasions you can spend a bit more and justify the cost. For period accurate designs and props a quick trip to the library or a search of Google will give you ideas for characters from every strata of that long vanished society. http://www.costumecauldron.com/Adult-Renaissance-Medieval-Costumes.html

Deciding on a costume will mean assuming a certain role in society. Are you a common peasant barely eking out an existence? Perhaps you prefer to act the part of a king or queen, prince or princess. If you prefer something more dark and mysterious, maybe you are a common thief or feared practitioner of dark magic.

The more detailed the costume, the more you will most likely have to research. The variations are enormous. Women generally wore dresses during these times. Higher society would have been clad in rich colors and expensive jewels. Veils were favored of various lengths. Some were made from heavy material while others could be made more wispy and light. http://www.costumecauldron.com/shop/halloween-costume/Medieval--Renaissance-Costumes-title0-p-1-c-341.html

A woman dressed as a peasant might don a dull colored and unadorned work dress. For the lower classes gray and brown were often the only color choices available. Makeup or face paint might help give the appearance of a long day spent in the field or time spent tending the livestock.

For men, the colors used were similar to their female counterparts. Rich colors were reserved for high society and members of the court. The cost of the dye required for the deeper jewel toned colors made these hues a luxury reserved for the elite. Peasant men wore neutral colors and perhaps a straw hat to protect them from the sun. Realistic clothing for the period will be a bit dirty as hygiene in those days was not what we expect now. Baths were a rarity and were part of grooming only a few times a year. In between bathing the wealthy used a variety of heavy scents to mask body odor. Such perfumes were not available to the peasants.

For royalty, whether male or female characters, costume colors are deep and rich. Royalty was adorned in the richest hues and jewels and may wear the associated crown. Ladies of the court wore slightly paler colors, tall pointed head wear that was often tied on for stability. Jewelry was gaudy and showy rather than delicate or understated. Cheap costume jewelry is perfect for Renaissance Halloween costumes for both men and women of the moneyed classes.

Fans of Renaissance Fairs will get their money's worth of wear from a period correct costume. It's worth spending the money to create a costume that fits well and suits the character you've chosen to play. Your personality will be the most convincing element of your Renaissance Halloween costume so choose a character that suits you. Edited by Svetchey Sanorols




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