&
Erik's
Welcome, welcome, one and all, to the fun and fancy of creating your own medieval or Renaissance garb! We've compiled some basic information and pointers to get you started on your way to looking like your favorite fairy tale, whether it be as a knight, maiden, courtier, Valkyrie, or anything in between. Flip through the info, get some ideas, then get out there and have fun!!!
We've gone through innumerable references, both on paper and in the flesh, in putting all this stuff together, so there is no possible way we can thank or give credit to everyone. In particular, however, we would like to thank Kara Newcomer, Heather Brush, Karen Allen, Roger and Elizabeth Schulz, Brian Sprague, Heidi Lauer, Sarah Cummings, Jennifer Lund, The Merry Greenwoode Faire, The Whitman College Renaissance Faire, The Himmelfarb Medical Library, Metallica (for those long hours of typing this up), Mountain Dew (ditto), Yahoo!, and Geocities.
The images found in this site are courtesy of:
Gorsline, Douglas. What People Wore. Mineola: Dover Pubs. Inc., 1980.
Hand, Vanessa. The House Drakstonne Medieval Wedding Guide. House Drakstonne, 1997.
Kate, Maggie. Ready-to-Use Medieval Illustrations. Mineola: Dover Pubs. Inc., 1999.
One final disclaimer about our accuracy: this site was never written to be authoritative, and we simplify a lot of facts to make for easier reading and comprehension. There are plenty of exceptions to what we state as rules, and we know that our history is simpler than the realities of middle ages Europe, but it's not our intent to write a history book. This site is only a basic, beginning reference for the design and construction of medieval and Renaissance garb, with the emphasis on getting out there and having fun!
THIS SITE IS BEST VIEWED WITH MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER (FOR SOME REASON COMMUNICATOR DOESN'T WORK; SORRY)
INTRODUCTION, COLORS, FABRICS, TRIMS, LACE AND CLOSURES