My First Outfit:
The first complete outfit I made for the SCA was a long T-tunic of grey flannel and a shorter, short-sleeved t-tunic of purple courderoy trimmed in faux black fur. I've since learned that flannel isn't a good fabric to use. One, it isn't period. Two, the flannel I bought did NOT soften and hang like I thought it would. Of course, I've got a ton left over too, but it's been relegated to the 'use for lining' pile. It may become a nightgown after about 10 more washes with lots of fabric softener.
I've also since learned that it's actually passable as a first try for a Russian costume, for the period known as Kievan Rus (about the turn of the first millenium). I still wear the purple t-tunic sometimes-- corderoy, especially velvet corderoy, is period. Hey, the word came from "Cour de Roi"!
It's All Greek to Me:
I got a part in a play within the SCA, a performance of the Greek comedy "Lysistrata". Rather than fake it, I decided to make a costume that I could later wear, especially on hot days. I bought some bleached-white muslin of a nice weave, a piece of purple linen, some 'Greek Key' trim, and some plain gold trim.
Using the muslin, I made what's called a Peplos dress. This is just two pieces of fabric seamed at the sides, hemmed at the bottom, and either partially sewn or pinned at the shoulders. I made it very long, so that when I tied a cord around my waist, I could blouse it up to get that classic draped look. The purple linen was just hemmed on the raw edges and trimmed with the gold trim to make a drap I could pin at my shoulder. The "greek key" trim went on the peplos dress to fancy it up.
Later Period Changes:
I made a green dress known as a "Celtic Overdress" from a Simplicity pattern. I learned two very important lessons here. One, Simplicity patterns are anything but! I found out that I don't like working from patterns. Two, I don't particularly like wearing the fitted clothing of the Renaissance. Good thing, since those costumes really need to be made from good patterns!
The 'Celtic Overdress' is something of a fallacy. It didn't really exists much in the period the SCA covers. After wearing it once myself, and lending it to a friend once (and she looked much better in it than I), I made some changes to it. First, I made a faux underskirt of white on white brocade. Then, I made something called a stomacher. It's a piece that goes over the front lacing, making the front smooth. I matched the stomacher to the underskirt, but it still was barely passable for the SCA, and didn't wear comfortably at all. It's been relegated to the bottom of the garb pile.
When in doubt, CHARGE IT!:
I have a number of outfits I bought. There are not only a number of really great garb-makers in the SCA who sell their work, but there are also Ren Faires and catalogues. I bought a number of things from Renaissance Catalogue/Chivalry Sports.
Gotta love that 12th Century Look:
I have two dresses made in the style of the 12th century. Both are long with short sleeves, meant to be worn over the Simple Chemise mentioned above. One is maroon rayon with the wide sleeves lined in white brocade. The second is purple linen. Both are very basic, were easy to make, and look nice. The maroon one also has black and white celtic knotwork trim.
For the Well-dressed Nobleman:
Some of my best work actually goes into making my lord look good. Of course, a tall, long-haired blond, darned cute guy looks good in just about anything, but I'm most proud of the things I've made for him.
One is a long, Russian-like tunic of blue rayon. It's trimmed in blue and purple knotwork, and fastens at the neck with silver chains and buttons. The collar stands up like a "banded collar" shirt, and it goes down to his knees.
The other outfit I made for him is my favorite. It's a black velvet cotehardie. This is a mens costume that's fitted through the chest and body, flares at the hips to about mid-thigh, has a standing collar (again), and the sleeves are poofy to the elbow, then tightly fitted to wrist. It's also trimmed in black, white, and silver knotwork, and has six buttons on each arm from elbow to wrist, and 24 buttons all the way down the front. I learned that I really hate buttonholes, so I may not ever make another one! He wears it with a cloth-of-silver sash and black tights.
The Saxons Will Rise Again:
For an event that had a Saxon/Norse theme, I made two Saxon style t-tunics for myself and my lord. His is green with black, green, and silver viking knotwork trim, and mine is blue with red, blue, and green tablet weave trim. Both have extra long sleeves, so that you can pull them down to keep your hands warm.
Russia, the Final Frontier:
My latest piece is sized for either me or my lord, but I get to wear it first! It's a Kievan Rus jacket, called a caftan or svita. It's olive wool, with viking knotwork trim, a standing collar (yes, I really like those), long sleeves, and comes down to about my knee. It has six buttons from neck to waist, then hangs open, plus it has a slit in the center back. Gotta lay nice over the horse, you know. I also made a red wool hat and mittens, both trimmed in black faux fur, to go with the svita. I'll wear it with baggy black trews tucked into boots, over the blue Saxon t-tunic.
It'sa ta DI-vinci for!
Ok, bad pun. I apologize.
My latest gown is early Italian Renaissance, in a Florentine style. As in, the city of Florence. Anyway, the chemise is a purchased "Italian Chemise" from Renstore.com (see link above). The top, fitted part of the underdress is purple velvet, with a skirt of purple linen. It's lined in cotton so the velvet doesn't stretch. The sleeve-pieces are the same purlple velvet. Then the overdress/drape is midnight blue brocade, with white trim, and a belt of the same. If you've seen the movie "Ever After", it's like the fancier dresses Drew Barrymore wears, but in the proper 3-layer style (in the movie, she just throws one dress on over her head -- majorly incorrect). I didn't wear it first, my friend did. She looked fabulous.
These days, I'm more interested in the Kievan Russian look than any other. I plan to make a rubhaka (underdress) and navershnik (over tunic) soon.
And one of these days, I'll have pictures!
LOOK! I finally got a picture of myself in Russian Garb!!!!
