velvetpage: (fairy dance)
velvetpage ([personal profile] velvetpage) wrote2005-08-07 10:49 pm

The Renn Faire

Hamilton now has a very nice little Rennaissance Faire located in the Royal Botanical Gardens. Ourselves, [livejournal.com profile] nottheterritory, [livejournal.com profile] anidada, their daughter who is Elizabeth's age, and [livejournal.com profile] danaeris went this afternoon.

I'm not up to a full write-up - it's almost eleven o'clock, and it's been a full day, and Piet still wants to fiddle with pictures. But for me, the most interesting part of the afternoon was the donning of some period garb. I am now seriously considering buying a bodice instead of a corset, primarily because they cost less than half as much and are more comfortable to wear. Also, since they are designed to be worn with a peasant blouse shift underneath, they are easier on my modesty than a corset designed to be worn as the only garment above the waist.

I took a close look at the construction of the peasant blouse and skirt, and concluded that, with a few lessons from Aunt Jeanne and possibly a pattern for the blouse, I could sew my own with little trouble and considerably less expense than the ones they were selling. I might even crochet the lace for my sleeves myself, since that would be a logical use of my favourite handicraft, and would be very period appropriate. The bodice, however, I would have to buy. Dana found the ones there quite expensive at $85, but they had more boning than hers and good workmanship; I think I would be happy to pay $70, if I could then make the rest of the costume for somewhat less than that. (The peasant blouse could be made from cotton sheeting, and the skirt, while more fabric, was still just a cotton batiste - $8 a metre if I'm careful about colour and pattern. They had no underskirts with them, but I think I'd want one, maybe with a bit of flounce at the bottom. Again, though, cotton sheeting is cheap.)



So, what do you all think?


The Rennaissance Garb

[identity profile] lousy-timing.livejournal.com 2005-08-09 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
I think it depends on what you want. You can wear a shirt under a corset if it fits properly. Actually, they both need to fit properly for that to be possible. Bodices aren't as rigid, but I have to say a corset's support is amazing, and I swear to you that I wasn't as comfortable any other day as I was on Sunday at Anthrocon because my posture was better, and I had some extra support in those terrible chairs!

Both are nice, though, and do different things. Maybe the thing to do is get a nice bodice until you are done with the child-bearing years so that you won't feel like the money was wasted if your chest changes at all? I know I wouldn't have spent the cash for one until I was certain I was done, and you've mentioned that was part of your concern.

[identity profile] velvetpage.livejournal.com 2005-08-09 11:19 am (UTC)(link)
That was a big part of my concern, and still is, obviously. I think I liked this look better, and the bodice gave a lot of support, since it was boned in several spots. I'd definitely go for more boning rather than less.