The Renn Faire

[velvetpage]

Hamilton now has a very nice little Rennaissance Faire located in the Royal Botanical Gardens. Ourselves, nottheterritory, anidada, their daughter who is Elizabeth's age, and 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?

Comments

Take two

[danaeris.livejournal.com]

That picture really does not do justice to how truly lovely you looked in the outfit. Ah well. That's why your admirers are supposed to come from far and wide to bask in your glory in person, offer you gifts, and generally celebrate you for being the very flower of womanhood, right?

:)

[kathrynrose.livejournal.com]

I bought my dress from renstore.com. They sell patterns (http://www.renstore.com/items.asp?CartId={EBB57A7F-8403-4FDC-BAC6-7EVEREST737405EE01B}&Cc=WOMEN%2DREN%2DPTRN&iTpStatus=0&Tp=&Bc=) as well.

[anidada.livejournal.com]

I didn't get to see you all done up, until now! Lovely. Exactly what I was talking about when we were at the joust, too. :)

The only problem (or not ;) with dressing like that is that you'll want to do so all the time!

Again, we had a wonderful time (there and after). Thanks for inviting us along!

[anguine.livejournal.com]

Simplicity offers a few different versions of the peasant blouse, and you're quite right -- they are very simple to make. Walking through Faires, I've always been taken aghast by the expense of some items that are really quite easy to sew. Skirts are probably the easiest of all, especially with an elasticised (albeit non-period) waist. Darts and buttons gets a little fussy.

Simplicity also has bodice patterns, but fitting those is always a chore. Sometimes, you can luck out, and the pattern just works for your body, other times, it just looks a little off. The best 'pattern' maker I've heard of for a well-fitted bodice is to take an old t-shirt and a roll of duct tape. Put on the t-shirt, and tape up your mid-section. Cut the shirt off with the tape shell, and section it. Those become the bodice panels.

For all the fuss they can be, it's often more worthwhile to buy -- the notions like solid brass grommets and the hefty fabric that's unlikely to pull apart... They're a professional sort of piece.

Be careful when shopping about though, especially if you go to some online stores -- bodices come in overbust AND underbust like the lovely one you're wearing in the photo. Don't buy one that goes up too high!

[purplkat.livejournal.com]

From experience: Get a well-made bodice. It's going to have to take a LOT of strain, and a poorly made one will fall apart on you. Also, I'd go for more boning rather than less, personally, because it gives you more support.

But the blouse and skirt are easyeasy. When I was madly making clothing for people going to a friend's ren faire wedding a couple of years ago, I wound up not having time to make my own blouse, and Sam made it for me while I was sewing on trim and stuff. That's how easy it was.

Not that you asked (blushes)

[perlandria.livejournal.com]

I did about 7 active years in the faire that started it all, and still put my hand in. Yes, the outfits are easy to make.
The peasant blouse is usually what is called a 'bag' shirt. You can modify most old fashioned nighty patterns. The sleeves inset to the neck, not the shoulder, so that the neckline is in quarters (front, right arm, back, left arm). I find them most flattering and beautiful when made with at least 4 yards, more like 8 yards, of thin and soft material so that you get a lot of gathers at the neck and wrists. If you finish the edge and set the channel for the gathering (by drawstring or elastic) back an inch or so from the edge, you also get ruffles. I have found it more convenient to make my shirts at least hip length, so you can tug them from underneath and so that can act as a nighty. But I doubt you will be camping at the festival the way I did. You can also make your shirt go all the way down and serve as an underskirt. :D I would also go for muslin rather than broadcloth, it washes to a nicer drape for a top. Don't use muslin if you are doing a full length shirt.
For the skirt, while a full circle skirt works very well, I tend to do a multiple gore panel skirt. Again, at LEAST 4 yards, 6 is good, 8 is better. Flounces are umm, not very time period appropriate. I find pleated skirt, with most of the fullness at the hem by cut anyhow, set into a solid waistband to be most comfortable for a full day's wearing. Otherwise I end up with a wad of stuff pressed into me making a red mark. Yuck! textures are lovely in skirts. Look at using drapery fabrics that are washable? I cheat and use raw silk, but I can get raw silk for about $5 a yard here in all sorts of lovely colors.
Looking at the bodice you have on in the picture, the shoulder set seems okay, the front is at least 2 inches too low, it should be about 2-3 inches longer down on your hips to cover the top of the skirt, the back needs to be taken in, actually it is too large overall. Something that fits more snugly, without being corset tight (which I personally hate. Lvoe bodices, hate corset) will lift your breasts so you won't lose cleavage, the front actually should be higher. With your cup size, you chould look for bodices that have at least 4 metal bones, two supporting the lacing and two running diagonal from the center front towards the armpit to the outside of your breasts. More bones wouldn't be bad.
Please consider a hat?
And you look lovely.

[ladyperegrine.livejournal.com]

I love it! It looks beautiful on you. And it makes me want to dress like that. :-)

[lousy-timing.livejournal.com]

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.