Colonial or Renaissance?

[juliap]

I am going to the Texas Renaissance festival for the first time and was thinking about dressing up.  My mother gave me a costume she made years ago for a costume party.  She said it was colonial but she thought it could pass for renaissance.  Is it Colonial or Renaissance?  If it is too colonial do you have any simple suggestions for altering it like maybe longer sleeves, different trim, ect. It is made out of a really heavy fabric that is fuzzy do you think it would be too hot for the last weekend of the festival.  Should I try something else?
  I also have some long peasant skirts and belly dancing items I can throw together that are lighter.  I have a vest with coins on it that I can pair with a peasant shirt and the long skirts.  I can even throw on some hip scarves.
  The other thing is I need to figure out something for my husband.  Is there anything that is easy to sew that I can make?  I have the matching costume that goes with my mothers dress but it is very colonial.  I might could use the tan vest with buttons. 
  What is the festival like do they dress really correct or is it just anything goes.  Would I be uncomfortable if I dress up or do you think it would be more fun?  I mean is it normal to dress up?  Thanks for any help. 

[gem]

Very Colonial (18th Century, about 200+ years too late for Fair).

If you want to try to adapt it, the first thing you'll need to do is get rid of all that lace! And those distinctive 18th century ruffled sleeves.  It's a little harder to judge what else you might be able to do, without seeing a better shot of the dress (like, on you). I can't tell exactly what's happening with the front/stomacher panel area, or what that white at the waistband is.  The split skirt looks completely salvageable, but the bodice might be a little trickier.

[juliap]

Here is a close up of the top



I guess it can't pass for 19th century either. lol  I was thinking maybe I could wear it to dickens on the strand in Galveston.  It is a shame it has been sitting in my mothers attic for years.  I use to play with it as a little girl.  Would it be easier just to start over and make a new top? 

[operafantomet]

If you want to make it Renaissance, I would suggest:

*Remove those lace "engageants" (cuffs) - they are very 18th century, like Gem said.
*Ditto for the lace collar/neck trim.
*Roll up the current sleeves to shoulder rolls or small puffed sleeves (see link).
*Make sleeves of a totally different fabric, maybe tie-ons (very Italian 16th century).
*Cover up the front panel with a green fabric matching the rest of the dress (your mother might have more of it?).
*Eventual seams in front can be covered with a V shaped trim (see link).
*You COULD also make the neck opening more square when removing/covering up the white front.
*Another option is to make the bodice front laced (see link).
*You could also just pretend the dress has front lacing by making the neck opening square and sew a ribbon mimicking ladder lacing style to the front
*Add accessories like a beaded belt or metal belt, something to cover your hair (snood, hat, cap) and some jewelry.

I think it will look convincingly Renaissance that way. The shape is good, and the split skirt is very 16th century. You just need to replace the Rococo details with Renaissance details.

TIE ON SLEEVES AND V SHAPED TRIM:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/firenze3/allori1595.jpg

FRONT LACED DRESS, TIE ON SLEEVES AND SMALL SHOULDER ROLLS:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia2/licinio1530s.jpg

GREEN DRESS WITH SMALL PUFFED SLEEVES:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/firenze2/foschiorpontormo.jpg

GREEN DRESS WITH FRONT LACING:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/venezia2/tintoretto1570s.jpg

All examples given are Italian, as that is what I have uploaded. But remove all lace and make the neckline square is valid for most regional styles of 16th century Europe. Where you go from there is up to you! I think you have a very good basis, at least.

[juliap]

Thanks so much for the suggestions.  I think I can make it renaissance.  I like the idea of the making the bodice appear like it is laced.  I am pretty sure I can square up the neckline also.  I think I can do these things pretty simply.  The trim on the seams of the bodice needs to go too right?  What kind of trim did they use or can I buy that goes well with that look?  Like maybe something braided?  Is there any other sleeves that are more flowing that I can make to go with it or is that just something you see on halloween costumes?  I will have to try and look up that time period and become more familiar with it.  Thanks so much for your help. 

[juliap]

Is there some way I could keep the three quarter sleeves, take the lace off, and add something else.  I think that would be easier to do.  Maybe something like this

http://www.ecrater.com/p/4291890/burgundy-medeival-renaissance-velvet-dress

or this just the bottom of the sleeve

http://www.renaissancedress.com/siobha6.jpg

I love the sleeves on this

http://www.roxx-online.com/roxxonline/archiveProduct.cfm?pro_id=123

Would any of these work?

[juliap]

I found a dress that looks almost like it that I could easily copy(I think). It has some interesting sleeves.  I could just cut the three quarter part of the sleeves and then attach the rest.  Than I just need to take the lace of the neckline and attach some better trim to the bodice and I would have this dress.  I does not have the square neckline though.  Do you think it would work?  If I could just firgure out those sleeves I think I could easily do this one.

http://dugthecostumeguy.com/sales/detail.cfm?ID=11

  I have got to ask what is the deal with the cup.  I see all these pictures and everyone is always wearing a cup.  Did they really go around wearing cups?  

[gem]

NO, people absolutely most decidedly did NOT wander about carrying their own drinking vessels (bowls/utensils/etc) everywhere they went! Thank you for asking.   

Every dress you've linked to is definitely more fantasy/fairwear, and you're right: it will be a whole lot easier to adapt what you have to a fairwear look than anything truly historical. I think you're on the right track with that last gown you posted; it does look pretty similar to what you have.

I'd take Anea's suggestions, particularly to square up the neckline, and also add some decorative cross-lacing across the stomacher.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

I think a lot of people carry around their own mug or cup so they don't drink out of the plastic cups that are used at the faire.  You can go to Goodwill and get metal tankards for anywhere from 50 cents to a couple of dollars apiece.  Or wooden or pottery goblets are used, too.  Then you would need a mug holder, which is usually made out of leather and has snaps or hooks to hold it closed.

You'll learn very soon that Ebay is your friend.     

[Butch]

I second the having your own cup with you.  NO, it's not historically accurate; however, it makes you FEEL more period correct to drink out of a metal/wood/leather/pottery vessel than to drink from the paper/plastic one provided to you!

This is the RenFest, not the SCA.  A person can adjust as they see fit!

Good for you to ask the very informed people here!  We have such a great community on this board!  Good luck!  Please keep us posted as to your progress.

[juliap]

I can see how drinking out of plastic would ruin the effect of being in renaissance times. I may have to get a cup myself.  I may have some old metal beerstiens from the czech republic I can bring Maybe I can hide one under my overskirt. 

[DonaCatalina]

LOL. You don't have to hide empty beersteins under your skirt.
Metal beersteins are about as Renaissance as a lot of mugs I do see at faire.