Proper headpiece & jewelry for this outfit?

[Scotty Hunter]

This photo does not belong to me, it is a store listing on eBay by TheCandleQueen. I mean absolutely no copyright infringement by reposting this image.

I was just curious to know what type of headwear and jewelry would work best for this outfit?
Is this more of a "noble" style type garb? 



Just trying to learn. Thanks for any replies!

[gypsylakat]

the hoop skirt makes it look classier, but by itself it's fairly wenchy
Does the listing even come with the hoop skirt?

[Scotty Hunter]

Not that I know of, I can't recall for sure. I don't believe it did, though.

[arbcoind]

This is pretty much what I wear to faire and I describe myself as a wench.  I wear simple jewelry made of metal and plain stones and a simple black tricorn hat with feathers to match my bodice.

Gina

[Scotty Hunter]

Great, thanks!

[Rani Zemirah]

I think if you were to add an over skirt, sleeves and maybe a beaded forepart, it could easily become upper class or noble, depending on how far you dressed it up, and what accessories you put with it. 

[DonaCatalina]

My first reaction was a colored bead necklace and a brown muffin cap.
As it is the dress is pretty wenchy. (is that a word?)

If you added sleeves, a split overskirt it could become more noble.
Compare the two photos- the bottom one is definitely noble.

[lys1022]

Personally, I would say that it falls into the gentry classification more than anything.  For headgear I would do a flat cap with a coif under it, and jewelry would be fairly simple with more metal than precious stones.

It is definitely NOT something a wench would wear.  "Wenches" (which really wasn't a classification, more along the lines of a job such as bar-wench) wouldn't ever wear a farthingale or hoopskirt.  Those were pretty much reserved for gentry on up.  Peasants and Yeomanry would wear layered skirts without a hoop / farthingale, and an apron over the front.

[Scotty Hunter]

The photo comparison was helpful, thank you!

Appreciate all the replies. I just love it here. Learning so much!

[gem]

Straight wench without the hoop skirt. With the hoop skirt + a nice flat cap/snood or a straw hat, you could do a passable middle-class look (though NOT historically accurate).

Candle Queen's work is *gorgeous.* IIRC, she's a friend of our own Lady Kathleen of Olmstead, and she's posted here in the past. She has admitted that her garb is fairwear--not historically accurate--but she definitely has gowns that fall on the noble end of the spectrum, as well as these great wenchy ensembles.

[Scotty Hunter]

They ARE nice, no doubt about that!  I'm still trying to find a link to Lady Kathleen's work as well. Checked the garb links and such, have heard the name mentioned numerous times, but apparently I am blind.

I've just gotten SO caught up in looking at all stations of clothing, though admittedly I am still quite confused as to which are noble and which are not. haha! I'll learn.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

Lady Kathleen of Olmsted's website:

www.customdesignsbyladykathleen.com/index.htm

Absolutely gorgeous work!

Love that couple in the upper left hand corner!   lol   

[Scotty Hunter]

Oo, thank you for the link! Definitely going to go drool all over the keyboard now. 

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

I heard my name mentioned. 

I try! The Wench wear by the Candle Queen(a.k.a Nicki Smith) is very lovely indeed.

[Scotty Hunter]

lol, you have good hearing. 

[Adriana Rose]

I would wear a garland with the top outfit. But I think I am rather biased lol.

I sujjest that you go to faire first and see what you like. That way you can build a style before you take the plunge to Pirate, H/A, Wench, Noble ect.

[Scotty Hunter]

Deciding on one stype to start is ver hard! I like pretty much everything I have seen in photos and videos so far. I'm eventually going to go crazy, find a new reason to fill up my wardrobe trunks and do more traveling, I've been to 32 states but I hear there are Renfaires in all 50 . I've seen too many options of clothing to wear to go with just one particular style. Thats ging to be the hardest part. She who dies with the most garb wins.

I used to have a dirty little secret in which I placed bids and was sometimes lucky enough to win clothing used in various films on various auction sites, including some clothing that sold through Christie's IA. I was big on Ballroom dress and Formal attire, as well as fantasy and sci-fi clothing, though any pieces purchased were never for wearing. They were a "look but dont touch" kind of thing.

When we moved out of the house some years back and started running from the law (just kidding, but we move around enough it seems like we are!) I had to sell everything. Including all of my clothing, props, and the live animals I was raising at that time (Pygmy Goats, Miniature Horses, Reptiles, Fish).

Renaissance Faires/Festivals have been of interest to me for a long long time, but I must say the biggest draw is the clothing... and the food. But mostly the clothing. Partly because I get to wear it!

Deciding on just one style? Not possible for me. Ending up having to buy more wardrobe chests for the garb, most likely.

[Rani Zemirah]

Welcome to the most stylish addiction you'll ever have!   

[Rowan MacD]

  Don't let a specific character style limit your choices,  you can mix and match different pieces to get a number of looks, depending on what you want to be that day.
   For both wench and merchant class: If you have short hair and don't want it to show, choose a muffin hat as your basic piece.  It is a bag-like hat that you can wear back on the head to give the impression of a snood full of hair.  My first muffin hat came from The Tudor Shoppe. It is black cotton Velveteen with a wide band of gold and silver trim, with elastic at the back to keep it in place.  I paid about $30.00 for it 8 years ago, and I'm still using it now.  if you have longer hair, just perch it on the top of you head, allowing the 'bag' to slouch over the little elastic part, and you can pin feathers and badges to it and it still looks good.
   For jewelry, for the longest time the only necklace I wore to faire was a stamped coin on a leather thong I purchased for $7.00 from an anvil press vendor. 
   Pearls and flashy jewels are upper class, and too much for anything other than noble garb.  Wench or middle class would wear a simple chain, or a silk cord with a trinket on it, no rings (but maybe a circle of love knots fashioned in to a fabric ring, same for bracelets). Leave watches and contemporary jewelry at home.

[isabelladangelo]

The outfit is more fantasy than historical.  (Personally, I don't like the black skirt with the gold upholstery brocade bodice -the skirt looks too plain against the bodice.  I'd get a creamy gold colored skirt and maybe a bright jewel tone, layer them, and tuck the overskirt into your belt.)  Given that, for a headpiece, you might want to go with a muffin cap (very much a renn fair thing, not a historical one) or a simple snood.   With this combo, you don't want anything too flashy (like a french hood) but you do want something simple that will add to the outfit.   

I'd forgo all jewelry really.  You might want to go with a simple coral bead necklace or another beaded necklace but nothing more than that.   This outfit would do better with a belt (embossed leather).

Be a bit wary of the fabric content.   It looks to me like upholstery grade fabric in the bodice (drapery would be fine, but upholstery is too stiff and tends to have a poly or even rubber backing).

[Scotty Hunter]

Thanks again for the replies all! 

[DonaCatalina]

spam- reported

[Jade]

 Thanks  for working so  diligently to report  them  DonaCatalina!