Garb vs Costume

[Merlin the Elder]

Yes, Nighthawk...precisely what I was saying. But it seems so silly to have to worry about the labels people put on things.

I'll use the term "garb" because it's the word in common use for the costumes (original meaning) of the Renaissance period that Rennies wear. I would never correct someone I do not know if they called the clothing a costume. Someone who is trying to develop themselves in the Rennie subculture, however, I would advise them to use the term "garb," if for no other reason than to keep them from angering those who do take exception to "costume." Whether I care about it or not, it is important to some people, and I'm more than happy to respect that.

[Rowan MacD]

Garb is what I wear to Faire. A costume is what I wear at a costume party or at Halloween.

If you were to wear your garb to costume parties or at Halloween, is it a costume then?  

That's a good point.  I would not feel comfortable wearing my garb to costume parties at all, it would just feel wrong to me.
 On a side note: In victorian times 'costume' meant a complete set of (usually women's) clothing and accessories; right down to the shoes and purses.  It was not in common use, since mostly only the rich could afford 'costumes'.  
 Now days we have an entirely different definition of the word.    
   
 

[DonaCatalina]

I agree there...it would not even occur to me to wear my garb to a Halloween function.

(especially after all that time that I put into the black spiderweb bustier  )

[amy]

My 2 Cents is this: I wear a costume when I want to dress up and be somebody else,  whether it be Betsy Ross or Diana Ross....  I wear my garb when I am ME, just in another place and time.  It is my real clothes for ME.

[Delireus]

I got a new beautiful pirate coat in early October and wouldn't have a chance to wear it till the next September! I wore it to a costume Halloween party my friend had. It was either that, or wear it to Wal-mart or class or something, it was so amazing and I just had to wear it. While the party was fun and everyone loved my coat, I can't even tell you how paranoid I was about someone spilling something on it. Next time, I'll wear something not as new and shiney.

But I do wear my garb to parties. My best friend's parents had a pirate 30th wedding anniversary party. It was on a big boat, we sailed around the bay, it was awesome. I was the only one to dress up however. It was a pirate party, on an actual boat! Come on.

Aaanyways, I call it garb. And now all my friends do too, as they had barely heard of a faire before I dragged them to them. So, everyone I know calls it garb. I get why people might not like their stuff called a costume, as it does have a less than fabulous connotation now days, but I'm sure that no matter what danes call our get-ups, they never mean to disrespect (I hope )

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

I wear at least some of my garb whenever I can. 

I've worn garb to Scottish Sundays at church (St. Andrew's Day in November, & Tartan Sunday in April/May). 

If there was any way I could get away with wearing garb to work, I did it.  I wore noble garb on Kate & William's wedding day.  I've worn pirate garb on St. Patrick's Day (Grace O'Malley, the Irish pirate queen - and won the "costume" contest).  Sometimes under my longer skirts, I wear my faire bloomers.  In the winter, I wear my faire boots.

And when nothing is going on, a group of friends hold Renaissance dinners at each others' homes, where we dress in garb and play faire CDs, & eat somewhat authentic food & use our mugs and goblets.

I love my garb more than my regular clothes, so why wouldn't I want to wear it?   

[Merlin the Elder]

That sounds good to me, Lady Renee. Only problem down here in Arkansas, if I were to wear my wizard garb, someone's likely to think I'm crazy and either shoot me, run me down, or sell me drugs....  Okay, I'm kidding... except for the shoot me, run me down, or sell me drugs... 

[Zardoz]

Well, on the Halloween thing, As a general rule I wouldn't think of garb as a Halloween costume either. But, I have worn my regular faire garb in a "emergency" Halloween situation before.
At the time it had the benefit of being avalible, and fitting!

But really, here's me at faire;


And in Victorian 'costume'


And on a normal day;  not much difference anyway!

[Merlin the Elder]

Life is hell when you're so well dressed... Zardoz knows.

[groomporter]

In some parts of the country "garb" is a term associated with the SCA. My sister-in-law who has done king's and queen's outfits for 3, or 4 big Renfairs hates having her wares referred to as "garb"

As someone who started out as a historical reenactor we liked to call what we wore as "historical attire" since it was based on documented clothing from the past as opposed to a "costume"

But isn't it all just a matter of semantics?

[Nighthawk]

My 2 Cents is this: I wear a costume when I want to dress up and be somebody else,  whether it be Betsy Ross or Diana Ross....  I wear my garb when I am ME, just in another place and time.  It is my real clothes for ME.

Brilliant!!

[maeven]

Zardoz, you're such a snappy dresser!

[Zardoz]

Zardoz, you're such a snappy dresser!

  Thank you!  Like my mom used to say; Try to dress well, it's just good manners.

[Amras Elfwine]

My 2 Cents is this: I wear a costume when I want to dress up and be somebody else,  whether it be Betsy Ross or Diana Ross....  I wear my garb when I am ME, just in another place and time.  It is my real clothes for ME.

YES! Exactly! Thank you!!

[Baron Dacre]

I prefer the term "Costume" for this reason:

I've been working Faire since 1998 as part of the cast. Part of Parades, Gentry, Yeomen of the Guard, a stage show and Court.

I have been the theatrical director for the Gentry group and both Men's captain for Court.

I prefer "Costume" because it reminds our cast member that we are part of a theatrical production and that we are here for our audience. (Though singularly I refer to it as my "suit" and the women in court refer to their's as "dresses")

And none of my "costumes" are cheap or poorly made, the original Davies suit dates back to the first year of the GA's and is over 10 years old, with the exception of the original coat (which is only faded), it is still in excellent shape! The orange Davies court suit is four years and only needs the button cording replaced. (Comes from doing somersaults in velvet...)