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Vikings

Started by faustinblack, September 24, 2014, 09:03:53 PM

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faustinblack

Im wanting to go as a viking next year (start getting the garb together now so I'm not rushing, like last time >_>) Sooo, suggestions? I'm getting a pair of moccs made, but I dont really know about clothing. And I'd love to see pics of yall dressed up as vikings as well.
Haakaa paalle!

isabelladangelo

First, are you a boy or a girl?  The suggestions for garb will vary.  :-)

The Norse (technically speaking, viking is a verb, hence the -ing) wore linen and wool with silk trims, normally.  The most common colors for Norse garb tend to be red (madder dye) and blue (indigo). 


photo(8) par Isabella, on ipernity

This is my sister in law's garb but it came out fabulous.  I added the shoulder straps to the apron gown after the picture was taken. 

faustinblack

Girl. I wore skirts last year, and I'd like to try something with pants. From some of the pics Ive been seeing, viking wear is a long sleeved fitted shirt, a thigh length halter type over shirt (can't remember the name) and a pair of pants. I plan on making a shield, ( I already have a buckler). What else?
Haakaa paalle!

Lady Kathleen of Olmsted

Do a lot of research as to what you want your characted is to be.

If you have access to Netflix, the History Channel has done 2 seasons lf VIKINGS. The costuming  looks to be well researched and done.
"As with Art as in Life, nothing succeeds like excess.".....Oscar Wilde

faustinblack

Lol. That show is what made me want to switch it up this coming year. I want to be a shield maiden. Really looking forward to not dressing in skirts, I really love them, but they make a bathroom break pretty hard, especially with a corset.
Haakaa paalle!

isabelladangelo

All the research I've ever seen does not support the costuming on that show for the girls.  It does for the boys to some degree.  The girls wore their apron dresses into battle.   They did not wear pants or hosen.   

If you want to wear pants, go 16th Century Turkish or "pass" as a boy.  Women in 16th Century Italy also wore pants under their dresses - mostly for horseback riding. 


The picture I posted earlier is what women wore. 


Ginsie 006 par Isabella, on ipernity

My puppy dog who passed away last year wearing her proper Norse garb.  She actually is wearing a linen t-tunic (cut for a dog, of course) and a cape like wool apron dress.  She also has circular brooches and plenty of beads.


viking dress 006 par Isabella, on ipernity

One of my first apron dresses with an a-tunic beneath it. 


DSC04528 par Isabella, on ipernity

This one was for an "Under $20" challenge.  I just wore it again a couple of weeks ago.  Both the a-tunic and the apron dress are out of linen.

Here are some links to archaeological research or garb research based on the archaeological digs:

http://www.medieval-baltic.us/vikvalkyrie.html

http://urd.priv.no/viking/smokkr.html

http://sophie-stitches.weebly.com/viking.html

If you do a search for "Norse Dress" or even "Viking Apron Dress" you'll see how poor the women's costuming for that show truly is. 


faustinblack

Do you have any pics or links to what women wore into battle, like armor or weapon wise?
Haakaa paalle!

isabelladangelo

The very first one has some - that's what the Valkyrie figures are pretty much.  Mythological  female guardians who fought in battles to help take the warriors to Valhalla. 

Here are a few more:
http://scienceblogs.com/aardvarchaeology/2013/01/07/valkyrie-figurine-from-harby/

http://www.sjolander.com/viking/museum/m/l/xl/horned.htm  <- this one will take a bit of explanation.  This one is one of three known depictions of someone going a-viking wearing a horned helmet.  For the most part, this actively discouraged when trying to depict a Norse persona even slightly.   The reason is that the current theory is that the person wearing the helmet is a spirit warrior of a bull.  I've seen this depiction and others bigger - they always wear heels, most likely to leave hoof like footprints behind. 

However, the reason I'm posting the Oseberg Tapestry is because there are a large number of women depicted in the battle.  Anyone wearing the long (from shoulder to ankle) shawl like garment that comes to a point over a long dress is a woman.  The most common depiction by most people that do Norse is similar to this:
http://avminamisstag.blogspot.com/2011/12/drakter-vs-plagg.html 

BTW, the above blog is not in English.  Run it through google translate.

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/e8/5e/87/e85e875cd67352eefa9e77071ab11234.jpg -> This one shows a lady wearing a finely pleated dress, an apron dress, and an apron.  My sister in law's garb I made her (the first picture I posted) is based loosely off of this - just not with a pleated dress as I didn't have the time.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TYNAlH4C8wM/TuEH0vI659I/AAAAAAAAKZ8/NlETxK0UWys/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg ->  This is also from the tapestry above - but more easily shows what the women looked like. 

There are also tons of archeological reports (try Birka Norse Dig in your favorite search engine) regarding the various sites that show textile evidence for what I've already posted above. 

Rowan MacD

  That was fun reading; thanks Isabella!

  If fustinblack doesn't want to wear a dress-she may have to go Norse-ish for now.

If she not trying for HA; then by all means choose comfort/convenience over technical perfection...I don't think norsewomen wore corsets  ;D.  That alone will go a long way toward comfortable potty breaks.
What doesn't kill me-had better run.
IWG wench #3139 
19.7% FaireFolk pure-80.3% FaireFolk corrupt