H/A historical clothing myths?

[groomporter]

Didn't we have a thread like this. I just ran across this page
http://www.marariley.net/myths/myths.htm

[groomporter]

SCA garb myths
http://www.geocities.com/jane_of_stockton/sca_garb_myths.html

[gem]

It's important to note that Mara Riley is an expert (one of *the* experts, actually) in 18th Century clothing, so her specific remarks are directed toward that era of costuming and may or may not apply to Renaissance period dress.

Sempstress has another list: Lies to Costumers

[FaireMare]

Great Thread GP!

[groomporter]

Great Thread GP!

Thanks, I figured it went with the idea of "coaching" or "enabling" (as opposed to preaching  ) for people who have an interest in being more accurate in their portrayals.

[Baroness Doune]

Kimiko Small's website - Costuming Myths:  Busted
http://www.kimiko1.com/research-16th/CostumeMythsWS/index.html

[DonaCatalina]

I love this one from Semptress. It makes me laugh every time I see it.

Myth: If you do not make your chemise/shirt out of pure, 100% linen, you will die. The ground will open up and swallow you, and all the damned will mock you for your obvious lack of knowledge when you get to hell. No. Goodness. I was actually told that once (although, not so creatively). Make the costume out of what you can afford, and that includes the chemise/shift. Sure, linen makes better little neck and wrist ruffles than some other fabric, but I rather like cotton chemises. The nicest, comfiest, most durable one I have is made of fine weight wool, and I love it dearly (and have loved it to pieces). No matter who tells you what, I am unaware of any costuming mistake that will actually send you to hell.

[CountessofPhoenix]

However; if you make it out of something that doesn't breathe well, in the heat one might think they had taken up residence in said place. I bought 2 bolts of cotton muslin last year at JoAnn's, 15 yds. each for $12. Needless to say there are many muslin shirts and chemises being worn around here!

[isabelladangelo]

This thread http://community.livejournal.com/sca/634855.html deals with SCA myths but I think it might be relevant to this thread.  Some of them are pretty funny.

[Pipere]

Yeah, honestly the whole linen debate.... eeeek

I mean, I'm no scadian, but I now line and make all my smocks out of linen. No, I'm not anal- I just love how linen always seems cool to the touch and a little bulkier than cotton. Being able to get linen at discount and occassionally at-cost is the other decider.... If you can afford it, why the heck not, ehwot?