Hey everyone, I'm a guy of mixed race origin with ethnic Hair that happens to be (tastefully) dreaded. Now here's the issue, I am in the process of becomming a boothie at a faire where the owner dose not much care for dreadlocks. My garb is rather simple, a poet shirt, some balloon type pants and a my belt with pouches and such. how can i go about covering my hair so it blends well with my garb?
any advice and suggestions are most welcome!
A very large bag hat (looks like a chef's hat). Wouldn't have to be white. The balloon pants makes me think that a LARGE bag would not only suit your dreads, but would also compliment your trousers. Good luck!
I see you in this type of hat:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v31/operafantomet/renaissanceportraits/menlombardy/figino1570giovanangeloannoniprivate.jpg)
Giovan Angelo Annoni, painted ca. 1570 by Figino (private collection)
I assume you could treat your dreads in a similar fashion as I do. I have long and thick hair, and when I need to get it out of the way I curl it up into a ring or as a pretzel at the crown of my head, and pin it down. I can wear most kind of hats on top (just not caps, haha).
Pirates wear dreads. ;)
Possibly wrapping them in a scarf? Or, as someone else mentioned, pinning them up under a hat. I guess it depends on how thick your hair is, and how long your dreads are?
Thank you everyone great ideas!!! I could not remember for the life of me what a bag hat was called and yes, it would match my pants pretty well if i pin them up at the crown of my head
Yes i forgot to mention how thick my dreads are they are pretty thick and hang below my collar bone.
also heres a pic i didnt think of till now of my basic garb without my belt and accessories:
(http://i46.tinypic.com/2e4c4yq.jpg)
taken before opening cannon, so i had my comphy shoes one as well. the leg cuffs have draw strings to tie off
Pirated didn't wear dreads - in the 16th Century which is the time period for most Renaissance festivals.
If you scroll down (http://livingpast.com/europ.html) to the Greek Men or the Turkish/Ottoman men, you'll see a few turbans. I think that those would give you plenty of room for your hair (I've worn one before - my hair is American Indian/Mediterranean so it's very thick and I have it down past the small of my back now, so long. I could completely cover my hair in a turban when I wore one for Archeology). Also, I think you'd look awesome with your current outfit plus a nice simple Ottoman style coat (they wore them in Greece and Italy too!)
The oversized bag hat would work, but with his mixed ethnicity, a turban would give Widget a more exotic look. Pictures please!
Quote from: Butch on May 08, 2012, 10:41:20 PM
A very large bag hat (looks like a chef's hat). Wouldn't have to be white. The balloon pants makes me think that a LARGE bag would not only suit your dreads, but would also compliment your trousers. Good luck!
How about dye them blue and wrap them on your head like a thrum cap? ;D ;D ::)
Quote from: Gauwyn of Bracknell on May 09, 2012, 11:36:05 AM
How about dye them blue and wrap them on your head like a thrum cap? ;D ;D ::)
HA!
Quote from: isabelladangelo on May 09, 2012, 06:58:25 AM
Pirated didn't wear dreads - in the 16th Century which is the time period for most Renaissance festivals.
I said pirates wore them. I did not say when. I guess I missed the point where he said he was going for HA.
Well, aside from all that, Widget is not a Pirate.
Widget, will you be working your own booth or selling someone elses wares? Reason I ask is I like the sack hat you have on in some of your pics as the Tinker Fae. Any reason that won't work forfor this job? Are you creating a different character?
Quote from: Anna Iram on May 09, 2012, 05:49:41 PM
Well, aside from all that, Widget is not a Pirate.
Widget, will you be working your own booth or selling someone elses wares? Reason I ask is I like the sack hat you have on in some of your pics as the Tinker Fae. Any reason that won't work forfor this job? Are you creating a different character?
I will be selling someone elses wares, the "sack hat" i have in my pics is actually a hippy dread tam i bought at the local hippy store that i wore backwards with the brim tucked under lol. its my backup plan, just add a plume!
The faire im doing dose not like fantasy characters, so i guess im creating a makeshift character for this one
Like I said, Italy, Greece, and the Ottoman Empire all wore Turbans. I would really look into those.
http://www.kostym.cz/Anglicky/I_03_01.htm
Caftans! They are very simple to make and it would look awesome over what you already have. add the turban and you have a nice, period looking outfit.
Well, you look like you have tons of fun with your current character. You should work up another persona. Why not? I love Isabella's idea if you have some extra cash to make new garb. If not, I'm sure going with what you have and/ or adding a bag hat, or turban will still work out great.
I have tons of fun running around as widget! When i do have more funds i do plan on making a human persona, i m a very ecclectic person and ive been kimda drawn to the Roma, and now that its been suggested, the Greek influance. also i like the sort of Destitute person trying to be fashionable but not quite getting it (did that even make sense?)
Have you seen the look of Scarborough's Rom? That might be something you would enjoy. Here are a couple of links:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/561165_3498563577064_1060880295_33115422_849680786_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/579253_3915924581095_1368875720_3548705_252819113_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/561165_3498563577064_1060880295_33115422_849680786_n.jpg
I hope that the links work. I was looking for photos and even though I couldn't turn around without several popping up yesterday, I had a hard time re-finding them today. :)
Love it!
I have a question in general about clothing periods and such, regarding clothing (relieved of any jewels) passed down from very well-to-do to not-so-well-to-do relatives who passed down to house servants who would have passed down to lower servants, and so on til the rag pickers got everything. (I am ignoring the stingy people who hoard or the times when even the richest people followed the use it up, wear it out, do without philosophy.)
So how did sumptuary laws come into play regarding used clothing?
I don't know the answers to your questions about hand me downs, Polly, but it sure would be an intetesting thread. Especially for someone with a character who was mad poor.
Widget, the Roma look perfect for what you already have! Just a matter of adding scarves and other trinkets. :)
Polly, in the 16th C, the clothing would have been out of vogue and, thereby, noticeable that it was a hand me down. Also, there were a great deal of thrift shops (in England, at least) where the well to do would drop off their old clothing for the less fortunate. Also, don't forget the Germans who would slice up the clothing to make it fit! In other parts of the world, it looks like they would restyle the clothing to make it fit. The clothing would have been stripped not only of the gems but also of any trim. The actual cut of the clothing didn't always vary from class to class - it was all the appliques (trims, ect) that made the gown a gown. Cut the lacing holes out of the back of a gown, sew up that seam, and make it lace up the front - now you have a practical working gown.
For the more exotic fibers (silk brocades, for example) the dress was cut up for children's clothing and for quilts. This was done well up into the 20th C -where a lady might cut up her wedding gown for her child's baptismal gown. Not all clothing was handed down directly.
If you like the Scarborough Rom look, just give me a shout. My husband is the Gypsy King (the one in the long vest and gold sash in the photos), so I can give you a decent breakdown of what goes into the look and the options that they have used amongst the group. That would give you a starting point. :)
Quote from: isabelladangelo on May 10, 2012, 10:04:07 AM
Polly, in the 16th C, the clothing would have been out of vogue and, thereby, noticeable that it was a hand me down. Also, there were a great deal of thrift shops (in England, at least) where the well to do would drop off their old clothing for the less fortunate.
LOL
I remember going through online records of Court cases from the reign of QEI for geneology research. Many a poor sailor awoke to find himself sans apparel; said apparel having been sold to the thrift shop by persons unknown.
Quote from: PollyPoPo on May 10, 2012, 07:20:33 AM
I have a question in general about clothing periods and such, regarding clothing (relieved of any jewels) passed down from very well-to-do to not-so-well-to-do relatives who passed down to house servants who would have passed down to lower servants, and so on til the rag pickers got everything. (I am ignoring the stingy people who hoard or the times when even the richest people followed the use it up, wear it out, do without philosophy.)
So how did sumptuary laws come into play regarding used clothing?
The way garment was constructed made it able to unpick seams and have fairly large pieces of fabric to make new garments of. In surviving clothes there are lots of examples of remodellings, or of a fashionable item made of fairly old-fashioned fabric. Whereas the tailoring was appreciated, the materials used in a garment usually decided how expensive the item was. And despite how old fashioned an actual garment were, the rules still applied to who could use the given fabric/colour/whatever. Because of this garments made of precious fabrics were rarely passed down to the less unfortunate.
But there were re-use going on. Noble ladies had a tradition of donating fine clothes to either their ladies-in-waiting, or to churches/monasteries. When the former was done, the clothes was still fairly fashionable and used as they were, or they were remodeled. When the latter was done, the clothes were either used to dress statues of saints (like "The crimson Pisa dress") or they were remodeled into clerical garments like chasubles, copes, stoles etc.
If the owner of the fine garb was in need of money, they could pawn their precious items. They were either bought back later on, or the clothes were re-sold. Clothes, jewelry, furnitures etc. was all liquid money, and was frequently pawned. Especially bridal jewelry, since the bride was only allowed to use it on her wedding, and maybe up to one year after the wedding. After this she was considered a matron and could not use the clothes and jewelry of a young woman. Bridal adornment were therefore often bought with the sentiment of selling it again in a year or so, except for maybe one precious item which was the groom's special gift to his bride.
Quote from: isabelladangelo on May 09, 2012, 09:17:03 PM
Like I said, Italy, Greece, and the Ottoman Empire all wore Turbans. I would really look into those.
http://www.kostym.cz/Anglicky/I_03_01.htm
Caftans! They are very simple to make and it would look awesome over what you already have. add the turban and you have a nice, period looking outfit.
All didn't wear turbans. Ottomans did. Greek orthodox rarely did. The Ottoman empire was complicated when compared to the idea of modern nationalistic states, but survived for centuries because of this complex system. In each millet (city/state/society) the majority of inhabitants was what decided the religion and leader of the millet. Within this they were fairly free to practice their own religion, way of dressing and other traditions. Hence, much of Ottoman Greece was Christian and with other dress traditions than in Ottoman Turkey.
Also, take into account that much of modern Greece was considered Italian colonies - Crete, Rhodes, much of southern Peloponnes or its islands. Here the inhabitants dresses like Italians, only with more exotic head wraps, shoes and accessories. So "Greeks" within our SCA period dresses all kinds of ways, depending on who was their leader in any given area.
But I totally second the kaftan. It gained major popularity in large parts of Europe, and it's a versatile item.
Quote from: lys1022 on May 10, 2012, 11:57:59 AM
If you like the Scarborough Rom look, just give me a shout. My husband is the Gypsy King (the one in the long vest and gold sash in the photos), so I can give you a decent breakdown of what goes into the look and the options that they have used amongst the group. That would give you a starting point. :)
I would love some advice!
Quote from: lys1022 on May 10, 2012, 11:57:59 AM
If you like the Scarborough Rom look, just give me a shout. My husband is the Gypsy King (the one in the long vest and gold sash in the photos), so I can give you a decent breakdown of what goes into the look and the options that they have used amongst the group. That would give you a starting point. :)
I would love to hear some recommendations, as well! I would like to develop a Rom look for SCA and Faire. If he has some research on clothing, etc. I would love to sneak a peek! Is there any place that his group would have a ton of photos online (besides the faire site)? Thanks!
Quote from: Dinobabe on May 14, 2012, 10:06:47 AM
Quote from: lys1022 on May 10, 2012, 11:57:59 AM
If you like the Scarborough Rom look, just give me a shout. My husband is the Gypsy King (the one in the long vest and gold sash in the photos), so I can give you a decent breakdown of what goes into the look and the options that they have used amongst the group. That would give you a starting point. :)
I would love to hear some recommendations, as well! I would like to develop a Rom look for SCA and Faire. If he has some research on clothing, etc. I would love to sneak a peek! Is there any place that his group would have a ton of photos online (besides the faire site)? Thanks!
The Roma look for SCA is very different from the Renn Faire Gyspy. The Renn Faire Gypsy is based off of 20th C Disney. The Romani in period looked like this:
http://larsdatter.com/romani.htm
Quote from: isabelladangelo on May 14, 2012, 10:47:33 AM
The Roma look for SCA is very different from the Renn Faire Gyspy. The Renn Faire Gypsy is based off of 20th C Disney. The Romani in period looked like this:
http://larsdatter.com/romani.htm
Oh, I know! ;)
But I figured if he had any research on both fronts it would be valuable. I don't want my Faire version to be the same as my SCA version, anyway. ;D
That's a great site, isn't it!
Quote from: isabelladangelo on May 14, 2012, 10:47:33 AM
The Roma look for SCA is very different from the Renn Faire Gyspy. The Renn Faire Gypsy is based off of 20th C Disney. The Romani in period looked like this:
http://larsdatter.com/romani.htm
You're assuming quite a bit about the look of various Rom. Not every faire has the same style for their Rom. Scarborough's Rom actually don't look like 20th century Disney, they follow a more Middle-Eastern look.
Not everyone does the same thing, and assuming that no one does any research and makes their decisions based on both research and the need to have characters quickly identifiable by the general public is rather insulting, actually. You probably don't MEAN to come off as insulting or condescending, but, quite frankly, you did on this.
Anyway, to answer the photo question from further above, if you check the photo thread on the Scarborough board, I'm sure that there are plenty of photos of the Scarborough Vitsa.
Quote from: lys1022 on May 14, 2012, 11:58:17 AM
Quote from: isabelladangelo on May 14, 2012, 10:47:33 AM
The Roma look for SCA is very different from the Renn Faire Gyspy. The Renn Faire Gypsy is based off of 20th C Disney. The Romani in period looked like this:
http://larsdatter.com/romani.htm
You're assuming quite a bit about the look of various Rom. Not every faire has the same style for their Rom. Scarborough's Rom actually don't look like 20th century Disney, they follow a more Middle-Eastern look.
Not everyone does the same thing, and assuming that no one does any research and makes their decisions based on both research and the need to have characters quickly identifiable by the general public is rather insulting, actually. You probably don't MEAN to come off as insulting or condescending, but, quite frankly, you did on this.
Anyway, to answer the photo question from further above, if you check the photo thread on the Scarborough board, I'm sure that there are plenty of photos of the Scarborough Vitsa.
If that's true for your fair - that even the playtrons do research and don't come in coin belts and sheer pants with little else- that truly is amazing! I'd love to see more of that but at every fair I've been to (MDRF, Alabama, MD Fairy Fest, VARF) the idea of gypsy seems to be Esmeralda from Disney's the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Is it *wrong* to wear that? No. However, it is wrong to believe that it's anything close to period. And yes, I have met several individuals who wear Disney gypsy despite knowing it's not correct for the SCA. One declared it was too much trouble to wear the real Romani because she hated everyone coming up and asking her what period/culture she was. So she gave up. I see this as a failure to inform and teach about history which makes the archeologist part of me cringe deeply. Rather than trying to spread the word of what the Romani actually wore, she went with the Hollywood idea because it was easier. To me, it's also an abandonment of responsibility - we should all strive to teach each other in order to better each other.
Following a more middle eastern look is fine - but then why not call it that? Why call it Romani at all if that's not what it is? Call it Persian or Turkish or what ever look you are going for - but don't call it what it isn't.
Dinobabe: I know! I love her pages. Have you checked out any of her 18th C stuff?
Because there are Vitsas of Rom who DO wear the Middle-Eastern styles. They wear that because the majority of their traveling was done in those areas. It is very common for the Rom to wear styles that are current in the area / time period that they travel. They do so partially so as to better blend in and not draw more negative attention than they already get, and partially because that is what is available to them. Quite frankly, based on the research, Rom in England would normally wear clothing very similar to the average English peasant. Unfortunately, that does not make them immediately identifiable as Rom to the average patron, and so some distinguishing characteristics have to happen.
As Scarborough's Vitsas (there are multiple that have joined together to form one main group) have traveled through the Russias, the Middle East, Greece, and the Italies, they wear clothing that can be seen in those areas and speak with a mixture of Khalderash Romani dialect and Russian dialect.
These are performers. Patrons pay for their tickets and have every right to wear what they WANT to wear (without judgement from others as to their "correctness" or not), so long as what they are wearing falls on the legal side of decency laws. And if a patron is interested in learning more about the Rom, then it is a performer's joy to help them learn and to point them toward credible resources in an educational and entertaining way. If a patron could care less, well, that is their choice too.
Um, Esmerelda I am NOT!
Jofranka/Marga
http://www.pbase.com/paul42/image/142628802
EEk! Everyone just be nice, hehehe. although i know how passionate everyone can be about their chose faire personae and cultures. I've had numerous debates about fae lore and culture with people who are not as framilliar about it as i am. But then again Widget, my faire character is a Fae so i did a lot of research and work ok his outfits, and i am still learning new things about folklore and such. And sometimes at faire i think it can be ok to make it a little more easy for the patrons to understand what your character is.
Widget is a Tinker fairy, based on Brownies, the little sprites that fix things, or play tricks on you in your house depending on if you were nice or not. but tinkers are mainly associated with Tinkerbell, and i get asked if i know her, and i have to play along. If i called myself Widget the Brownie people might think i was dessert *rim shot*! And then i have to deal with being a boy fairy, which is pretty uncommon, im the only one in colorado as far as i know. So part of my character is that he is an activist for male fairy rights, i have a great speech whenever someone says boys cant be a fairy or that all fairies are girls. but then again thanks to disney and the tinkerbell movies, boy fairies are less odd.
i think its a bit of give and take, Not all patrons are rennies so its ok to make some garb adjustments to get your point across.
(i think i just ranted...)
LOL....alright boys and girls....lets get this train back on the tracks! ;)
Quote from: Widget on May 15, 2012, 12:31:48 PM
Widget is a Tinker fairy, based on Brownies, the little sprites that fix things, or play tricks on you in your house depending on if you were nice or not.
i think its a bit of give and take, Not all patrons are rennies so its ok to make some garb adjustments to get your point across.
If you are playing fae, no need to settle on any one style - mix them up. A striped colorful headwrap/variation of a turban could work perfectly well. Or a wreath of green leaves, with your dreads pulled back into a ponytail and wrapped with ribbons.
Good luck!
Marga