I'm upgrading my festival garb this year, due to picking up some good deals on ebay. I purchased a sleeved doublet, with matching knee-length breeches. The doublet is green with gold accents, and has an upper class look to it.
The only head gear I own is a green muffin cap made out of corduroy material. The cap has a large plumage with many different feathers, including a large peacock feather. Would this hat be appropriate with the outfit? I would usually wear the hat to the festival without the feathers (they're removable), but I was just wearing a linen shirt, leggings, and a belt for a "peasant" look. I'm wondering if simply putting the feathers in the hat will be enough to evoke an upper class look so that it would go with my new outfit.
I'm not trying to be extremely historically accurate, but I do want everything to look right!
for faire wear, my rule of thumb is if you like it wear it! But in most cases a noble hat would be something with a brim. You could just upgrade to a soft flat cap and add your feathers to that. I see that combination in many histircal portraits, or even more distinguished would be to go with what is called a tall hat which can also take your feathers. (not to be mistaken for a top hat. waaay off) Search either of those styles and you will find lots. I wear both myself as they are not gender specific. There is a hat thread in the garb forum here. scan around or someone will post it.
Thanks for the reply. I'll probably end up wearing it since I'm not planning on spending any more money on garb this year; I think it'll look fine once the outfit is all together.
I dug up a picture of the hat (previously posted in the 'show us your hats' thread). It does have a brim at least. In the meantime, I'll keep my eyes open on a good deal for the flat hat, or tall hats you mentioned.
(http://i52.tinypic.com/2qaiweg.jpg)
I would wear that hat Richard Burton wore in the Taming of the Shrew, shown here on the far right ;D
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2374/2087194525_73c8583e3f_o.jpg
Quote from: Maithu Ruadh on June 05, 2012, 01:18:47 PM
I would wear that hat Richard Burton wore in the Taming of the Shrew, shown here on the far right ;D
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2374/2087194525_73c8583e3f_o.jpg
It's a hat that doubles as a pillow!
Niall, your hat is great! I would actually call that more of a flat cap (like Amy was talking about) more than the usually brimless muffin caps. A flat cap is perfectly appropriate and period for merchant/noble class, and the feathers dress it up nicely. If you wanted to make it even more fancy-schmancy, add more feathers and a jewelled pin. But it will be great with your new garb!
...Which, it goes without saying, we want to see photos of. :D
Glad you like the hat gem! I bought it for next to nothing at a garage sale, and I always get compliments on it. I picked up a few decorative pins at an estate sale that I'm going to use to attach the feathers instead of the standard straight pin, should spice it up a bit.
The doublet is en route via usps, but I'm hoping it arrives this weekend. This is the pic from the ebay listing.
(http://i48.tinypic.com/zlq8vr.jpg)
I am also jumping on the "That hat you have now will work with that garb" bandwagon. Middle and upper class gents wore that style of cap, the only difference being the quality of the fabric used to make the hat.
The steps you are taking now (the new feathers and new pin) will really help move it from 'lower class' to 'upper' just fine.
I wear the same exact type of hat most of the time. You might walk through some thrift stores and such to see if you can pick up an inexpensive brooch to 'jazz it up' just a little.
The doublet in the photo is good looking. Congratulations on the find.
Yep... You got a good hat to begin with. I agree that a pin or broach might be all you need. If you want to do a crafty overhaul to it.... Open a bit of the seam around the brim and run in some wire or a piece of plastic boning and stiffen the brim. That will give it a whole new look and keep you crisp. But other than that I wouldn't touch it!
Quote from: amy on June 06, 2012, 10:00:05 AM
Yep... You got a good hat to begin with. I agree that a pin or broach might be all you need. If you want to do a crafty overhaul to it.... Open a bit of the seam around the brim and run in some wire or a piece of plastic boning and stiffen the brim. That will give it a whole new look and keep you crisp. But other than that I wouldn't touch it!
Thanks for the tips ;D I hope to have some pictures of the finished outfit sometime shortly. My lady and I are thinking about trying out the mid-michigan ren fest this year, and we always go a couple times to the michigan ren fest in holly.
Ah, the disappointment of buying things online. Although the buyer gave me measurements of this doublet, alas it does not fit. It fits everywhere until I get down to the last two buttons on the waist, which I can barely button. The doublet is tapered down from chest to waist (which seems to be normal for period clothing), but my body pretty much goes straight down. Luckily, the buyer is allowing me to return it for a refund.
Looks like I'm going to have to get something custom made if I want to wear fancy clothes to the fair.
I was getting ready to reply about the Hat is perfect for your doublet and then I saw your last post. As I am looking at the doublet, it looks to me the buttons could be moved over so you could close it. I would go up 4 and start to move them over a little at a time to where they will button. You wouldn't have to send it back. Just a suggestion. Thoughts anyone?
Quote from: DragonWing on June 07, 2012, 09:51:40 AM
I was getting ready to reply about the Hat is perfect for your doublet and then I saw your last post. As I am looking at the doublet, it looks to me the buttons could be moved over so you could close it. I would go up 4 and start to move them over a little at a time to where they will button. You wouldn't have to send it back. Just a suggestion. Thoughts anyone?
I considered that, but even with the buttons moved over as much as possible, it would still be uncomfortable. I know these are supposed to be fitted, but it would be a bit "too" fitted ;D
Okay understandable. It is a shame though because your hat does work well with it.
Oh, that is a shame! And understandable; I'm dealing with that with some mail order pieces at the moment, too. Alas.
I have also held onto my fair share of pieces I thought I could make work with a little tweaking here and there, and it's never quite as easy or successful as you think it's going to be. Whether or not I attempted a fix would depend a lot on how much I had invested in the piece (read: not much). A pricy item would be returned.
THAT SAID ;D... you might check out this recent thread:
http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=17309.0
It discusses a different type of button closure using hair elastics, which would allow you to get some give in the fit. And although button-up doublets are perfectly period, at Fair we also see a lot that lace up the front--which is a more forgiving fit AND can allow a too-tight button garment to have more room, since the front edges meet, instead of overlap. (Did that make sense?) Another way to get another few centimeters of room is to use decorative clasps instead of buttons--but they're not as forgiving, fit-wise, as lacing.
Good luck, whatever you decide!
Quote from: Ser Niall on June 07, 2012, 10:09:17 AM
Quote from: DragonWing on June 07, 2012, 09:51:40 AM
I was getting ready to reply about the Hat is perfect for your doublet and then I saw your last post. As I am looking at the doublet, it looks to me the buttons could be moved over so you could close it. I would go up 4 and start to move them over a little at a time to where they will button. You wouldn't have to send it back. Just a suggestion. Thoughts anyone?
I considered that, but even with the buttons moved over as much as possible, it would still be uncomfortable. I know these are supposed to be fitted, but it would be a bit "too" fitted ;D
This is why when I made hubby's doublet with front clasp closures
and I made it so the side seams laced under the arms instead of a closed seam. This allows him to 'fit' the garment to his figure comfortably, either tighter or looser.
I have used the heavy duty hair elastics on sleeves, and they work well.
Quote from: gem on June 07, 2012, 12:03:45 PM
Oh, that is a shame! And understandable; I'm dealing with that with some mail order pieces at the moment, too. Alas.
I have also held onto my fair share of pieces I thought I could make work with a little tweaking here and there, and it's never quite as easy or successful as you think it's going to be. Whether or not I attempted a fix would depend a lot on how much I had invested in the piece (read: not much). A pricy item would be returned.
THAT SAID ;D... you might check out this recent thread:
http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?topic=17309.0
It discusses a different type of button closure using hair elastics, which would allow you to get some give in the fit. And although button-up doublets are perfectly period, at Fair we also see a lot that lace up the front--which is a more forgiving fit AND can allow a too-tight button garment to have more room, since the front edges meet, instead of overlap. (Did that make sense?) Another way to get another few centimeters of room is to use decorative clasps instead of buttons--but they're not as forgiving, fit-wise, as lacing.
Good luck, whatever you decide!
Yup, your fix makes perfect sense. I will decide by the weekend what I'd like to do with it. I got a good deal on it, but it wasn't necessarily cheap. Thanks for the suggestions!
So, as you might have guessed, I'm trying upgrade my garb on a budget, hence I've been looking on ebay trying to snag some deals.
I had pretty much narrowed it down to the green doublet pictured above (which will most likely get returned), and this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/300711078919?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_2450wt_1166 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/300711078919?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_2450wt_1166)
A couple of questions. The 2nd black and gold doublet laces up on the sides, is this period accurate at all? I've seen doublets that have laces on the side for adjustments, but they almost always have laces up the front as well.
Has anyone dealt with this maker at all? I'm curious if anyone has had experience with their workmanship. The price seems pretty low compared to everything else I've seen. The brocade fabric would actually match my girlfriend's dress well, since it's black and gold.
Yes it is period, some, not many extant examples, Elizabethan men's doublets laced up the sides.
I personally have not dealt with Royal Coffers but what I have heard from other ranges from ambivalent to not good.
That 9% silk chenille is HOT! as in do you have a blue ice vest to wear under it?
Quote from: DonaCatalina on June 07, 2012, 03:10:08 PM
Yes it is period, some, not many extant examples, Elizabethan men's doublets laced up the sides.
I personally have not dealt with Royal Coffers but what I have heard from other ranges from ambivalent to not good.
That 9% silk chenille is HOT! as in do you have a blue ice vest to wear under it?
Yeah, did a search for Royal Coffers on the forum here, and read a lot of not so nice things about them ;D Guess I'll stay away. I swear, I need to learn to sew some day. I want the nobility look, but seeing as I'm not a noble I'm trying to do it on a budget.