Question...was it weird the first time you dressed up? We are going to be at TRF and after a few years of Scarby, I'm desperate to dress the part. I'm nervous that I won't have everything I need for the costume when the time comes. And is it weird dressing up as a noble with "the court" and their nobles around also??
I can't answer for dressing as a noble, but getting into garb -really- made me enjoy the Faire that much more. The most important thing is that you feel really good in the garb you're wearing. It's like wearing your day to day clothes. We all have those outfits that we look good in, and that gives us a boost of confidence...but we also have those outfits that make us feel uncomfortable, and that's kind of a deal breaker. In garb, you may notice some increased interaction with the cast, as well as getting asked if you work there. Really, though, as I said, for me...it really made Faire seem more like home.
As for not having everything when the time comes, don't sweat it. I've been building my garb wardrobe for a good few years now, and I -still- don't feel like I have everything I need. So long as you've got enough to be decent, you're good. It's been my experience that people -never- feel like they've got everything. There's always one more bit to add. ^.^ Once that garb bug bites, it does not let go.
Again, just really enjoy yourself, because that's what matters most!
I was honestly petrified the first time I garbed up for faire (only my second time TO faire at that). I'd looked through a ton of other people's websites with their pictures, and it seemed to me that everyone in the pictures just "knew" what they were doing or were "in" on the game....and I didn't even really know what the game was. Add in to the mix (and this will shock those who have met me...) I'm really painfully shy. I have to FORCE myself to go "out there" in new situations. Once I'm familiar with the situation, well...it's a completely different story. That said, I and my boyfriend garbed up in the outfits I made us based on my photo-research. The garb was, let's say 40% faire accurate...not even CLOSE to historically accurate...and I had a BLAST!!! I've never looked back. I have dressed as a noble at faire (I think you will find that cast treats you as one of their own to a point...bowing and treating you with the respect your "station" would demand...at least at St. Louis they did), but I prefer lower to middle class. I tell people that it's a whole different world at faire when you are in garb...and I love it!!!
What I'm trying to say in my long, effusive way is...GARB MY FRIEND, garb and enjoy!!! Wear what you have and have a blast with the never ending game of adding to the garb! It's addictive and wonderful. Don't worry about looking "right"...throw on a fluffy shirt, a full skirt and you are set!!! Go for it and have a wonderful time!!!!!
Well... I first day in garb was my first day at faire ('cause I couldn't go more than an hour without buying an outfit... and at the time, my father was very generous to purchase one for me). Granted, not even close to what I have now originality wise (though I LOVE those pieces) and just fit right in. As for 'noble,' I did that for the first year last year and have found that if you treat the Court with respect, you will recieve the same treatment. Besides, as a noble, you get alot more 'my ladies' and bows from the other cast members. Don't worry and just have a fun time with your clothes. I'm sure after the first half hour, you won't feel 'weird' at all!
At first I felt a little weird, but once I realized that I fit in, it became much more comfortable. Like amyj above I was a little shy so I didn't really talk to anyone except my friends, but hopefully this year I can get a little more courage..
Really? No. Not at all. In fact, I feel loads "weirder" if I *don't* go in garb! There's something about donning the "appropriate" clothes for whatever venue/event/environment you're in that actually INCREASES your comfort factor. Wearing mundanes to fair, to me, feels a bit like coming under-dressed to a wedding, or overdressed to a job interview. You'll feel so much more a part of the scene if you're dressed to match.
And *nobody's* garb is complete the first time out. You will always find something else you need.
In do know that dressing up as a Nobleman or Woman is weird after wearing lesser garb for several years. People who work at Faire treat you differently, that is for sure.
Either a Wench or as a Noble, I still have a great time. Wearing garb makes one feel more a part of the festival as a participant than an observer.
I am with Lady Meg that it is weird NOT to be in garb when at Faire.
The first time I went dressed as part of the upper class - IT WAS AWESOME!! ;D
It was also the first time I had gotten a bit more 'in to' faire - I just wasn't Susie walking around in a funny looking dress, I was Mistress Margaret Baynham come from Lavenham in hopes of petitioning the Queen.
I had not gotten to thru the gates before people were bowing to me and refering to me as My Lady. It rocked. It was a bit more difficult to move through crowds because of the farthingale, but all that took was a bit of practice.
I'm in cast at MIRF and this is the first time in years I've not dressed as Italian Nobility. I'm still Italian, but I'm a merchant class. It's killing me. LOL!!
Quote from: Lady Kathleen of Olmsted on July 27, 2008, 11:39:03 PM
In do know that dressing up as a Nobleman or Woman is weird after wearing lesser garb for several years. People who work at Faire treat you differently, that is for sure.
That is so true! I started going noble a couple of years ago (noble one day, pirate or wench the other...throws them off!) and I was kinda nervous at first because they were treating me differently, and I was having to stop a lot more for photos...not that I mind that. :D
WOW that was SO many years ago that I first started going to faire and dressing in garb almost 20 years ago. I was a bit nervous the first time and the first years my out fit would be call Fantasy or Dungeons and Dragons. A bit barbarian rangerish. I moved up to higher quality garb about 13 years ago and kept that same outfit for a long time. It was actually what I wore at my 1st and so far only wedding. Three years ago I went more noble but the outfit was no where near complete. I still have it and may wear it again someday now that I have pieces to make it complete. Last year I went in wench wear and had fun. This year I wnt noble full on and was even confused to be the queen both times I wore my dress. I changed the dress upo this last weekends visit to a noble dress I had never worn. I was a bit more vervous withthis dress as I have had it for three years and never wore it. I also didn't want to get snarked... no one ever does.
It can be scary at first because as a noble you want to look your 110% best and to fit in. But the most important part is to just have fun and enjoy yourself.
Have fun as a noble. Once you go noble you really don't want to go lower class again... at least I don't
Well I went from a wealthy upper middle class merchant to a noble 2 years ago and it was a bit intimidating for sure. Now I was on cast the first time I played a noble so that added to the intimidation as I was more concerned about not screwing up. ;D As far as you not having everything, like everyone else said, don't sweat it. You don't have to be perfect out of the gate and you can add to your ensemble as you can. The only real caution with playing a noble I might suggest is to ensure that whatever character you choose is not already being portrayed by an actor at the faire. It could be a bit confusing to have 2 Countess of Shrewsbury for example and its not really fair to the actor portraying her. I always check the faire's court list of characters before attending any faire to ensure that does not happen. If perchance someone is playing Baron Buckhurst, then I would simply change my name for the weekend to another Baron that is not being portrayed at the faire. Have fun with it and enjoy the attention you will be getting!
My very first time we rented garb. I was hooked but Faire was over so we joined the SCA and were ready with our own garb the next time Scarby opened.
My first efforts were pretty horrendous, but over the years it has improved. A few years back we went once in mundanes.
We swore we would never do that again.
Have fun with your garb and remember that Rome wasn't built in a day.
You'll probably be adding to your garb ensemble for years.
The first time I dressed up I felt very nervous, like I had a big sign on me. I think Gem said it, kinda like that feeling you get when you go to an event and you're worried about being over or under dressed. Or like going to a halloween party in costume, and when you arrive and you're getting out of the car, you think to yourself, "wait, this is a costume party, right?" The feeling didn't last long, though, after I got in the gates and saw all the other folk dressed up. The ice was really broken the first time a normal paytron asked to take my picture, even though at the time I was probably thinking, "why do you want to take
my picture?
It took me a while to absorb the aura of dressing up as a Countess, wife of an Earl. Ther amount of research needed to get the look and feel of dressing up as someone with "More Money Than Common Sense" is a never ending feat.
Even speaking in the Elizabethan style takes a time to get down just so that when conversing with the Nobles at a Faire or merchants is a trip in and of itself. It's all part of the character one is portraying.
But I have to say, dressing up is work!! Of course the Earl always says,,,"Where are the servants when you need them?" ;D
I have my servant in Toki LOL. I now refer to him as Sir Thomas my Master of the Horse. Kind of my Robyn was to Elizebeth. He helps me dress and I could never do it without him. I just need to find me a young girl of about 6 or 7 to carry my train for me or insure no one steps on it LOL
Now where did that damned horse run off to after dumping me on my head during the hunt!
You will find once you take that first step, it becomes very natural. As an example one of the court came up to me this past weekend took my hand in a courtly mannor, intoduced himself to me, asked my name I told him Lady de Laney we did some more courtly talk, I smiled and then he kissed my hand as a noble would do. Sad thing is he is a jester looking fellow LOL. Oh well guess a lady must start some where.
Quote from: DonaCatalina on July 28, 2008, 08:49:16 AM
A few years back we went once in mundanes.
We swore we would never do that again.
Dona C, I am *so* with you on that one!! Even on days when we're just running out to the grounds for a quick visit, or if the weather is really horrible... we still talk ourselves out of going in mundanes *every time!* I just feel awkward and out of place if I'm not in garb. At Fair, I mean. Everywhere else I do OK in mundanes! ;D
The first time I dressed up it was a weird I thought that people would think I was supid and laugh at me, but when I got there I looked like I belonged there. People came up to me and thought I worked there and would ask to take pics of me in my garb and offten they ask for directions, as I got to know the workers there we became friends and I fell like they are family now and I love to dress in garb and would not go without it. I always dress in my garb I have from noble to pirate and I love them both. I like the pirate for the hotter weather and wear the noble in the cooler weather to fairs but all and all I like being in garb.
I've been to three or four faires, but this year is my first year to go in garb. My stomach is all a-twitter just thinking about it and it's not until the end of August! Even more nerve-wracking is that it's a small, not very old faire (http://www.bcrenfest.com/ (http://www.bcrenfest.com/)); I'm afraid I'm going to stick out like a sore thumb. Yikes!
yeah, it was weird . . . a little different if you are with the show vs being a playtron. I don't know if it is more or less stressful. took about 10 minutes to get into the swing of things.
I dressed in garb my first time to Faire in 2004. The summer previously, our friend took hubby to one of the last days of MIRF's 2003 season. They were in mundanes, and when they came home, told me they felt totally out of place. I was still learning how to sew at that point, but our imaginations were fired and we went out a got a bunch of renaissance patterns. By the time the 2004 MIRF season came around, we both had garb and we haven't looked back since.
Except on days when we dress as pirates, we like being nobles and love the interaction our characters have with cast. :)
I was very nervous prior to my first visit in garb because I was too hung up on getting it "right"! I quickly learned that very few faire goers give a hoot about accuracy and learned to relax and enjoy myself. Going in garb is definitely a different experience from going in mundanes- you become part of the experience instead of just an observer. I still avoid interaction with the court becasue I'm not comfortable faking the accent and trying to speak correctly and don't know the proper protocol but I'm sure that will come eventually.
In 2001 my friends said in 1 week we were going to scarby. I ran home made a bodice, and chamise. The bodice had velcro, but the stripes matched. It was terrible, but cute. The chamise got given to a friend, and bodice to a first timer who couldnt' afford to dress up but wanted to.
I don't feel "normal" unless I'm wearing something alittle 'off'. I swear my favorite day at work was when they told us to dress up as long as we didn't wear masks, and show too much skin. I just grabed a chamise, a basic gypsy skirt, my ruffled bloomers, and my ren mochasins. I put a ring of flowers in my hair,and off I went. Yes i got alot of looks from customers, but I won best female costume (hubby won best guy), and I wasnt' even trying. I have never been so comfy at work!
My hubby went to his first faire in mundanes. By the end of it he had bought a Lady dra shirt just to feel like he belonged (and alot cooler in TX heat) Now on he won't go to faire with out some sort of garb. Even if it is just a sleeveless cotton shirt, and a kilt he is in garb.
I've gone once as a royal, and I really didn't like it as much because the dress didn't fit quite right. (It was a rush job and I lost alot of weight from inicial build and actually wearing it.) I'm tempted to try again. The day the hubby wears his royal doublet I need to wear my royal. Then again any other day he could be my jester. ::)
Quote from: sealion on July 29, 2008, 11:15:34 AM
I still avoid interaction with the court becasue I'm not comfortable faking the accent and trying to speak correctly and don't know the proper protocol but I'm sure that will come eventually.
Oh, dont feel you have to have a perfect accent or perfect and proper behavior to go and talk to them. At MIRF Caroline is the most gracious lady in the entire world and the entire Court is not hung up on proper protocol. Really. If it does make you nervous, just say hi to them as they are shopping or something. Or even go on the buddy system. :D That makes it easier as well.
Quote from: LadyStitch on July 29, 2008, 11:47:21 AM
In 2001 my friends said in 1 week we were going to scarby. I ran home made a bodice, and chamise. The bodice had velcro, but the stripes matched. It was terrible, but cute. The chamise got given to a friend, and bodice to a first timer who couldnt' afford to dress up but wanted to.
I don't feel "normal" unless I'm wearing something alittle 'off'. I swear my favorite day at work was when they told us to dress up as long as we didn't wear masks, and show too much skin. I just grabed a chamise, a basic gypsy skirt, my ruffled bloomers, and my ren mochasins. I put a ring of flowers in my hair,and off I went. Yes i got alot of looks from customers, but I won best female costume (hubby won best guy), and I wasnt' even trying. I have never been so comfy at work!
My hubby went to his first faire in mundanes. By the end of it he had bought a Lady dra shirt just to feel like he belonged (and alot cooler in TX heat) Now on he won't go to faire with out some sort of garb. Even if it is just a sleeveless cotton shirt, and a kilt he is in garb.
I've gone once as a royal, and I really didn't like it as much because the dress didn't fit quite right. (It was a rush job and I lost alot of weight from inicial build and actually wearing it.) I'm tempted to try again. The day the hubby wears his royal doublet I need to wear my royal. Then again any other day he could be my jester. ::)
We need more nobles..........! I'd love to see your dress. ;D
The first time I went to faire, I was kinda in garb. Peasant shirts were in at the time and I had a denim peasant shirt from a regular store. I combined that with a polyester broomstick skirt in green from the thrift store. I didn't even have a bodice to complete the ensembe. But it still looked cute because the colors worked well together. I've gone completely mundane a few times and it always feels much stranger to me to not be dressed up.
I felt nervous the first few times...I still feel a little self-conscious wearing garb, because I don't go very often (I'm lucky if I get to go one day a year)... I was thinking--and still am--about possibly going to faire in 'danes (just because it's simpler and, frankly, at the end of the day the boning in my corset gets annoying and makes it hard to breathe), but everytime I do, I think, "But it's not faire if I don't wear my garb! It would be weird to not wear my garb!"
...So I guess I don't feel as nervous/self-conscious now as I thought I did :) I will say that my first time to Sterling Renaissance Festival, I yearned to be in garb, because garb is sort of the icing on the cake...the final step to really feeling like you're escaping to another world for the weekend :)
I laugh when I think of my first time....I just threw some things together I found at the thrift store and from my own wardrobe. It was bad, but I had a great time. I wasn't too nervous because I had gone several times in mundanes and knew what to expect. Nobody got snarky with me, but it's true, the more your garb improves the more you get noticed and people want to take your picture.
Relax and have fun! I'm sure you'll look lovely in your noble attire, and being dressed up really adds magic to your experience!
Quote from: Athena on July 29, 2008, 10:14:35 PM
Relax and have fun! I'm sure you'll look lovely in your noble attire, and being dressed up really adds magic to your experience!
You know - the 'relax and have fun' bit is also part of making the outfit look better. Sort of a "Don't let the outfit wear you" kind of thing because if you look too stiff and formal, you won't be having fun and you will look, well, stiff and formal.
I was nervous too when I started wearing garb to faire - but then, somehow, your garb becomes as easy to wear as your dane clothing. A bit more fussy to get on than a pair of shorts and a tshirt, but you know what I mean. :D
I myself have never dressed out (garbed) before. I have been going to our state's Renaissance Festival held at the Castle in Muskogee for about 10 years. The grandchildren have always garbed in some form. I can remember even when the Queen hijacked my little niece and incorporated her into her retinue for several hours once due to the dress she was wearing (she was introduced to everyone as a visiting member from Spain's Court). Looking back on the photos and seeing various princess and Knights Templar outfits we had had designed for them (the oldest nephew still has the shield and sword that he has saved in storage for his children someday). This last year, the youngest nephew garbed out during the Pirate weekend and loved it. We discussed it over and looking into having him next year go into their Academy and becoming a official player but then decided at his age it would be more fun at his age just to enjoy the festival until he gets older and makes a decision based on experience. To be honest, they also required that as a minor child, I or another member of the family would have to be with him at his assigned area at all times. That would have killed my photography hobby.
We decided to have two suits designed for next year's faires (Kansas City, Scarborough, Muskogee) that will be along the lines of noble class. Mainly because when reviewing most photos from previous years......there really were no noble class children represented. Except of course, the very talented young lady playing the Princess at Muskogee. We were worried because many players were advising not to be in that style of dress mainly because of the expense (which is not a issue). My nephew is quite aware that he will be asked to be in photos but was worried that the suits (doublets and paned slops) would be considered by perhaps kids from his own school as....well..."girly". To overcome those concerns we included him on the decision of colors and fabrics. We chose his style of accessories and peace tied weapons (medieval Bling-Bling). I seriously doubt that any of the official nobles would treat a child with disdain or contempt for any reason. I've seen them for years and they have always treated everyone with respect and kindness.
For myself, I ordered a simple monk's cassock and a wooden tankard. I can't do anything about the camera or the giant zoom lens. I had found that many of who I thought were cast members, were simply playtrons and just enjoyed garbing. We will fit into that area.
I wouldn't worry too much about a camera distracting from your being in garb. I think being in garb lets me take better pictures. I'm not just a tourist taking pictures of the weirdos, but one of their fellow Rennies, who understands.
I don't make much effort to hide my camera, other than to tuck it behind my left arm when not in use.
(http://www.pbase.com/lordmalcolm/image/66325466/medium.jpg)
Just imagine going to faire garbed for the first time and it's only your second time in a kilt.