Garb ideas/suggestions

[Mairte]

MNRF is over for the year (Whaaaah!!!  ) but I am already planning something for next year. I decided I DONT want to wear a dress. I know that is likely not "historically accurate"....I was thinking dressing in some sort of pirate garb but not completely set on it. What I want is a type of leggings, long tunic and boots.Not sure what kind of hat or something in my hair or that either. Any suggestions and best places to find it? I am pretty certain of the colors I want,dark green, black and maybe some silver in there but since I wear exclusively silver jewelry maybe that counts for that part.
Sigh, I love my dress and will keep it as part of my renn wardrobe. It needs to be hemmed up though, I had to walk SLOWLY and SEDATELY or...I tripped!!!!
Anyway, I hope to make more faires this year and next but will continue to work the problems out with this costume.

[robert of armstrong]

Need more info on who or what you see your character being.  Adopting a Pirate or Privateer character can be a pretty wide net you are casting.  There are so many possibilities.  How high (or low, that can be fun) do you want to be on the totem pole?  You could be in vertitable rags, all the way up to extravagent Captains Coats and huge hats with feathered plumes.  The Blonde Swan has some awesome hats, for different types of characters, if you are looking

[isabelladangelo]

Girls dressing up in boys clothing was not unknown.  Just read Shakespeare.   

[gem]

Now is a great time to buy leggings; you can get them pretty much anywhere. Penney's has tons for great prices, although they're mostly very neutral colors (black, brown, navy, grey). (There is something messed up with their website today, though, and I keep getting shunted to the Clearance section instead of the regular index, which has a tab for just leggings. I picked up three pairs yesterday! And, yes, I plan to wear them to Fair.)

Boots, of course, look fabulous with leggings, and this is also a great time to go boot shopping, because they are *everywhere.*

I also think tunics are very cute, though it can be tougher to find Fair-friendly ones that will fit most women. Museum Replicas has a good selection of tunics here (scroll down). If you can sew, that might be an easier option. Tunics were period for men AND women for hundreds of years. You'll be more medieval than Renaissance, but you'll be comfortable and look great. A search for "woman's T-tunic" will bring up several pages of instructions and tutorials.

As for a pirate look, Museum Replicas has a nice woman's frock coat I've had my eye on: Mary Read Pirate Coat.

[LadyFae]

Mairte- I just went to the Coon Rapids Target yesterday and bought a pair of black, capri length leggings in the dollar spot for $2.50!  They are "One size fits most" and I'm planning on using them for my pirate self that I'll put together for Twig next year.  Did you know that Twig is doing a "High Seas Adventure" theme?  FUN!  =)

[Mairte]

Thanks everyone! I have seen some leggings that will work, have to think about the boots and tunic. Robert of Armstrong, I will be sure to check out the Blonde Swan! I kind of want to go middle of the road, not rags but not too extravagant either.
No, Lady Fae, I can kind of be "out of the loop" sometimes and didnt know about the High Seas Adventure thing. Oooo, it does sound like fun!! Plan, plan and PLAN! 

[Mairte]

I went to the Blonde Swan website and LOVE it!! There are some really great ideas for hats.
I also registered on Etsy and put in a request, I guess I am easy to work with because I said my only requirement on time is that is be done before next MNRF,lol. I got a couple of bids so will see.

[clark]

Oh! Other Minnesotans!

Seems like you have a pretty good idea of where you want to go with it but what about things like a bodice or maybe a vest, coat, accessories like belts, sashes, weapons? There are so many things you can do! I suggest making a folder on your computer and saving any and all pictures you find that inspire you. Also keep in mind, most of the non-H/A garb can be mixed and matched to make all kinds of neat outfits. Just in case there are days you don't want to be a pirate or wear your dress.

[Mairte]

Well...I DO want a very unique coat. The biggest reason I decided to do this custom is I thought my costume this year was "okay" but missing character.
I thought about a pistol or compass....sigh, with my wild hair and not knowing what to do with THAT, I might have to make a trip to the braiders upon getting to faire.
I also think a leggings or harem pants, I guess a corset really instead of a bodice, one that closes right under the chest. Shirt of course. Some kind of hat and boots. I also put a request out for that. I want flat boots because I am hopeless in heels!
I am also going to have a dress made but havent decided what style yet.
My daughter wants me to local belly dancer garb for her as she said that is what she is going as. SHE was the pirate this year!

[gypsylakat]

How spendy do you want to go on this?
www.damseldress.com

[Mairte]

Not exactly sure how spendy, I just plugged in a random number on Etsy but going to be figuring the price out with whatever bidder I decide to go with.
I saw a beautiful dress on there today....I usually love greens, silvers and of course black and this dress was totally the opposite of anything I have in my closet,lol. It was a kind of gold/ivory (I know there is a word for this but it escapes me at the moment) chemise and the overdress was cream, pale lavender with a little green.(I usually DETEST super bright colors or pastels) Someday I will have to have a dress like that or at very least try it on to see if it does anything.

[woodfar]

I am hawking this year and have put together a costume of sorts. I was just wondering what is the garb for just a commoner. I am not fancy by nature.

[Mairte]

Anyone who knows is welcome to jump in an answer this question! I am fairly new so dont feel qualified to answer it.....