Where to find or how to make girdles/chain belts

[LibraryPrincess]

I've noticed that quite a few court ladies at TRF have wonderful belts on which to hang their goblets and purses. I want to know where I can get one, or, if possible, how could I go about making my own?

[isabelladangelo]

Thrift stores, ebay, and etsy are all good starting points.  I've found lovely metal belts at places like Wally World or Targét before as well that will work. 

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

I bought strands of pearls at Goodwill and took them apart for loose beads.  Also bought flat square filigree pieces at Hobby Lobby.  Bag of 6, about $2.50 on sale.  Using fishing line, I strung the pearls top and bottom of the square, then tied to the square, so it was 2 lines of pearls with the filigree every 3 inches.  On the filigree squares, I glued "jewels" that are flat on one side. Made it long enough to rest on my lower hips, then go down the front.  At the bottom, a large Hobby Lobby Christmas ornament cross.

Naturally, I can't find a picture of it at the moment, but I bet the whole thing didn't cost more than $15 or take more than an hour or 2.

[DonaCatalina]

The one you see in my photo is made of pearls strung on fishing line. Then I have a large metal and pearl button, from a bridal supply, with a lobster clasp to close it.

[LibraryPrincess]

The ones I've seen on Etsy and other places online just seem so delicate, like they would snap if I tried to hang a cup or a purse from it. It's good to know the craft stores have materials. I was afraid I would have to go to a hardware store for a length of some good strong chain.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

When dressing in my Noble Garb, I carry a basket with my few stuff in it. The only thing I hang from my jeweled belts is ny fan.

When dressing down, I wear a belt that will hold my Pouch, Tankard holder, etc.

For nice jeweled belts, Sapphire and Sage http://www.sapphireandsage.com/as well as DragonPipes Den http://stores.ebay.com/Dragonpipes-Den?_rdc=1on eBay.

Or like some have opined, other sources to make Belts from chains.

[Rowan MacD]

  I use gold fancy decorative lighting chain (Home Depot) to make girdles with if I want to hang something from them. They can take goblets, mugs, fans and heavy purses with out breaking. Use the largest Lobster clasp you can find (Hobby Lobby) to make adjustable 'loops' for what have you. 
   Even when you make jeweled belts using wire, they really can't take having things hung from them, and they weren't meant for that anyway.  But if you want to wear the bling, do so, but consider using a separate chain 'utility' belt for the heavy stuff you don't want to carry.   Jewelry chain is too flimsy.

[LibraryPrincess]

But if you want to wear the bling, do so, but consider using a separate chain 'utility' belt for the heavy stuff you don't want to carry.

This.
I'm ok with just wearing a sturdy chain to carry stuff on, but I like this combo idea.

[Ser Niall]

This thread is great, my wife has been asking about getting one of these fancy belts to wear at festival.   The main reason she wants one is to hang her cup and fan from it, and the ones they were selling at festival were both expensive and not very sturdy looking.  I like the home depot chain idea, might have to look into it.

As a side question, historically, did the women of the upper classes ever actually hang stuff (cups, purses, etc) from their belts?  I know some people carry baskets, but that would defeat the purpose of having your hands free.  Honestly, once we get to fair our cups are always in our hands (and filled  ) so it's rarely a problem.  I think she just wants to have a place to stash her phone, money, etc).

[LibraryPrincess]

It's not historically accurate, but it just occurred to me that a hidden pocket might be helpful, for cell phone and money/wallet/ID.

[Ser Niall]

We were talking to another random rennie at faire this year, and she made a small purse that matched the fabric of her dress.  She just pinned it in place on her skirt.  Seems like a pretty good solution as well.

[isabelladangelo]

No, in period, the nobles would not have hung anything from their belts outside a small "prayer box" or something akin to that.  There are some examples of a zibellino being hung from a belt in Italy but, for the most part, they appear to have been carried as well.  Pockets - hung outside the dress- are seen in Italy and appear to be similar to 18th C pockets.   However, they also appear to be for lower classes.   What you do see are purses, baskets, and even the stereotypical hobo bag (the handkerchief attached to a stick) being carried (ie, with hands) in period amongst various classes. 

I carry a basket that I got a Joann's for $5 or the one I got at the thrift store for $4 depending on what class I'm trying to portray.   Honestly, a basket with an elongated handle is very little different from a modern purse.   I use to have a basket with a large leather shoulder strap that was very useful but the strap eventually broke. 

[Marietta Graziella]

I love the look of the chain belt but also worried about the weight of objects being attached to it so...

On the back of my skirt waistband I sewed a matching horizontal --- belt loop. I put a mug strap on my goblet (you could sew a matching one to be less visible) then attach to the loop instead of the belt.

Side seam pockets. Yes, I know, integrated pockets are not very accurate but the quality of my experience at faire is greatly improved by this little cheat. The pockets are deep and sewn into the side seam so unless you were looking for them, you wouldn't even know they existed. Cell phone, ID, cash. Hands kept free and my beautiful chain belt is safe. 

[LadyFae]

I wear a belt under my bodice to hang my pouches, goblet, and fan from. My girdle is purely decorative- and though it is most likely sturdy enough to handle the weight of my fan, I don't want to risk it. My girdle was made by my sister- AuntieGiggles- and is strung on memory wire, I believe.

[Kate XXXXXX]

Pockets are a must for all the LARPers we work for, and Faire is more LARP than reenactment, so adding a pocket here and there is no big deal.  Just conceal them in side seams under bodice or doublet tabs and you'll be fine.  We make ours in sturdy cloth, double seamed (line of stitching AND 4-thread serged, or bound with bias tape), and hide them between outer garment and lining when we can.  To go under big farthingales, you can easily just make slits in the side seams and wear separate 18th C style pockets under them.  These have the advantage of being almost impossible to pick!  Slits in gown skirt, petticoat and farthingale almost NEVER line up exactly, and by the time the pocket has slid round a bit when you walk...

We have several pairs of Venetian slops to make over the next few weeks, and they will all have two side seam pockets in them, hidden under the braid trim.  I'll probably dig out my 18th C pockets to wear under my gowns.  Luckily, by 1628, farthingales were out, and the most they wore was a tiny bumroll.