Improvements to Fairy Garb

[elthefairy]

Hi my names Ellie and I'm pretty new to garbing. I have a fuchsia pink tank top with swirls on it,hot pink leggings, a crystal necklace, a hair fall, and wings. Also I'm waiting for a light pink liberty bodice and matching square skirt. You can tell already I'm not really going for accuracy (hence the pink), but I feel like somethings... missing. I guess I getting OCD about this, because I'm out of school for summer, but what can I do with little money to make my costume better.

[isabelladangelo]

Actually, the color pink in very accurate for pretty much anything - the ancient Egyptians had pink.  The Romans had pink - madder is a red dye that can be diluted to pink and has been around for thousands of years.  All anyone needs to do is go into any art museum to see how long pink has been around.

That being said, since you are going for a fantasy character, I'm not sure why you would be concerned with color anyway. 

Have you looked at Amy Brown's art work for inspiration? Or maybe Nene Thomas'? 

Thrift stores are AWESOME for fabric finds and for vintage looking clothing you can easily modify for any fantasy event.  They are cheap too.  I just got a pair of pink silk curtains for under $5 to make a new dress out of.  Even if you can't sew, you can find lots of broomstick skirts, peasant blouses, and scarves that will help.   Just do a search for your local area. 

[LadyFae]

Figuring out your Faerie character will HUGELY help you figure out your details.  What is your Faerie name?  What type of Faerie are you?  (Your "talent" if you will.)
You are pretty in pink so I think cotton candy, bubblegum, flowers...  So maybe a Sweets Faerie named Sugar.  From there you can find tokens for the littles- such as candy.  Anything cutesy and fun and sugar-coated looking would add to your garb and character.  LOTS of glitter, too!  =D

[isabelladangelo]

No, please, no glitter.  Glitter is associated with bad things in the real world simply because it gets EVERYWHERE.  And you will find glitter years from now from that project you did.   Unless you want to be remembered as the girl who got the glitter everywhere and it took forever to get out of everything, I would not do it.  Even then, don't.

[Rowan MacD]

   Especially 'glitter bombs'...please don't.
   Don't glitter bomb patrons, and please don't run around giving kids a sample of 'fairy dust'.  You don't know what they will do with it.

  You can use makeup quality glitter on your skin... sparingly.  Most of the super fine, club glitter (.99 cents a bottle at Sally Beauty stores) will stay where you lightly dust it on, as long as you don't use too much, and it makes a nice accent to body paint if you like that.  It's what the face painters use.
   Stay away from craft glitter. Period.



   

[arbcoind]

You need something to wear on your head or in your hair.  Something that accents your pink costume, maybe with faux crystals and ribbon?  Check out this thread:

http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php/topic,17170.0.html

Gina

[LadyFae]

Eh, glitter haters gonna hate! Faeries are sparkly and have fairy dust, just be smart about using it! Under no circumstances are glitter bombs appropriate or acceptable. Be wary of giving glitter covered hugs to anyone in Nobles or leather (both of which are terribly difficult to get properly clean.) If you want to share your fairy dust with any littles, I suggest asking the parents first- then give just a TINY bit in the little's hand, have said child close her (or his, of course) fist to make a wish, then turn away from everyone and blow the wish away. If you are a glitter covered faerie, stay out of any shops that sell hats or garb or fabric anything! Big wing are fun and look cool but remember to have them aim more towards the back of you instead of out to the sides so that you are less dangerous for "winging" people (it can hurt you, too!) Be prepared to interact with LOTS of children, you may need to have a little story for them about who you are, what you do, who your faerie idols are.  Some Faeries play music, some blow bubbles (also something to keep away from others' garb!) Some have tokens to pass out, some grab sticks or rocks off the ground, sprinkle a little fairy dust on it and present that to the child. Again, once you figure out your Faerie character your garb additions will be so much easier! Bells, feathers, sparkly gems-the more the better for most Faeries!

[LadyFae]

Also, you may get a little more Faerie love and help down in the Fairy Ring section of this forum.

[Rowan MacD]

  Excellent suggestion Lady Fae!
  The other fairies can help you get started.  If there are any at the faire you will be going to, it's nice to let them know you are coming,  so you can hang out with them. 

[elthefairy]

I agree about the glitter thing- I would hate to spend hours and hours on creating something to have someone glitter it. I should probably add more glitter to my wings, they're kinda plain. I've already decided on being a rose fairy- though the sweets fairy idea sounds fun. Thanks for all the suggestions and the warning about glitter bombing.

[Orphena]

For a rose fairy, I would say get lots of fake roses from the dollar store! You can make a head wreath, add them to your wings, make belt / sash covered in them. A nice addition to any fairy are latex ears.

Think about all the senses - how should a fairy sound when they walk? Perhaps some wind chimes hidden somewhere on your person? Perhaps bells?

[gem]

What is a liberty bodice?

Sometimes when it feels like something's missing, it's because an ensemble lacks contrast. If everything is pink, it might be hard to focus on anything, giving your garb a lack of definition. Try adding accent elements of a much darker color--deep, deep wine, dark velvety or glossy green, etc. Not too many, and not everywhere (you don't want to go too far in the other direction and look crazed and cluttered!), just a touch here and there to help the ensemble "pop."

Studying other fairy garb, either in artwork as Isabella suggested, or photographs of costumes, can help as well.

Have fun!

[Rani Zemirah]

Faeries like to carry all sorts of odd and interesting things with them, or attached to their belts, or... hair... or even their shoes.  Just tiny things that someone might notice when they're entranced by the lovely rose faerie! 

Oh... and you might want to be very subtly scented like a rose, also.  VERY subtly... so that someone would have to be fairly close to notice it.  Otherwise you might set off lots of allergies, and that would be no fun!   

[isabelladangelo]

Faeries like to carry all sorts of odd and interesting things with them, or attached to their belts, or... hair... or even their shoes.  Just tiny things that someone might notice when they're entranced by the lovely rose faerie! 

Oh... and you might want to be very subtly scented like a rose, also.  VERY subtly... so that someone would have to be fairly close to notice it.  Otherwise you might set off lots of allergies, and that would be no fun! 

Yes, allergies are EVIL.   

For a subtle scent, keep your outfit in a drawer/bin/something else that is box shaped with a sachet of rosebuds.  (I've seen them for as low as $5)   The clothing will pick up the scent of the rosebuds. 

Do not use a perfume spray.  That will certainly set off allergies.   If you want something a bit stronger, try one drop of rose oil on your wrist.   

[gem]

If you want something a bit stronger, try one drop of rose oil on your wrist.

This is an excellent suggestion--it will be natural, subtle but strong enough to be noticeable, and most important, authentic. Nothing beats the heavenly aroma of natural essential oils. But go easy on them! (like perhaps a light mist on a handkerchief).