Feedback on garb

[RoboRob]

Hello everyone!!
We're having our annual run here at the Texas RenFest...having a blast!!
I'm really starting to put another garb set for next year and need some advice on color pattern.
The main problem I'm having is weather to go with black overcoat/surcoat with brown under or go reverse. 
My idea is for an archer/hunter type costume but want to stay away from the traditional green that seems to be common.
Any thoughts or feed back will be welcomed.  After all, I do have a whole year to get this done.
thanks everyone!!

[gem]

Can we see an example of the piece/s you're thinking about? Have you tried them on to see how they look, or is this something you're making?

Is there any reason you can't do both? Milord has a reversible jerkin that's black on one side and brown on the other, and it's one of his most-used items.

Really, objectively, one isn't "better" than the other (although I suppose you could argue that brown would be better for camouflage in the woods), and it would be hard to advise on something that's going to come down to which YOU like more!  Which color do you wear more often IRL? I hardly ever wear black mundanes, but I have a ton of brown clothes and garb... this year I made my first all-black garb (ok, with a *little* brown  ), and I LOVE IT!! It's very striking, and a fun change from the norm for me. So perhaps a change from what you might *normally* pick could be fun!

[isabelladangelo]

Wear white or an off white closest to your skin.  there are several reasons for this but even a hunter would want something he can bleach rather easily and wouldn't have color bleed on to his skin.   

Over that, brown would be more historical - there are several lovely brown leather doublets that are extant.  However, black wool is also correct. 

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

If you google "Robin of Sherwood, 1984," you will see photos of Michael Praed who played the lead in the BBC series.  He wore a brown outfit.  I don't know how H/A it was, and it took place in the early 1200's rather than the Renaissance period, but probably that kind of garb didn't change much through the ages, and he looked drop-dead gorgeous.   

P.S.  I don't know how to post those pictures here, maybe somebody else does.

[DonaCatalina]

If you google "Robin of Sherwood, 1984," you will see photos of Michael Praed who played the lead in the BBC series.  He wore a brown outfit.  I don't know how H/A it was, and it took place in the early 1200's rather than the Renaissance period, but probably that kind of garb didn't change much through the ages, and he looked drop-dead gorgeous.   

P.S.  I don't know how to post those pictures here, maybe somebody else does.

Yeah- I loved that look. 

[Hoowil]

I'd say probably not the black. Black was expensive and hard to maintain the color intensity, especially when exposed to weather. Brown would be a good woods tone, or even rusts or soft oranges, like dead leaves. I work as an archer at local faires, and have been in green and gray, mainly just because the gray was something I had in stash when I made my jerkin, and I like green. The only black I have is my boots, and I might be making brown replacements this winter. I'd think as long as you keep away from real saturated or jewel tones, just about anything would work. Find a color pallet you like and make it work. Just my two bits.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

Thanks, Dona, for the eye candy!

[isabelladangelo]

I'd say probably not the black. Black was expensive and hard to maintain the color intensity, especially when exposed to weather. Brown would be a good woods tone, or even rusts or soft oranges, like dead leaves. I work as an archer at local faires, and have been in green and gray, mainly just because the gray was something I had in stash when I made my jerkin, and I like green. The only black I have is my boots, and I might be making brown replacements this winter. I'd think as long as you keep away from real saturated or jewel tones, just about anything would work. Find a color pallet you like and make it work. Just my two bits.

Black wasn't expensive or hard to maintain as people believe.  There was a certain type of black dye that was more expensive than others and harder to maintain than other but the peasants used black walnut dye for their wool - that and "Bah bah black sheep" - you could get a natural black wool from a sheep.   This is one of those unfortunate "Renn Fair myths" that keep popping up.   Look at any actual painting from the Renaissance of peasants, and you will see black as well as a lot of vivid colors.

[RoboRob]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!!  I can not get a darn pic to post on here, so I'll do my best to describe.  My only garb outfit is a cavalier type.  I have a black sleeveless surcoat, pants boots and hat.  I wear a white shirt under the surcoat just for some contrast and use a black 4" wide belt.
My main idea is to keep the surcoat and just get a black hood to go with it, a brown shirt to wear under and brown boots to even the pattern. I'm thinking to add brown belt and quiver later on.
However, I am open to any and all advice or opinions. 

[isabelladangelo]

How to post pictures:

See the photo icon of the Mona Lisa above?  Second row, first button.  Click that.  Up will come two sets of brackets with the letters img in them.  Between the brackets, paste the URL of where the image is.  Ie: http colon slash slash dubbaya dubbaya dubbaya dot anywhere dot net slash mycoolimage dot jpg.  If your image isn't hosted, photobucket and picasa both offer decent service for the less than internet savvy.   With ipernity, it will offer you a radio button specifically for bbcode (what is used here).  I love ipernity - a French based company- and use that all the time.   

Also, search engines will happily supply you with even more info on Bbcode.

[Rowan MacD]

This forum only allows off site hosting of pictures and Avatars.
  Photobucket is what I use-mainly because it's easy and accepted just about everywhere.
  Some IT's (like mine) block photo hosting sites like Flickr, etc.  and thus I cannot view them while at work.   I have no problem with Photobucket, and a few select others. 
  Once you have set up an acct and uploaded your picture, the  photo album view will give you a selection of URL formats and explains which one will work where. 
  You copy that line then post it here between the 'img' brackets.  look at the preview of your post and the picture should be visible-if not, then the format is not correct for this forum.

[DonaCatalina]

do a quote on this post and you will see how the photo needs to be set up in the post.

[arbcoind]

I'm a tech idiot and I have figured out how to post pics using photobucket.

Gina