Being in garb/character on the WAY to/from faire?

[Finnian]

In the past years, I have attended faire in what I suppose would for the most part be considered "normal" rennie human character garb, occasionally fae gear, like wings, or curled shoes and simple makeup. I know most of the people on this board play human characters, but I will ask this to everyone.

If you have elaborate garb, like maybe a large dress, or wings, or complex armour, and DON'T work at the faire, do you tend to wear your garb on the way to/from faire, or just get dressed when you get there?

At my home faire, the only place to get dressed are either at other places in the park, rather a far walk, or a port-a-potty (which I have yet to step hoof in, myself.) Obviously some people can get dressed in their car, if it has enough space to move.

Myself, usually I wear the stuff and just add wings/any large pieces when we get there, but starting this year I'm attending in my faun garb, aka padded leg forms, forced "high heel" foot posture, a tail, complex makeup via airbrush, and prosthetics. I plan to just go in garb, since I surely wouldn't take my fur into a port-a-potty, and the car we are taking doesn't have nearly enough space for me to get into all the layers and gear. I can only bend so much in garb.

I foresee a lot of crazy looks on the journey to and from. I surely hope we stop at a drive through or gas station!

So what about you ladies and gentlemen?

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

I have seen people dressing in the parking lots - some behind screens, others much more modest.

If I have ever stopped away from Faire on the way there, I usually get questions/looks, but my garb is more normal than yours (not in a bad way, mind you )

[Finnian]

I have seen people dressing in the parking lots - some behind screens, others much more modest.

If I have ever stopped away from Faire on the way there, I usually get questions/looks, but my garb is more normal than yours (not in a bad way, mind you )

Lol I know whatcha mean. I've been in a fast food joint with my elf looking hood, and horns and such...without the furry parts and people stopped and blocked up the drive through >> lol. A lot of people tend to ask me "where are your feet?" since it's obvious I'm not standing flat-footed. Heeheee silly people.

[Master James]

It really depends on how we are dressing and how long we have to drive.  That being said, we almost never go fully dressed.  We usually always have something to put on in the parking lot once we get there and we always change into danes after the day in the parking lot unless we are driving a very short distance.

[ArielCallista]

I've always gotten dressed at home...usually as a belly dancer...this year i will be getting dressed in the parking lot...at least for rendezvous (new noble garb)...I have a small suv and the trunk space opens upward...so i was planning on some heavy magnets and fabric to make myself a little temporary changing room...prolly like 5ft by 5 ft space...Is there someway you could do something like that?...you'd definitely want to test it out ahead of time tho...

[Finnian]

I'm used to taking a large SUV, but this year its a small compact car, and because of how my layers are, I can't really wear anything but underwear underneath the spandex layer, so I don't plan on getting changed outside the car. XD I mean I'm ok with changing at home and freaking out people, I could care less about that, I was just curious as to what other people do too. I like the idea of portable changing room tho. If we had more people we could probably make a little curtain thing outside the car, but it will just be me and one other person, so not enough arms. XD

[ArielCallista]

I'll only be able to wear underwear under everything...so ill drive down in shorts and a tank top and then "assemble" my changing room and get dressed...you could stop at the gas station down the street to get dressed...i've seen plenty of people doing that...

[will paisley]

From what I've seen at MDRF, the norm seems to be to change in the parking lot, both coming and going.  As I'm typically uncomfortable with that (and not at all uncomfortable either driving in garb or being seen in garb outside of faire), I change at home and go to and from faire in garb.  I even go so far as to grab my hat if I'm going into a gas station on the way there or back.  Since I wear peasant garb, I've found that, without the hat, I'm just dressed funny.  Put the hat on, however, and I'm in a costume.  As the great ren performer Hilby once said about his accent, "If you can't hide it, paint it red".  I've found it's much easier to run around in full costume playing a character than go around half costumed and try to pretend that nothing's out of the ordinary.

[Finnian]

From what I've seen at MDRF, the norm seems to be to change in the parking lot, both coming and going.  As I'm typically uncomfortable with that (and not at all uncomfortable either driving in garb or being seen in garb outside of faire), I change at home and go to and from faire in garb.  I even go so far as to grab my hat if I'm going into a gas station on the way there or back.  Since I wear peasant garb, I've found that, without the hat, I'm just dressed funny.  Put the hat on, however, and I'm in a costume.  As the great ren performer Hilby once said about his accent, "If you can't hide it, paint it red".  I've found it's much easier to run around in full costume playing a character than go around half costumed and try to pretend that nothing's out of the ordinary.

I rather like that saying! I might have to put that one up on my wall XD Yeah, it would be rather weird to be all airbrushed green and swirly in normal everyday clothing, stopping for gas or to get lunch or something and everyone just staring, over me being in the full shabang. XD Then at least they could take pictures!

[SirRichardBear]

When I wear the armour I put that on in the parking lot its impossible to drive wearing the armour.   I've been know to put my kilt on in the parking lot too but its pretty easy for a highlander to get dressed and undressed any place while maintaining modesty as long as you remember what goes on and off first. 

[Capt. Morgan]

My garb (save for my horse-tail) is pretty comfy, so I'm mostly dressed as we drive to Faire and put the final touches (belts/pouches/horse tails/hats) on in the Parking Lot when we arrive. That said, even in my most "subtle" of Medieval/Ren. garb consisting mostly of long black leather vests, thigh high boots, puffy sleeved shirts and the like...I still get some odd looks when I stop to pump gas/grab breakfast should I need to before arriving to Faire.

"Are you goin' to that Medieval Faire here abouts?" is the usual questions to which my sweet smiled reply is...

"You have a Faire around here? Heck no, I'm trying out for "Oklahoma"

It usually takes them a second or two before they get it...

[Casche]

I'm one of those get dressed in the parking lot, has no shame types.  I have changed from jeans and a tank to a chemise in plain sight in the parking lot... But then I grew up in theatre, so I'm very good at changing clothes while still being legal... It's pretty easy, just throw the chemise on over everything else and use the chemise as a kind of changing tent.  Quite handy, heh.

[Dinobabe]

A lot of camping stores have pop-up privies.
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10210792____SearchResults
Do research for the best price.

[Sitara]

I camp at faire so I dress in my tent now and put on my belt stuff once I can move around better.  Before I was working there, I would be partly dressed for the ride and do the rest of it in the parking lot...so many things to strap/tie/tuck around my hips that are just not comfy for an hour car ride.  Sitting on coins is not fun!  After faire, I would completely change before the drive.  I too am a master at changing while not showing anything, but using a giant t-shirt as I used to never wear a chemise.

[Baron Dacre]

I dress on-site. Backstage...

Partly because I can (on cast), mostly because my butt (including arming bolster) doesn't fit in the car...