Historical Reenactment Costumes

As a ren faire geek and sometime SCA event participant, I’ve tried my hand at making a number of historical reenactment costumes. Some of which turned out fairly well, some of which looked great but ripped apart after wearing only once or twice, and some which turned out incredibly well, but weren’t actually legitimately historical at all. Luckily, those awesome-but-not-period-correct sets of garb were for our local renaissance faire, which doesn’t really care, and the fell-apart-after-one-use costumes were mostly meant for only one use.

If you’re looking for historical reenactment costumes, you have quite a few places to shop around at. For one, the event you’re planning to attend will probably have at least one costume shop on site. For two, there are literally hundreds of costumers on the internet who custom make garb, and for three, you can always buy used or new on eBay. Usually that’s where you’ll get the best price on hand made costumes, since many costumers use online auctions as a sort of business card “See, this is what I make, come see my real website for the full range!” or to dispense with one of a kind items, or the last of a stock that didn’t sell well enough to replenish.

At some point in the future I may offer my own hand made renaissance faire costumes either on this site or on eBay, but for now, I think the market is amply supplied. At least, it’s well supplied in the basics of chemise, skirt, bloomers, capes and even bodices and corsets. Sadly, I do find the market lacking in creativity. More often than not these days I even see websites offering premade costumes based on Simplicity patterns! This isn’t a bad thing when it comes to chemise, skirt, and bloomer patterns, but is not so good when the seamstress tries to make a bodice out of those patterns. Simplicity is designed to be, well, simple- not accurate, and not good fitting. A bodice is meant to be tight and enhance cleavage. Any bodice made from a Simplicity pattern without adjustments not found on the pattern is going to be horribly unflattering, and quite obvious to the eyes of any experienced faire goer.

Always bear in mind that you can afford to skimp on underthings- chemise, skirt, bloomers if you don’t intend to portray nobility. But always, always buy a professionally made bodice or corset unless you plan to make it yourself. Or do what I do, buy one bodice, trace around it and use that pattern to make many, many more in as many colors and styles as you like!

Things are much more complicated than that, however, if you wish to participate in the stricter reenactment groups, such as Colonial, or Civil War reenactment.

Historical Reenactment Costumes