Characteristics of Medieval Clothing and Renaissance Costumes

Any person in Tudor era was easily recognized by attire. During those periods every person had to follow the rules (whether rich or poor) imposed on clothing based upon the color and material of fabric. For Royal ladies fashion was important, they were the trend setter, great fashion icon for commoners. Medieval dress had many layers, over all it was a collection of different fabrics and other materials. The designing patterns and fabric used in making of costume were unmatched and at the peak. Let us consider a few peculiar points’ medieval clothing bearing in mind the fabric and designs.
* Materials and fabrics – Medieval costumes of royal and wealthier people were made from the fabrics of silk, satin, taffeta, sarcanet, scarlet and velvet. Scarlet a plain fabric and sarcanet was a form of delicate silk. If colors that give lustrous and rich shades to fabric weren’t available in the region then they were imported at great expense from Middle East countries. Most commonly worn clothes were of silk, satin, tinseled, and silver. They were made from blended fabric or pure fabric with engraved embroideries. Only upper class people were allowed to wear medieval clothing of rich fabric. Commoners were only allowed to use cotton, sheepskin and linen as fabric and black or grey color.
Slashing technique – Limiting fabric and color of costume to a particular section of society lead to the creation of new technique called slashing. This technique was a way of answering to rule makers who imposed restriction over the use of bright colors and luxuriant fabric on lower strata people. A cut was made on the outer surface of cloth from which inner lining popped out and creates a contracting effect. One more method was developed called ‘Pink’ in this method fabric was cut into diamond shape through which inner lining appeared. Picking was more delicate than clashing.
Geometric Shape – Rather than designing dress in natural shape of body, royal ladies chose to go for geometric shape. In order to get desired shape fabrics were quilted or padded and for stiffing, whalebone or buckram was used. To get flat triangular shape corsets were worn under the gown. Wearing medieval dress was difficult process for royal ladies and need atleast two helpers to fit into them but all was endure for the sake of fashion and beauty.
Exquisite Sleeves – Sleeves were the most elaborate part of the medieval costumes. Designed with very fine details they were available in various styles, even in padded form too. Sleeves were separately sewed and attached to main outfit by tying or pinning. Padded wings on shoulder hide the joins of sleeves. Ruffs were added part of collar and sometime around cuffs also.
Tudor style of dressing had great degree of impact on renaissance costumes during later periods. Long voluminous dresses with funnel shaped sleeves and same old rule on clothing were derived from Tudor period. But the situation was not same for pirates. Pirate clothing was became more flamboyant and many new addition were introduced.
Medieval clothing of Tudor period and renaissance costume were almost had same approach in terms of fabrics and patterns with little changes designs.

Go Ahead to Fulfill Your Dream of Childhood By Women's Renaissance Costumes

In her childhood every girl trust in make believe stories of princess and also believe that they are the princesses of the story. When you grow adult you find these stories far from realities but now no more, you can live your childhood dream of dressing like a princess. Don’t put those stories aside instead take part in costume based events like renaissance festivals or pirate themed parties. Such occasion will give you the ample opportunity to get dressed in renaissance costumes of princess theme.

The most eye catching part of these renaissance dresses are their voluminous structure. Long flowing gowns in various colors and shades, exquisitely designed long sleeves in funnel shape, frills or narrow shape give these gowns aesthetic look. Over to this, these dresses are made from soft materials like silk, brocade and velvet and are much comfortable and fabulous to wear. Detailing is much important for these larger than life size dresses because this thing is the main essence of classic clothing and completes the overall look. Detailing can be done by netting, frills, sequins and belt of colorful fabrics. Such fine work of art set a blend between cloth and its design thus the outcome we get is improved version of costume. In earlier era this type of clothing was only achievable to some small but high profile group of people but now people of any age belonging to any strata can enjoy feel of renaissance clothing.

If you feel incomplete in renaissance after wearing it then that must be a headpiece. It a good idea to wear a matching headgear to dresses like a lady of renaissance era. Numerous things are there to choose for instance hats, crowns, veils and wimple. Your choice of headwear depends on social status of character you want to portray. Also when you order for theses accessories you surly want them to long last that is why whenever you buy them purchase from established sellers whether they are offline or online sellers.

There style are varies in several numbers. You don’t have to settle for what rest are wearing. For varieties internet is best available medium to search for. You can select the design, color and fabric of material in which you are interested and still you will get your own space of individuality, this feature of internet shopping makes it pleasing experience.

Ladies you may have particular character in mind associated with this type of costumes like peasant or princesses but if you want to do something new and much more exciting then how about dressing like a pirate. Who says pirate character must be represented by men only. There were many famous women pirates too like Mary Read, Ann Bonney and Grace O’Malley.

So go and grab your favorite renaissance costumes and pirate costumes. You can make your set randomly also. Get a loose white colored full sleeve renaissance shirt and a loose black colored pant. For accessories golden loop, tricorn hat, a bandana, eye patch, exotic fur and thigh high boots are OK along with dark make-up.

Renaissance Costumes - Renaissance Fairies and Events

Down the ages fashion has been evolving with the invention and development of various fabrics, colors and embellishments. The renaissance age is a glorious celebration of fashion statement, with extravagant and flamboyant styles emerging in this period. The royals and nobles led the brigade, vying with each other to show off their riches and status in the form of renaissance dresses that were made of costly fabrics and furs with rich brocade and lace trimmings further embellished with jewels and feathers. Stand a modern well dressed man next to a fully well dressed renaissance period courtier and he will look like a plain fowl next to a resplendent peacock. It is therefore not surprising that today renaissance fairies celebrate renaissance costume and renaissance dresses, giving people an opportunity to deck themselves in the finest period costumes and have a gala time recreating the gaiety of a time gone by. Hairstyles and head gear had just as much importance as the renaissance costume.
An invitation to attend a renaissance faire or an event with a medieval theme is an opportunity to display yourself at your flamboyant best. You could choose to dress like an Italian prince, a French Noble, an English courtier, a musketeer, a simple commoner or a dashing pirate in pirate clothing. Men and women can dress up and look extremely striking as well stylish in renaissance costumes. Women have a number of choices in renaissance dresses, ranging from a simple peasant dress to an elaborate princess gown with all the trappings and accessories to give a royal look.
Renaissance costumes you choose to attend a renaissance faire or event need not necessarily be made of the same expensive brocades, lace, furs and silks but there are modern versions that are just as striking in looks, color, appearance and feel to help you project the right image. Women will simply love to dress themselves in renaissance dresses with rich brocade, velvet bodice and matching embroidered skirt and sleeves with appropriate accessories or the other equally tempting and stylish options in renaissance dress designs. Among other designs women can opt for a gown and a skirt with a long train, cone shaped topped by a square neckline bodice edged with lace and jewels. Sleeves can be embellished in faux fur. Another choice is the late 1500s style with plenty of ruffs with plunging necklines, wasp waisted renaissance dresses.
When you choose a particular renaissance costume do not forget to accessorize it with the right articles. Arm garters give a unique look to your arms. Wands as well as scepters can add a magical or divine touch to the whole ensemble. Head gear is essential and choosing the right hat to complement your renaissance dress will set it off to a new level. Feathers can add a touch of gay insouciance.
Men can choose to be clad in richly royal renaissance dresses on the one hand or dress like a buccaneering pirate with the right pirate clothing including accessories for a flamboyant look.
There is a vast selection of renaissance costumes and pirate clothes available in stores as well as online and having a perfectly matched outfit sets you up for a perfectly enjoyable renaissance faire.

Various Ways to Wear Renaissance Clothing

Renaissance fair is the time when you get enough opportunity to express yourself. It’s time to strengthened the bonding among friends and families and enjoy medieval way of leaving. This festival provides you a chance to show your capability of enacting like the characters of medieval period. Started in early 1950’s, people in this festival get a chance to dress in renaissance costumes. They enjoy food, music and theatrical performance based on the life of legends of the bygone eras.
Many people attend these fests on regular basis but for some persons it is once in lifetime opportunity. If you are one of those lucky person who is about to attend such fair then apart from renaissance dresses there are other things provided below to consider.
First thing you need to do is - keep your sunglasses or eyeglasses at home while taking part. Obviously nobody in earlier period support sunglasses. They will look awkward and ruin the appearance of renaissance clothing. If it is important to use lens then use contact lenses.
After sunglasses, here comes the accessory second in list. They are the most vital part in shaping the whole appearance and give finishing touch to look. Accessory provides the room of improvement for medieval dress and its range varies from embellishing medieval clothing to headgears to armor and many others. No matter from where and what you purchase, accessories have tendency to personalize the ‘brought costumes’. To get an accurate look apart from medieval outfit, a little make up and require accessory will do a great job.
Third one is hair, during middle age whether men or women most importantly noble women had their unique sense of styling hair. No women in those periods used to cut hair. All had long similar looking hair unlike today’s women who have freedom in to choose the length and style. Mostly the hair of married women was confined in a bun in the back of head. So when you have a few days on your hand before the feast, try to find out the perfect hairstyle.
The last here is shoes. No outfit is complete without them. Either you have wrong pair of shoes or you don’t have and in both the cases you end up ruining your look. If you don’t have time or budget to buy an appropriate pair of shoes then go for black shoes or crystal shoes. For instance, to look like a pirate not only pirate costumes even pirate shoes, bandana, sash, hat and sword are equally required. For adding more effect an eye-patch and rope are considered.
Above mentioned points will help you in achieving the desired look you want. Now-a-days designers know how to make period clothing environment friendly, versatile and in budget of consumers. They use various materials to make alluring and exquisite dresses of velvet, cotton, brocade and satin fabrics. These clothing along with accessories will adorn you with glamorous and elegant look.
For a right renaissance costume do research. Take ideas from magazine, newspaper, books and internet. While medieval themed costumes available offline too but buying online is far better idea as it can provide the same quality of outfit at a reasonable cost.

Understand Renaissance Costumes and Renaissance Dresses

Renaissance clothing flourished in the middle of the medieval age. In theta period, people who were affluent and rich wore this kind of clothing. Costumes were woven from hands and were quite exquisite. The fabrics used for medieval costumes were expensive and luxurious. During that period clothing determined the social stature of the person. Renaissance costumes were worn by people who were financially sound. Since the fabric used in such kind of clothing was costly and classy therefore they were resold at a very high value. Materials used in the medieval clothing were silk, wool, cotton, brocade; velvet etc. fabrics were specially imported from other countries. The costumes were rich in designs and were highly polished. Costumes of medieval age had embellishments of sparking jewels, pearls, ribbons, gems that made them elaborate and stunning. Affluent people used to make sure that their clothing reflects their stature. Medieval clothing has rich and elegant embroidery of gold and silver which made them even more costly.

Women costumes in medieval period were simple as well as intricate. Simple clothing comprised of bodices, underskirts and robes while the intricate one were skirts, collars , over bodices etc. costumes were stitched in a way to give woman’ body an hourglass figure which enhanced their look. Royal or affluent ladies used to wear bright colors like reds, orange and purple etc while the wench in that period was seen in brown shades. Women used to accessorize their dresses with broach and lace. To make the renaissance look complete, hat was an essential item to wear. Hats were made of the same expensive material like that of their costumes. Shoes were made of leather and had wooden soles.

In men clothing, the costumes were designed in a way to give them curved and barrel appearance in order to enhance their shape of body. Fabrics used in men clothes were similar to that of women. Shirts were loose fitted and had beautiful patterns with cushioned shoulders. The trousers that were known as breeches at that time were till the knee. Shoes were similar to that of women and hats were strikingly beautiful with stunning and fancy embroidery.

Pirate clothes are a rage these days since they are designed in a unique and distinct style. Pirate clothes are preferred by people of all age groups. If you desire to wear costumes of pirates then select accessories of renaissance period as well. Pirate clothing comprises of knitted cap, breeches or trousers known as breeches, shirts, boots, and swords. Pirate eye patch is on the top of the desired items of pirate dressing.

Popularity of renaissance costume and renaissance dresses has not faded even today. People find opportunities to wear such kind of Halloween or medieval clothing when renaissance festivals or fairs are arranged.

Elegance Looks in Renaissance Costumes

Renaissance costume had some really interesting designs for both men and women; the designs were more of lavish as well as sophisticated. Furs and silks were mainly used as it depicted luxury and status. It was kind of showing of one’s social status through means of clothing. It is generally believed that fashion came into existence with the era and nothing like style or trend was seen before this. Initially these renaissance clothes restricted the movement but later it changed eventually. Layers were generally preferred and women costumes included skirt, vest, bodice, collar and an underskirt. Men’s wear consisted of coats and clothes that gave a square look to man’s body. Lots of padding was done to make the shoulder broader. They also wore long tunics which went down to the knees. Men’s fashion focused on material that had a bold look, long sleeves were preferred, tight body garments, brimmed caps and leather jackets.

Pirate Clothing also gets its emergence during that phase and people still follow it. It is one section of clothing that fits well for both the genders and it is gaining popularity in social events and Halloween parties. These costumes are getting a huge come back and you can even get them at local stores at a very low price or even on sale. When thinking of buying pirate clothes, pirate shirt is a must and you need to accessorize it with chains, rugged piece of cloth and eye patches. On for your special occasion if you really want to impress people by your pirate look the look is incomplete without a trendy pirate hat. Renaissance clothes are generally loose-fitted clothes, and there is a lot of variation in it. With growing fashion you can add the latest accessories to enhance the pirate or the renaissance look. Color variation varied for whites to blacks and dark brown. If today you want to try the same look, choose a pant that is two sizes bigger.

With the influence of today’s you can complete a pirate look or your Renaissance Clothing with a smartly tied bandana on the head, silver loop earring and a sword. Today you can buy all these clothing and suitable accessories online and have a changed look on your special occasion. Kids very much prefer this look for their school functions and birthdays party moreover this is a hot favorite theme for adults. Some fun loving couples experiment with the pirate look or renaissance costume on their weddings as well.

Wearing Renaissance Clothing and Pirate Clothing has always been a matter of prestige during that era and it continues even today. You feel like kings and queens and women specially flaunt their figure on the occasion they wear those fitted gown that enhances their beauty.

Online Shopping for Renaissance Costumes

It is very impressive to find the wide array of renaissance clothing to choose from but the situation was not same during renaissance period. People had limited number of options to wear during that era. A single costume was worn number of times and was dirty all because of lack of laundry facilities and poor hygiene. But thankfully this is 22th century and renaissance costumes lovers can choose from the costumes of royal levels to peasants. To create the magic of past one can opt for desired costume from past.

To make a selection from the diverse option seems to be quite a challenging task. Even during festive seasons, it becomes very hectic for every retailer to meet the requirement. After all it is not possible for them to make available their range of costumes at every mall. The problem of locating vendors could be solved if you haunt for the medieval costumes online.

There should be no worry about the look as choices are diverse when it comes to renaissance costumes. If you think, after searching mall to mall you are not getting the product that really maintain balance between quality and cost then leave the old fashion way of offline shopping. Online retail shop would make your shopping experience hazel free. Online retails shops offer very authentic and beautiful rage of medieval clothing with awesome quality of fabric. The quality of products of these retailers is on par with the offline retailers and also available at reasonable amount but they don’t charge less at the expense of quality. Online shopping can prove to be a great money saver as you could save money on purchase and also you don’t need to spend on transport.

So why people have such a craze for renaissance dresses, the reason behind this is many festivities based on medieval theme for instance medieval theme wedding, pirate theme events, Halloween party and renaissance fairs even you can throw a party on middle age theme. All you have to do is to invite your guest in renaissance clothing, decorate the place with medieval theme accessories and order foods that belong to magical era. To increase the level of enjoyment you can organize a play, music and other activity of renaissance period. All above mentioned occasions are a way to show love and respect to medieval era and its al medieval things. Whatever the character you want to portray online shop will fulfill.

Shopping on internet can deliver the exact costume what actually is in your mind from its diverse category. Visit 3 to 4 websites for a single product, this will help you to compare the cost or atleast you will get the idea of product’s price. This action of yours will assist you in acquiring a quality product at an affordable rate. But don’t search on any website blindly, haunt for products only on well know websites like PirateDropship.Com, Renaissance-Outfits.Com and TheMiddleAges.Co.Uk because not many websites could offer you the costumes in terms of options, quality, availability and customer service.

For more information on renaissance costumes and dresses, medieval accessories pirate swords, medieval swords and other replicas we recommend you to visit our website tudordressing.com

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