A unique characteristic of Renaissance Halloween costumes are that they may be worn for occasions other than for trick or treat and seasonal parties. The popularity of Renaissance Fairs provides a number of occasions to wear costumes of the period. Whether a lovely lady of the queen's court gowned with a flowing veil or a village wench with a bawdy laugh - many options are available to you. You might be royal or common, good or evil, brave or cowardly. Renaissance costumes can be interpreted easily with color and accessories.
Creating a quality costume is realistic if you plan to attend Renaissance functions other than Halloween throughout the year. For apparel that can be worn on multiple occasions you can spend a bit more and justify the cost. For period accurate designs and props a quick trip to the library or a search of Google will give you ideas for characters from every strata of that long vanished society. http://www.costumecauldron.com/Adult-Renaissance-Medieval-Costumes.html
Deciding on a costume will mean assuming a certain role in society. Are you a common peasant barely eking out an existence? Perhaps you prefer to act the part of a king or queen, prince or princess. If you prefer something more dark and mysterious, maybe you are a common thief or feared practitioner of dark magic.
More research will add greater historical detail to your costume. High society would wear rich colors with women flaunting sweeping dresses and tall hats adorned with floating veils of various lengths. Fabrics used might be light and airy for the ladies and heavy and dark in color for the men of the time. http://www.costumecauldron.com/shop/halloween-costume/Medieval--Renaissance-Costumes-title0-p-1-c-341.html
A woman dressed as a peasant might don a dull colored and unadorned work dress. For the lower classes gray and brown were often the only color choices available. Makeup or face paint might help give the appearance of a long day spent in the field or time spent tending the livestock.
For men, the colors used were similar to their female counterparts. Rich colors were reserved for high society and members of the court. The cost of the dye required for the deeper jewel toned colors made these hues a luxury reserved for the elite. Peasant men wore neutral colors and perhaps a straw hat to protect them from the sun. Realistic clothing for the period will be a bit dirty as hygiene in those days was not what we expect now. Baths were a rarity and were part of grooming only a few times a year. In between bathing the wealthy used a variety of heavy scents to mask body odor. Such perfumes were not available to the peasants.
If you prefer to act as royalty, just like with the female costumes, the colors should be very deep. Purples and reds were more expensive to get back in those days, so only the wealthiest usually wore these hues. Male or female, royalty usually came adorned in jewels, including the obligatory crown. If you don't' have costume jewelry that fits the style, consider designing your own out of inexpensive materials.
The holiday can be about fun and history. Renaissance Halloween costumes allow plenty of room for both! If you are a fan of Renaissance Fairs, you will get more mileage out of your garments and may want to spend more time on designing the perfect fit. Unlike those who lived long ago, you also have the opportunity to choose your lot in reenactment life, so choose something that fits your personality. Whether you're a king or queen, petty thief or dark sorcerer, Renaissance Halloween costumes can be made to suite all ages and personalities! Edited by Hetsil Protage
Creating a quality costume is realistic if you plan to attend Renaissance functions other than Halloween throughout the year. For apparel that can be worn on multiple occasions you can spend a bit more and justify the cost. For period accurate designs and props a quick trip to the library or a search of Google will give you ideas for characters from every strata of that long vanished society. http://www.costumecauldron.com/Adult-Renaissance-Medieval-Costumes.html
Deciding on a costume will mean assuming a certain role in society. Are you a common peasant barely eking out an existence? Perhaps you prefer to act the part of a king or queen, prince or princess. If you prefer something more dark and mysterious, maybe you are a common thief or feared practitioner of dark magic.
More research will add greater historical detail to your costume. High society would wear rich colors with women flaunting sweeping dresses and tall hats adorned with floating veils of various lengths. Fabrics used might be light and airy for the ladies and heavy and dark in color for the men of the time. http://www.costumecauldron.com/shop/halloween-costume/Medieval--Renaissance-Costumes-title0-p-1-c-341.html
A woman dressed as a peasant might don a dull colored and unadorned work dress. For the lower classes gray and brown were often the only color choices available. Makeup or face paint might help give the appearance of a long day spent in the field or time spent tending the livestock.
For men, the colors used were similar to their female counterparts. Rich colors were reserved for high society and members of the court. The cost of the dye required for the deeper jewel toned colors made these hues a luxury reserved for the elite. Peasant men wore neutral colors and perhaps a straw hat to protect them from the sun. Realistic clothing for the period will be a bit dirty as hygiene in those days was not what we expect now. Baths were a rarity and were part of grooming only a few times a year. In between bathing the wealthy used a variety of heavy scents to mask body odor. Such perfumes were not available to the peasants.
If you prefer to act as royalty, just like with the female costumes, the colors should be very deep. Purples and reds were more expensive to get back in those days, so only the wealthiest usually wore these hues. Male or female, royalty usually came adorned in jewels, including the obligatory crown. If you don't' have costume jewelry that fits the style, consider designing your own out of inexpensive materials.
The holiday can be about fun and history. Renaissance Halloween costumes allow plenty of room for both! If you are a fan of Renaissance Fairs, you will get more mileage out of your garments and may want to spend more time on designing the perfect fit. Unlike those who lived long ago, you also have the opportunity to choose your lot in reenactment life, so choose something that fits your personality. Whether you're a king or queen, petty thief or dark sorcerer, Renaissance Halloween costumes can be made to suite all ages and personalities! Edited by Hetsil Protage
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Get your Halloween costumes on the internet and chose to be a queen or a king in Renaissance Halloween costumes