I’m looking forward to going to Ren Faire again, so here’s my costume from the last time I went to one, which was Koroneburg in June. Koroneburg is a nice little faire in Southern California with a great atmosphere (by the way, check out the petition linked on their site to help them renew their lease and keep the event going). I just wish it didn’t happen during the hottest time of the year! The next time I go to a Ren Faire in SoCal, I am definitely bringing a parasol of some sort (it’s very dusty, so I wouldn’t recommend a nice Lolita one), my misting fan, and plenty of ice water. I will make sure to have a Liquid I.V. drink before I go as well, to help stay hydrated. That SoCal sun (and ultra high UV index) is no joke. [This post contains affiliate links.]
Anyway, my outfit was almost completely purchased from Amazon. *GASP* Yes, I’ve been costuming and sewing for 25 years now, have won many awards, have had formal training in fashion design and garment construction, and did make my first Ren Faire costume 20+ years ago. I know exactly what it takes to make a costume, and as a mom I know that I just don’t have that time right now. And that’s ok.
I think the most important thing when putting together a costume is to get a top made out of a material that breathes, like cotton or linen. Many faires are hot and dusty, and others can be very humid. I got this cotton blouse. I probably could’ve sized up, as the elastic was a little tight, but it was comfortable enough. I got this pretty corset top and replaced the ribbons with pink organza ribbons. I also got cotton skirts (in green and mauve), which were very nice and airy. I got one longer than the other so that the color would peek out the bottom, but you could achieve the same effect by rolling the waistband. Again, since faire can be very dirty, it may be a good idea to go a bit shorter on the skirt. Long, full skirts are oh so fun for twirling, though!
The belt was a gift from my sister and was custom ordered from Krakenwhip. It’s such a great belt! It holds a lot while leaving my hands free.
As for shoes, I have a pair of short lace up boots that I reserve just for Ren Faire because they get so dirty! I thought the fold-over style would be cute for elven and fairy looks.
When I go to Renaissance Faire, I’m much more into fantasy themes than the historical aspects, so I like to go as a fairy or elf. This time I went for a flower fae look with pink and green. This rose and blossom crown turned out to be a lot nicer than I expected and is now a favorite of mine (it looks great on hats, too). The circlet is one I bought from a vendor at the faire a long time ago, but the ear cuffs come in a set with a matching tiara. I decided to skip wings because they can be cumbersome. You know what I’m missing, though? GLITTER! I need way more glitter! What was I thinking? Next time. 😉
