Renaissance Dresses How It All Started

The term renaissance means a ‘new beginning’ and this ‘new beginning’ in dresses happened around 1490 A.D. During this time frame too many changes in all area of costumes started. Let us take the example of Northern Europe where people were wearing padding sleeves, stockings and doublets and leading to disturbance in natural figure. Northern zone of Europe was much ahead in their renaissance costumes while Italy was still attached to medieval way of dresses. France and England were too in Italy’s league while Germans were making advancement in technology and tailoring skills to produce improved version of renaissance dresses. They make ample use of puffs whether large or small. They put small puffs at back, arms, chest, legs and feet; large puffs, over shoulders, head and thighs.

By this time changes in clothing brought completely different level of dresses and new discoveries in this field. However there were some common or we can say basic features of renaissance clothes of all countries. Those dresses were voluminous in size, fitted body garments, large sleeves with or without puff and frills, large hip clothing, heelless shoes, wide toed and covered heads of both, men and women.

Bobbed cut hair was in fashion among men during that time however length of hair was cut in accordance with individual taste. They keep hair curled or straight as they wanted. Most of them preferred to keep hair shorter as modern men’s hair. They wore low crowned, brimmed cap in distinct varieties. They keep their cap all turned-up around or just one side turned. Women wore hat in same manner as that of men. They kept length of the hair long and straight. Headgears like crescent, bonnet or gorget, wimple, gable and kennel were the part of their daily wear. In peasant women's clothing cote, handkerchief and collar had their own place. They used to wear collar or handkerchief around neck.

To make their presence felt strong, people during those times wore dark colored dresses and velvet was considered as staple fabric of those times. Slashing and puffing of dresses was common. Slashing was a technique used to create contrasting effect in wardrobe. Slits was created in the garment horizontally, diagonally or vertically through which different puffed fabric peeped out. In the beginning of renaissance era common people were not allowed to wear colorful dresses and ruler took slashing technique as a sign of rebel against them.

The colorful effect of gold and burgundy for wrist ruffles and collars were substituted by white linen. Mostly the sleeves of all garments were designed in funnel shape – tighten towards the cuff and big in start. Their voluminous dresses had exquisitely designed embroideries. They even had embroidery on socks (at ankle) and boots which was called clocking. People who were working in government offices or in the service of king’s or queen’s wore office chains. These heavy office chains were worn around neckline or chest as an embellishing piece.

Renaissance clothing for men was mostly focused on providing them rich and opulent look. In the similar fashion women’s renaissance clothing was too luxurious and extravagant but had more elegant appeal.

Tips to Select Renaissance Outfits

Local renaissance fair is closer and you are thinking to participate in it. Are you from one of those people who want to be a part of festival but as a bystander? If it is so, then you are really missing the real craze and fun of the amazing moment. Wearing simple jeans with a funky T-shirt and cheering for participant as spectator is little boring and seems like routine. Renaissance festivals are the occasion where you can spend quality time with family and friends. You find more excitement when you take part in it and to this medieval theme costumes will add a great zeal. Some people love to appear in authentic renaissance costumes, some prefer the fusion of medieval and modern era.

Most of the time people get confused about the wardrobe while purchasing. The point is whether to go for classic, semi classic or modern. It is on you what kind of attire you want to have for the occasion. Here are some simple tips to overcome the confusion.

• Choose the way you want to appear. Some people only believes in wearing authentic medieval costumes, some want it in fashionable way and take a path of semi classic, a combination of medieval charm and modern style but you can go beyond the frame zone and experiment with fantasy apparels.

• Give uber importance to the look of character you are portraying. Do some research on your favorite character that you want to look like whether it is historical or fantasy character from different mediums such as books, internet or papers and have a glance at the fashion of past. Take note of minute details about them like their gesture and the way they dressed, how they put costume together. Through whole dressing sense you should be able to give the impression of ‘figure’ that you are portraying.

• During celebration time many people are seen with the same costumes. Some don’t prefer to imitate historical figure as they are afraid of looking similar which is little awkward too. If you don’t want refrain from this situation, give some chance to your creativity. Use your creative ideas on apparel to come out with modified wardrobe of character you suppose to portray.

• Renaissance fair and other theme based events happen many times in a year and you want to be a part of most of them but how many times you can buy renaissance costumes. It is not possible to buy a costume for each time but you and your friend circle can buy a quality product that works for longer, so that you can exchange and use the medieval clothing turn by turn. Also it is good to buy a quality product for a perfect finishing look.

In theme based fairs and events you get a chance to revive your childhood memories of your favorite fantasy characters. It might be for a small period of time but you get to live like your desired character.

Renaissance-outfits.com has pioneered in manufacturing and selling of renaissance clothing, costumes and dresses. A lot of medieval period costumes you can discover here.

Published by:- Renaissance Outfits