Dressing up like a pirate is probably the most fun a girl can have. What’s better: being a princess or being a tough chick with a sword and your own boat? Think about it: you can drink rum, you can swordfight foes, and OH YEAH YOU GET TO PRETEND YOU HAVE A PIRATE SHIP. We’re […]
Gauntlets are pieces of armor that protect the hands and wrists. The word “gauntlet” is derived from the ancient French word, “gant,” meaning glove. Medieval gauntlets were the most sophisticated parts of the full plate of metal armor that evolved by the late medieval time period in the 15th and 16th centuries. By this time, […]
During Renaissance times, it was the courtly class who had time and circumstance on their hands to enjoy a life away from working in the fields or doing other types of menial labor to meet the demands of everyday life. Royalty developed a number of ways to entertain themselves. Dancing, sports and other games of […]
Many Renaissance games and entertainment, because of their timeless appeal, have remained similar to those of today. Children played with spinning tops. They made up games using balls, following their own whims or rules they made up to suit their group of players. They played hide-and-seek, blind-man’s buff, and wrestled according to their size and […]
Cloaks have a rakish appearance to our modern eyes since we’re generally used to garments that fit more closely to the body. A cloak may seem like it’s not that useful because it doesn’t wrap closely around the body and just hangs loosely in the back. However, throughout history, cloaks have actually been used more for […]
Usually, when we think about armor, we think about knights battling each other with swords or jousters dressed in full body metal suits. When you consider the injuries that could result from being hit with a sword or a jousting lance, you understand the primary reason for wearing suits of armor. When at war, the […]
When you see how many renaissance fair-goers dress in relatively simple monk robes with no adornment whatsoever, you may wonder what was so special about monks. In fantasy movies and games, you often come across monks who play large roles, either as fighters or learned guides. But when you think about a real monk, the only […]
The Middle Ages lasted from the late fifth century to the late fifteenth century, so they covered quite a long space of time and are usually divided into the early middle ages, the high middle ages and the late middle ages. Not surprisingly, middle ages clothing changed a lot from the early middle ages to the […]
When you are imagining the Elizabethan Era you would remember the elegant and beautiful garments that William Shakespeare wore. Think about those insanely high collars that practically surrounded one’s head. This was an era when fashion was taken to the extreme. Remember the padding in various areas that made the body look contorted? That was […]
It won’t be long and Renaissance fairs will be popping up all over the place. If you’ve ever been to a Renaissance fair, you know exactly what to expect. Those who attend go all out, wanting to impress everyone else with unique and creative costume ideas. You’ve probably seen people walking around who weren’t in […]
