Renaissance faires are criticized for lacking historical accuracy, but we should celebrate Ren Faire costumes for historical fantasy! Thank you Birch for sponsoring! Visit https://birchliving.com/snappydragon to get $400 off your nontoxic Birch mattress, plus two free pillows.

Renaissance Faires, or Ren Faires for short, are an insitution in the historical costuming world, and many historical costumers started with their first ren faire outfit. Renaissance festivals and events are how many people got into historical dress, and we wouldn't be here without them! But Ren Faire costumes have their own fashion that goes beyond historical dress and accuracy. Ren faire costumes are not inaccurate historical costumes, and they're not historical costuming done badly : They are part of a genre of costuming that allows for historical fantasy and creative freedom, and they don't get nearly enough credit. While I wasn't up for a full ren faire vlog, I did want to get in front of the camera and talk about why I appreciate Renaissance Faire costuming for what it is, rather than disliking it for what it's not.

DIY RenFaire costumes may not be accurate to Renaissance fashion, but they shouldn't have to be! Ren Faires are some of the few spaces where ordinary people and new costumers can play dressup without being judged. What's more important than being accurate to Renaissance fashion history is how Ren Faire dress has evolved into its own community and genre within costuming, which allows for playful mixing of styles. Everything from handsewn Renaissance kirtles to elf ears and glitter and Star Trek costumes can be seen at a Ren Faire, and that's what makes these events so special. Instead of looking down on Ren Faires and Ren Faire costuming for not being historically accurate, we should celebrate Renaissance festivals for making costuming accessible and fun.

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On bodiced petticoats : This blog post by the Couture Courtesan has lots of great info! http://couturecourtesan.blogspot.com/...