Renaissance Costumes

Last week we brought you a post that demonstrated the various signs that you can use to identify an approaching thunderstorm.  We wanted you to be able to have a way to know when you should seek shelter to protect both your Medieval clothing, and your lives.

But what happens if you are far away from shelter and a storm arrives rapidly?  What are you going to do?  If you keep the following tips in mind, and put them into practice, you will be able to ride out the storm.

1. Don’t Panic:  Although a thunderstorm is bad, it is not the end of the world.  By remaining calm, and taking notice of your surroundings, finding a safe place for you and your fellow campers can be very easy.

2. Get Out of the Open:  Lightning is drawn high points.  If you’re in the middle of an open field, that makes you the highest point.  The best plan would be to get indoors, but if that is not possible, at least get out of the open.

3. Avoid Tall Structures/Trees:  While you’re seeking shelter from tip #2, make sure it isn’t something extremely tall, such as a large tree, radio tower, etc. Lighting will also be drawn to these tall objects, so avoiding them is a must.  If an indoor shelter is not possible, consider finding a ditch or ravine so that you become lower than your surroundings.

4. Split Up:  Lighting has the capability of striking multiple people who are grouped together. Make sure to put some space between all of the members of your group so that the lightning does not travel from person to person.  You can stay within sight of your group, just so long as you are not all huddled together.

5. Remove Metal:  Lighting is also attracted to and flows through metal.  Make sure to avoid metal structures and to remove any metal jewelry or accessories, like weapons or armor, that you may be wearing or have with you..

6. Get Out of Water:  Lighting flows through water.  Even if the lightning strikes a body of water hundreds of yards away, the current can still flow for a very long time.  If you are swimming or boating, get out of the water immediately.

Summer is the best time of year to go camping or LARPing.  Although there are some extreme enthusiasts who still do both hobbies in the winter, the majority of people LARP in the summer.  The only downside to the summer, is that it does present danger in the form of thunderstorms.  Thunderstorms don’t only threaten your Renaissance clothing, but also your life.

At most camp sites, you are unable to access the internet or watch TV to learn of approaching severe weather.  Additionally, LARPs requires you to keep modern devices, such a cell phones, in cabins or tents.

Therefore, we have compiled a list of things to keep your eyes and ears open for, to help give you a heads up that a storm might be approaching.

1) The Temperature:  Storms are typically generated by warm air rising to fuel low pressure systems or cold fronts.  That is why most storms happen on days when the temperature was hot and the air was humid.  So if you noticed that it is really hot and humid and not even lunch time, the chances for a storm are increased for later.
2) Tree Leaves:  When rain is approaching, trees and other plants turn their leaves upside down so that they can absorb the water.  A tell-tale sign of a storm is when you see the underside of leaves on all the trees.
3) The Skies:  Keep an eye to the skies.  If you notice a line of clouds or a subtle darkening of the sky, its a good bet that a storm isn’t all too far behind.
4) The Calm:  That phrase, “the calm before the storm,” was born from this situation.  A storm front is usually so massive that the normal movement of air is dramatically decreased by the approaching system.  So if you notice that there is no wind and that things are eerily calm, seek shelter.
5) Thunder:  Obviously if you can hear thunder, you know a storm is nearby.  But thunder can actually travel for several miles and serve as a warning.  If it is hot or humid, keep an ear out for thunder, so that you can stay safe.

Any of these signs can help alert you to the presence of a thunderstorm.  Staying alert and aware is the key to safety.  If you observe any of these signs, make sure you seek shelter immediately.  Next time we’ll let you know what to do should you become trapped outside during a storm.

If you are considering purchasing Medieval or Renaissance footwear, there is one very important thing you need to remember:  Water damage.

If you are going to be taking these Medieval boots to a Renaissance faire, SCA event, or LARP weekend, odds are that you will be wearing them for a long period of time.  During that time, you may experience a lot instances where water may present itself:  Crossing a stream, rain water, puddles, swamps, morning and evening dew, plus many others.

Water can easily damage and slowly start to cause leather boots to rot away.  That is why it is extremely important that you take the time to waterproof your footwear.  Waterproofing your boots will increase the lifespan of your boots, which will help you save money in the long run.

So before you take your Renaissance boots out into the world for the first time, make sure that they are waterproofed!

Now that you have yourself a great Renaissance or Medieval costume, what are you going to do?  Yes you can use it for educational purposes, theatre, or even for Halloween.  But don’t you want to be able to have some fun while you’re wearing your authentic outfit?

There are two great options for you to consider, where you would be among countless others who share your passion for the Renaissance era.

1. Renaissance Faires:  Renaissance faires are a wonderful opportunity for you to see what life was actually like in the Medieval era.  You can eat Medieval food, watch knights joust, and experience any number of activities that are sure to keep you entertained.  The best part?  They encourage people to dress up in Renaissance costumes to help increase the atmosphere.  You can find a directory of all the major Renaissance faires in the country here.

2. Live Action Role Playing:  Live Action Role Playing, or LARPing, is a unique activity that actually puts you into a Medieval adventure.  When you attend a LARP event, you actually develop a character, put on the costuming, and in some cases pick up weapons (usually made of foam or latex) to do combat with other characters or monsters.  Typically, there is a staff that helps to create and run the game world.  Therefore, your character is always, “in game” the entire time you are at the event.  A directory of LARPs can be found here.

So make sure you don’t let your Medieval costumes sit around and gather dust.  Make sure you get out and show off your awesome new outfit!

If you are reading this blog, that means that you have a vested interest in the Renaissance era, Medieval era, or the fantasy genre.  At PearsonsRenaissanceShoppe.com, we love to be your provider of high quality Renaissance costuming.  Our outfits are both historically accurate and comfortable.

But instead of just looking at our outfits, we invite you to actually get out and attend Renaissance faires or Medieval reenactments.  These types of events are your chance to experience actual, living history.  Most of us only get a chance to interact with history from textbooks or television specials.  Why sit inside when you can actually get out and see it for real?

Why read about a sword fight, when you can see two men in actual armor dueling it out with real weapons?  Why read about Medieval recipes when you can get to a Medieval reenactment and taste the food for real?  Why just look at Renaissance clothing, when you can put on your own costume and join others who have the same passion for this historical era as you do?

So get up, get out, and experience history first hand.  If you decide to take an opportunity to learn about history, let PearsonsRenaissanceShoppe.com help you get dressed in historically accurate garb.  Then you can really fit the part.

If you are visiting PearsonsRenaissanceShoppe.com, odds are that you are a Medieval or Renaissance enthusiast. Perhaps you are even involved with reenactments, festivals, or Renaissance faires.

Although it is not required, it usually makes for a better time and atmosphere if you are in costume. Renaissance faires are one of the few places that you can always be in costume and it is socially acceptable.

However, there are some people who are timid when it comes to attending a Renaissance faire, and even more so when considering whether or not they want to wear a costume. They are not sure where to find a costume, or what kind of costume they would like.

Well now you don’t have to worry anymore. At PearsonsRenaissanceShoppe.com we have a large selection of high quality costuming that will make you look like you’ve been going Renaissance faires for years. There are costumes for all types of character concepts for both men and women. The outfits are all handmade and are sure to last. So make sure that check out all of the possibilities that we have on our site.

Tell us about your favorite costumes, or about your Renaissance faire persona in the comments!

If you are involved with the theatre on any level, you know that one of most aesthetically pleasing elements of a live performance is an attention to detail and authenticity.  When props or costumes look fake or hastily thrown together, it shows and it can take away from the overall performance.

At PearsonsRenaissanceShoppe.com, you can always be sure that we pay the utmost attention to authenticity when we create our outfits.  If you are currently putting on a production that requires Medieval era clothing, then you must look no further for quality costuming.

Our outfits are perfectly in line with the Medieval and Renaissance eras and would be ideal for a production such as Shakespeare, or other dramatic works set in that time period.  Not only will our clothing help draw the audience into the world of your show, but they will also help your actors delve more deeply into character.  When more into character, the show becomes even more alive and will capture the audience’s attention.

So if you want to put on a dramatic production that is sure to earn rave reviews, make sure to browse through our extensive collection of Renaissance clothing at PearsonsRenaissanceShoppe.com.