Historical accuracy vs Historical Fantasy: the magic behind Ren Faire costumes and fashion

It's Ren Faire season, which means the annual debate: should ren faire costumes be historically accurate, or is historical fantasy a legit style? Ren fair events blend medieval, renaissance, and fantasy costumes, and so can you. Thank you Birch Living for sponsoring! Click here birchliving.com/SnappyDragon to get 20% off your Birch mattress (plus two free Eco-Rest pillows!). #birchliving
We love fashion history research, but there's more to historical costuming than just historical accuracy! Good Renaissance Faire costumes should be FUN, which means the freedom to play with everything from historical sewing techniques to fantasy cosplay, even if you end up in a fairy costume. Historical fantasy is a beloved genre of media and it's one of our greatest inspirations for how to make costumes! Fantasy costume design in tv shows, movies, and books takes inspiration from medieval fashion and renaissance fashion, creating an amazing aesthetic known as fantasycore, historical fantasy, rennaisance cosplay, or simply Ren Faire aesthetic. It's closely related to historybounding, because it mixes historically accurate elements with other kinds of fashion. Sure, it's not historically accurate, but who said it had to be? Not me! I love seeing fashion history worked into my favorite media, including beloved fantasy novels like the Rook and Rose books by M.A. Carrick.
So, how to make costumes inspired by historical fantasy? Ren fest costumes and medieval costumes for events need to be comfortable and wearable, and accurate renaissance fashion often doesn't work at US renaissance festivals in the summer. My current Renaissance Festival costume can be either historically accurate or as a Ren Faire fantasy costume, depending on how I style it! Historical fantasy costuming is freeform by nature, so don't worry about making costume mistakes-- just be respectful, be safe, and have fun at this summer's renfest!
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[@SnappyDragon]

Thank you Birch Living for sponsoring! Click here birchliving.com/URL to get 20% off your Birch mattress plus two free Eco-Rest pillows. #birchliving This mattress has given me a year of great sleep, and I look forward to many more!

[@maryeckel9682]

Maybe I'll start a GoFundMe towards one of these 😂 I'm glad it's helping you, though!

[@AzraelThanatos]

You know, a more classic renfaire look wouldn't have the dress tucked in, but would have been using skirt hikes

[@annasfischer]

I strive at all times for historical accuracy, which is why my entire wardrobe is fully period accurate for 2023.

[@SnappyDragon]

see I can't even claim that! I get too much from thrift stores 🤣

[@annasfischer]

@@SnappyDragon Oh no, see in the 2020s, there was an interest in "vintage" fashion, so clothing from thrift stores is fully period appropriate, and the board of time travel non-disruption is willing to sanction such "vintage" choices. My own 2023 wardrobe, fully approved by the board, includes numorous pieces from the 1970s, and many more from the 2000s, made to mimic 1970s fashion.

[@margaret_adelle]

I LOVE using both historic and fantasy methods in my ren faire garb. My latest creation was a drawstring skirt of scarves. I used a lucet fork to weave the drawstring and sewed the scarves together by hand, the same way they would have in actual historic times. But the end product is brightly colored and clearly fantasy.

[@SnappyDragon]

I love scarf/tie/bandana skirts~

[@samwhyatt8685]

OK, I am SO pinching that idea!

[@bombus1340]

One of my favourite events translates to "medieval fantasy spectaculum". And they mean it, pretty much anything goes. Historically accurate from whatever decade, furries (in traditionally 30+°C), cosplayers, goth, fantastical costumes in any shape or form, you'll see everything imaginable mingled with modern dressed people. It's so cool seeing all those creative outfits in one place and everybody beeing nice to each other. Plus, dogs are allowed, and I've never see so many so well behaved dogs in one place 😍

[@SnappyDragon]

That sounds so much like the events I grew up going to! Love it.

[@loverofteaandspice]

Just went through the comments- you don't happen to mean the MPS? 👀

[@bombus1340]

@@loverofteaandspice Aye, I do. Great username!😄🦆

[@kayq3231]

I love historical fantasy. I want to make more historically accurate stuff too. I'd also like to take historical clothing with modern looks that I could wear in day to day life!

[@SnappyDragon]

There's just so much inspiration to play with!

[@Wee_Catalyst]

Agreed, the possibilities are endless!

[@brandyloutherback9288]

Disney is a good example of Historical Fantasy! All of the Princesses designs take inspiration from History, but mix in contemporary elements to make eye-catching designs. Especially see Aurora and Ariel for examples! Sure, it's fun to imagine what they costumes would look like when "Historically Accurate". But at the end of the day Disney chose Aesthetic over realism!

[@gabbytriestomakethings]

Thank you for the sag aftra strike shout out! We had a really fun dress up day on the picket lines last week and I’ll be out there again next week in more fun costumes until they pay us fairly!

[@SnappyDragon]

Ahhh that sounds so great! "The dress-up shall continue until pay improves".

[@spokenme08]

I'm a big fan of know the rules so you can break them effectively. In high school,a friend of mine,used one of her mom's 70s caftan patterns as a basis for costumes.Using a straighter more rectangular style in linen allowed her to adapt it using belts and other accessories and the underdresses changed the sleeves.

[@butternutsquash6984]

In the 90's we had an event called the Obnoxious Revel where there were prizes for the most over the top fantasy interpretations of Renaissance and Medieval clothing. A friend won with an accurate 16th c. gown but in hot pink taffeta. This was worn by the fairest skinned blonde youve ever seen so ot was really striking. I miss that revel. It was wonderful to see what everyone's "i wish i could" hostorical project.

[@SnappyDragon]

I sincerely hope this dress's owner has broken it back out for the Barbie film!

[@johannageisel5390]

OMG, that sounds amazing!

[@cherylrosbak4092]

I am terrible at picturing people and clothing as I read, so I love seeing others' interpretations of them. Though I did do a low-key cosplay of Temeraire (the actual dragon, I mean), once. And I feel a deep kinship with the clothing in Uprooted.

[@SnappyDragon]

I MUST see this Temeraire cosplay!

[@cherylrosbak4092]

@@SnappyDragon Sadly, I have no pictures. But I wore a black, skirted jacket that I sewed blue patches on, a black mask with a pointed snout, and his big jewelled necklace. I had to fit it in a carry-on bag with four days of clothes, so it had to be minimal.

[@nowandthenandneverbeen]

That's so cool that you did Temeraire! Midwingman Emily Roland is one of my cosplay goals, because I loved watching her grow up over the course of the books. I'm also super intrigued by the way that the uniform would look and feel different depending on how it was worn, due to "the lax discipline of the corp"

[@My_mid-victorian_crisis]

Historical authenticity, to me, is far more important. We can't always find the exact materials, see Muslin, or the same types of weave. My favorite, Strike approved, historical fantasy source is The Curse of Challion by Lois McMaster Bujold. It a low fantasy novel set in an alternative late medieval Spain-like world. The interesting part of the dress is that everyone, no mater cast or station, dresses in the colors associated with one of the Five gods. Girls from birth to marriage wear the colors of the Daughter, boys the colors of the Son (unless they swear themselves to the Order of the Daughter, a military order dedicated to protecting the homeland). Wives and husbands wear the colors of the Mother and the Father, respectively. The fifth god is the Bastard, the god of Things Out of Season. His colors are generally worn only his priestly cast and mourners. Challion is a rich would with a rich cultural history and I love how Catholic and Moorish Spain is the inspiration for the world. (the "Catholic" people believing in all five gods and the "Muslim" people believing in only the four seasonal gods) I could go into SO much more... Read it, its a good book. And someday I will make my noble Mother's cosplay.

[@mittenista]

Thanks for the recommendation, it sounds so fascinating. I'm going to check it out right now

[@questionstar]

I LOVE those books! I also love the Penric's Demon series because they're short sweet and cozy (Ive read them so many times lol!) probably my favorite fantasy world/worldbuilding tbh

[@clarekrmiller]

I love those books and would be thrilled to see some Chalion cosplays!

[@DustBunnyHerder]

I love that book and Paladin of Souls. I'd cosplay Ista in her borrowed set of (Father's?) clothing. Why am I questioning myself.

[@Readera]

Thanks for the recommendation! And double yay my library has it so it's on the tbr.

[@saraa3418]

The pre-Raphaelite paintings of the late 19th century and the associated aesthetic dress movement's blending of Medieval, fairy tale, and Victorian dress to make something so beautiful is a favorite of mine. I love that I can see its influence in the Lord of the Rings movies along with the Art Nouveau movement. I've been telling everyone to go read Anya and the Dragon, a middle grade trilogy about a Jewish girl befriending a dragon in fantasy Russia. I also really enjoyed reading the books in the Grisha-verse and the way that Bardugo incorporates the historical details of northern European cultures with this fantasy universe she's created. The author says that the Grisha are meant to be Jewish, but Ravka and the story from the first book feel so Russian Orthodox that they never clicked for me. To be clear, I love the way that Bardugo wove in such detail about each country's prevailing religion that made the world feel very lively and is often something that fantasy authors forget.

[@SnappyDragon]

I love that style of dress so much for it's, well, aesthetics! It has a lot in common with today's cottagecore, for better and worse (beautiful styles, but some not-so-great attitudes about class). A book about befriending dragons, you say? I am THERE!

[@saraa3418]

@@SnappyDragon I hope you love it!

[@mystic_mimi21]

I have also seen many fashion plates and paintings (mainly from 1740-1820 uk) that show clothes/styling similar to the fantasy but with the hair up, in a cap, and hat. A different petticote colour contrasting was common as it was made of scraps, skirt tucked in, sleepless kirtle, they were from working women so practical.

[@SnappyDragon]

For sure! I think a lot of the inspiration for Ren Faire Aesthetic came from other periods in history, and media that drew from other periods in history. IIRC a lot of the "hobbit" styles in LOTR were based on 18thC working-class clothes, and those definitely impacted Ren Faire costuming.

[@howl-pendragon]

I love that you timed this with the my Jewish learning class! I love the wheel of time books and the costumes in the show are interesting. Not at all what I pictured but very cool. I want to make a Nynaeve outfit and walk around talking people's ear off about "good stout Two Rivers wool" 🤣

[@SnappyDragon]

🤣🤣🤣 do it!

[@SimpleDesertRose]

Will you yank on your braid whenever someone makes you mad too?😂😂 I loved The Wheel of Time books. I had a dig named Illian after the city and a cat named Falie and another Aveienda. I love how Robert Jordan describe some of the fashions in different places. From the key hole bodices famous in one place and the dagger necklaces with the different colored sheath to tell your martial status in others. Even how in one section of the world where every one wore veils over their faces. It really brought the places they went to life.😊

[@ruthspanos2532]

Braids have been very practical for me recently due to the heat. I don’t have the patience to maintain a short hair style.

[@thehomeschoolinglibrarian]

I am a huge fan of Tamora Pierce's circle of magic series and especially in her circle opens books she takes a lot of inspiration from different cultures in how her characters are dressed. I am also a fan of both Garth Nix and Mercedes Lackey.

[@MarquisdeL3]

I just finished making a cosplay of a character who is basically a Roman centurion from a fantasy world where everyone is made of food (Dimension 20's A Crown of Candy), and one of the things that I loved was how much historical research I got to do. I only had two pieces of reference art to work from, so I used historical info to fill in the gaps. But because this is a fictional character from a fantasy world where magic is real and everyone is some kind of food, I could also easily justify any change away from historical accuracy that would make the costume easier to wear (or was just a fun little thing for me to do).

[@e.urbach7780]

I love your Ren Faire costume! Thanks for the reminder that I need to make myself one out of heavy linen; currently my costume is a lightweight wool, and I've found that it's just too warm for California Ren Faires, for me!

[@SnappyDragon]

Thank you! I do love lightweight wool but CA Faires are just *demanding*. There's a reason I freeze bottles of water and put them in my under-skirt pockets.

[@JenInOz]

As far as I'm aware we don't have renfaires here in Australia - or at least I haven't found any to go to :-( A few years ago, I made "medieval" costumes for myself and hubby (I've been teaching him to sew, so he made the leggings and cape). (I put "medieval" in quotes because we used stretch panne velvet as the main fabric.) We hadn't had the opportunity wear them in public but then it was Purim so we wore them to a megillah reading. A lot of the kids asked if we were Esther & Mordechai so we just went with it!

[@SnappyDragon]

Yesssss I am so here for historical fantasy costumes on Purim! I feel like there's a long tradition of it.

[@samantharawson8996]

So the closest I've been to is the National Celtic Festival (Queen's Birthday Weekend, in Portarlington, VIC). There's usually a few people wearing fantasy ren-faire garb, but it is a cultural festival rather than ren-faire.

[@sarahwatts7152]

I have a lot of respect for people who go to ren fairs in big costumes. I go in shorts, tee shirt...Sunscreen.

[@SnappyDragon]

Sunscreen!!! Even when I'm mostly covered, sunscreen.

[@macdaiddavidson8051]

This was fascinating! I’ve dressed in historical fashion but now I think is might have been more the other way more towards the fair side. I’ve never realized there was a difference and what it was! Thank you for posting this so I could learn more about the costuming I have and love to wear!

[@SnappyDragon]

There is a difference, but honestly who cares about it as long as you're having fun?

[@Asvoria]

I love the world of Valdemar created by Mercedes Lackey. At one point she describes the wedding outfits for a bride and groom that have hidden self defense tools and weapons hidden all through out. I want to make myself the dress but I am not sure how to get a knife to act as a busk/bonning in a corset.

[@SnappyDragon]

My best guess would be a dagger concealed behind the busk, rather than in place of one?

[@horseenthusiast1250]

GODS YES!!! I read those books in middle school, and though now I have some quibbles with the worldbuilding and writing in places (such is the march of time), whenever I reread the books I'm just enchanted by how the clothing is described. One of my bucket list cosplays (up there with fully armoured Dernhelm/Eowyn with genuine metal mail and leather) is a set of Herald's white leathers. As a side note, you might well already know about it, but the filk music surrounding the books is just enchanting. It's a shame barely anyone I've talked to knows about Heralds of Valdemar, let alone the music.

[@Asvoria]

@@horseenthusiast1250 I also love the music. You can find it here on KZbin so I have not looked for it anywhere else.

[@horseenthusiast1250]

​@@Asvoria yeah, I pretty much listen to it on youtube or cds. I think it puts a lot of people off from finding it that it's not on Spotify or some other big music platform. At least the books are fairly easy to find.

[@MadameSomnambule]

Outfit went from rennaisance painting to Final Fantasy, so flexible!

[@melissamybubbles6139]

I loved The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison but I wish it had described the clothing a little more. It's set in a world similar to Victorian England, so I imagine the clothes would have some similarities to some decades within that era.

[@meganmonroe6236]

I've always imagined the clothes in the Goblin Emperor as much more Renaissance Italy than Victorian even though the technology is very Victorian.

[@emilycurtis4398]

The Little House on the Prairie series, however flawed, had beautiful descriptions of dresses.

[@snekthatmaybeadragon]

My favorite historical fantasy inspo would have to be from the story of *Lanval* from the Lais of Marie de France.. The fey lady of the story has limited but picturesque descriptors to her garb and that of her attendants, but I found it so fascinating that she is described as wearing something of a lone sideless gown.. so, albeit not the most modest idea, this has stuck with me for a while as inspiration for fantasy clothing, particularly how to make a twist to historical sideless gown designs to better accomodate it as a standalone garment.

[@SnappyDragon]

Oooh I shall have to look this up!

[@SpringStarFangirl]

Ooh, maybe some sort of surcoat?

[@TheLonelyGod42]

My first forays into historical costuming were through Steampunk. I go to a convention every year, I love seeing the range of costumes from very historical to total fantasy and everything in between. I've gotten more interested in historical costuming with a focus on the historical part lost sight of the joy of the fantasy as much. I'm so appreciative of your reminding me how they're both wonderful for different reasons

[@SnappyDragon]

Fantasy aesthetics like steampunk seem to be a major way that people get into costuming! So it frustrates me a lot when hardcore historical types get snobby about them.

[@jeancolley8908]

My fav fantasty series is Tamora Pierce's Tortall series - I especially love how when she gets to the Kel books, and brings in the Japanese inspired culture and fashion. She never gets super into description, but it's enough to envision Kel blending these Japanese obi and kimonos, with european medieval type dresses and tunics. It's a lot of fun as a costumer When I made my Kel costume a few years ago, I actually found a vintage obi at a shop, and was able to use as a belt with my costume

[@Wee_Catalyst]

This was some of my favorite parts of that series (and that’s saying a lot!) and I even planned out a non-kimono version of one of Lady Haname’s maroon kimono 💛

[@osteophagus]

I like historically based with a fun fantasy flair personally. But I also lean fantasy because the three Faires in my area are all based in different periods and I simply don't have the resources to have 3 different historically accurate outfits. One is Medieval, one is Tudor, one is based in the Golden Age of Pirates.

[@SnappyDragon]

I am super envious of having multiple Faire themes to choose from!

[@osteophagus]

@@SnappyDragon it's awesome! The Oregon Renaissance Faire is based around Mary Queen of Scots but each weekend has its own theme added so there's a lot of fun.

[@annadonahue5752]

i'm trying to make a Regency/Romantic-era inspired Moist von Lipwig costume for Halloween, and it's been really fun to think about how to bring fantastical elements and mishmashed eras into it. While my base costume is very classic regency, i'm planning on wearing modern low boots, an earlier tricorn hat with wings on the sides instead of a feather or rosette, and adding gold trim to my coat. It's helpful that Moist's outfit is canonically a bit costumey!

[@imasinnerimasaint]

Are you going to make the Postmaster's hat?

[@annadonahue5752]

@@imasinnerimasaint yes, that's the goal with the tricorn! I'd like to evoke balladry imagery, especially because of the Horse Race

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

I like how you encourage folks to play and have fun at Fairs! Your outfits are great!

[@kobaltkween]

The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. Read them as a kid, and nothing has surpassed them since. Unlike Narnia, it never proved to be sexist, racist, or elitist. Just solid Welsh-based fantasy with great and weird characters.

[@SnappyDragon]

I read a few of these as a kid too, and loved them! The library couldn't get the fourth book so I gave up. I really ought to pick them up again now.

[@literaterose6731]

(comment preceded by extended squeeing and bouncing up & down until calm enough to type) Yes yes yes! The Prydain Chronicles are my favorite books in the world, from when I was a kid (I’m in my 60s now!) and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read them. Read them to my kids, and they were read to my grandkids, our whole family adores them (and Alexander’s other books as well). Lots of pets named for the characters-including my farmer daughter’s Great Pyrenees who guards the goats, called, of course, Medwyn. I run across so few people (especially online) who know the books that it’s always a special thrill when someone like you appears! I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but there’s an artist who is doing a complete graphic novel version of The Book of Three online (free, a total fan project), and she’s done cosplay as Eilonwy (she took pics based on scenes from the books during a trip to Wales!). KZbin doesn’t like attempts to post links, so if you’re interested, search for Saeriellyn on Comic Fury. She’s done fanfic work too (written and graphic shorts!). And my last little love story about Alexander and his remarkable world: when I changed my name a couple of years ago, I chose the first name Lloyd in his honor, because I could think of no one I more aspired to be like 🥰. Thank you, thank you for talking about these marvelous books!

[@literaterose6731]

@@SnappyDragon oh do finish them! (Or read from the beginning, even better 😊) Based on the many videos of yours I’ve seen (and loved! so much!) I feel confident you’ll like them (and they remain wonderfully accessible and very ahead of their time to boot). There are second hand copies plentifully available, or the library-and the series is now available in delightfully read audiobooks! They’re fast reads, and I really can’t recommend them highly enough. Hope you enjoy!

[@kobaltkween]

@@literaterose6731 Ooooo! Thanks for the information. I'll definitely look her up.

[@devourerofmedia]

10:32 aaaaaaaaaaagh i love the rook & rose series too! the fashion and how it interacts with class & culture (especially with how ren uses it to her advantage as "renata") has always been one of the many details i love about it

[@TheGPFilmMaker]

Working on my first Ren Faire costume right now! It's not era-specific, and I've just dubbed it "underdark cottage core" but it involves a lot of historical-inspired fantasy stuff. Loved this video and it was so fun!

[@SnappyDragon]

"underdark cottagecore" I love it!

[@biffythecostumegremlin3054]

Watching while beading a 18th century gown in a steampunk style XD To be honest it is actualy historical accurate in construction but the trim, lace and fabric paint not so much. I think this was why I got so into steampunk because it was a style with a strong victorian base and then going ham on the fantasy

[@greygamertales1293]

For a really long time, people have been doing ridiculously anachronistic fun reenactments rather than conforming to strict historical accuracy. Just look at the 19th century, you have the spectactular Eglinton Tournament of 1839, the extravagant stage costumes for theatre, the wondrous Aestheticism of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, the Age of Romanticism, the Artistic Dress movement, Gothic revival architecture and many more examples. No wonder why modern day fantasy and historical entertainment have roots in the continuing ancient tradition of anachronism.

[@SnappyDragon]

Oh don't think I'm not considering a video about this very thing!

[@datafoxy]

I really should look into Renaissance fairs to attend since I have been to only one. They are fun people watching events, like a pop culture convention it is great seeing people show off their look and act a part. The only one I went to threw me off since I took the name literally and was thrown off by people wearing Victorian or Edwardian clothes. Now I know better and will only be slightly less confused.

[@SnappyDragon]

They definitely have a lot of convention energy! I think it's why I love them, I grew up going to science fiction conventions.

[@sarahallegra6239]

My favorite fantasy costumes are in Deerskin by Robin McKinley. They’re so sumptuous and excessive (for the highest classes) and described just enough so you get the general impression, but not specifics. Several of the dresses the main character wears are really important to the story as well, not just descriptions of pretty clothes for their own sake (although that’s ok too!). There are also clear delineations between the upper classes and what the lower ones wear. It’s all very grounded (a description of a flannel petticoat because it’s winter comes to mind) but still quite fantastical. Also it’s one of my two favorite books ever, so that doesn’t hurt anything 🤍

[@SnappyDragon]

Oooh this sounds delightful!

[@sarahallegra6239]

@@SnappyDragon CW in case you read it: SA, but it’s handled EXTREMELY well. The story is mostly about the main character healing from/overcoming what happened to her, so it’s not gratuitous in any way. It’s also loosely based on the Charles Perrault fairytale Donkeyskin so there’s a really interesting mix of realism and fantastical elements. My dog is named Lissar, after the book’s heroine, so it’s clearly a favorite of mine, but it can be intense/dark for some people. But I do feel like since the emphasis is on healing (and the SA isn’t described graphically or glorified in any way) that it’s a very cathartic read for most people. But just a head’s up 😊 Edit: back before my ME got really bad and I could still costume, I was constantly trying to make the main deerskin dress Lissar wears and had plans for one of her fancy dresses. Hopefully some day I can get back to it! But feel free to beat me to it, I’d LOVE to see what you’d create! 🤍

[@annapijanska407]

I’m in the middle of worldbuilding a fantasy book for Wattpad. For fashion I’m mixing glorious 16-17th century slavic shirts, some headwear and menswear, italian renaissance giorneas, tudor kirtles and lace insertion. It’s soo fun to create something out of very pretty, but maybe not quite *me* styles

[@SnappyDragon]

That sounds so cool!

[@FlybyStardancer]

💜💜💜 mixing historical and fantasy can be fun! (Even if I haven’t completed any pieces myself, just been imagining and looking at others.)

[@kimberlyflouhouse422]

Love how you showed the change from historically accurate to ren faire. Love seeing all the costumes at faire. And thanks for giving me more series to look into.

[@SnappyDragon]

It was fun to film!

[@MiahGrace]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who fights with themselves when styling an outfit :)

[@SnappyDragon]

🤣🤣🤣

[@mystic_mimi21]

I am doing my dissertation on this very matter. I think when there is plot or character relevance then a deviation makes sense, but when it is only casting white actors or not depicting homosexuality or depicting corsets and stays as harmful etc then i take issue as there is no justifiable reason, and no positive addition to the film or what ever it is ❤

[@SnappyDragon]

Oh absolutely. Whitewashing history is not "fantasy" in the genre sense, and is usually misleadingly framed as being "more accurate" when it is less so.

[@wanderingspark]

Tucking your skirt into your belt to show off your under-petticoat was an actual 16th c. fashion in Ireland. It was banned under British colonial rule in 1537 by King Henry VIII. "wherefore be it enacted, ordeyned, and established by authority of this present Parliament, that [. . .] no woman use or weare any kyrtell, or cote tucked up, or imbroydred or garnished with silke, or couched ne layd with usker, after the Irish fashion . . ." (quote from: The Statutes at Large, Passed in the Parliaments held in Ireland, vol I) There are a couple of costume book illustrations of this fashion by Lucas De Heere that were published in the 1570s.

[@celestlian]

This video is so good!! I really liked your talk on cultural symbolism - it was very interesting! I have a story that takes place in two fictional anticolonial, uncolonised South Asian kingdoms and it was SO fun to search up historical things for inspiration. And your talking about cosplay being inspired by historical costumes is so cool and very true

[@saraquill]

Favorite historical fantasy attire is a tossup between Heir's Game and Inu-oh. Heir's Game is a webcomic which plays around with Baroque, Rococo and Regency attire to showcase who's from what region, social class, etc. Women from the more conservative areas wear high necked Regency style gowns, while those from elsewhere have low square necklines. One man starts wearing cravats after meeting his boyfriend, and especially after a certain event. The one stays tightening scene is all about bust support, not waist tightening. Inu-oh is an anime film set during the 14th century. It repeatedly answers the question, "What would Muromachi-era rock musicians wear?"

[@katiegordon1614]

The other joy of Renfaire season being in the fall is that the temperatures aren't always in excess of 90 degrees!

[@SnappyDragon]

Ummmmm tell that to NorCal . . .

[@liav4102]

Ok brb coming to see about acquiring those MA Carrick books

[@SnappyDragon]

Yessssss

[@azteclady]

DED at "well, you weren't doing it justice"

[@SnappyDragon]

i do enjoy getting to insult myself . . .

[@lenabreijer1311]

Very interesting presentation. It is one of those issues i have a problem with. I don't like making copies so my historical costumes were more inspired by. For a really sumptuous book on southeastern Europe costume look for Elizabeth Wayland Barber "resplendent dress from Southeastern Europe " it is exhausting to think about the work involved in these creations.

[@j3011]

I feel like you'd enjoy Mariah Pattie's worldbuikding channel - she put a LOT of thoughts into clothes and how they affect/are affected by culture, available materials, technology etc.

[@madalynnmccarron4590]

I don't know how to describe right now how this was inspiring for me to pick up my own stalled fantasy project, but it has. Thanks much ♥

[@rebeccawayman4219]

My favorite historical fantasy costume would be to recreate the dress in the painting Meeting on the Turret Stairs. I’m slowly getting there. Maybe one day.

[@samwhyatt8685]

My husband and I are historical re-enactors who portray members of the Italian Nobility in the late 1400s. The addition of a peaked hood and we are Ezio era Assassin's Creed characters :o)

[@SnappyDragon]

PERFECT

[@kats_pajamas6908]

Wow great video! I have been struggling with costuming decisions for ren faires for a while now. I strive to be an amateur knowledge collector so I love to be accurate. But thank you for reminding me that a RennFair is a fantasy world which, of course is my favorite genre. Super excited to keep developing my fantastical costumes.

[@SibylleLeon]

I didn't even know M.A. Carrick yet. Just ordered the first book of the trilogy - thank you for that, as well as your stance on historical fantasy 🥰

[@SnappyDragon]

Yessss more people reading these books pls!

[@Sikizu]

My favorite ren faire memory was because of the necklaces I had just bought--a pewter celtic cross and a pewter mjolnir--and a guy in full on knight armor looked down at me with the most SCATHING look and said "hedging our bets, are we?" It was so funny. It was also my first ren faire so I was so awkward. He knew he got me and was trying not to break character. Every time I wear them now I remember that and laugh. Also the ren faire where a classmate dressed up as a horse with a plastic horse head and the ren faire's jester got him, the most stoic guy in class, to clop in place with his castanets...

[@1One2Three5Eight13]

I was a teenager (if that) when I read Lions of Al-Rassan. I remembered the clothing restrictions, but I had completely forgotten (if I had noticed in the first place - I have a hard time following Kay, and may well have missed who said that it was mandatory) that it was a sumptuary law, rather than a religious one. I'm going to be petty (since Curse of Chalion is arguably my favourite too) and give a rant instead. The Green Rider series has managed to make some errors that aren't actually that bad, but drive me crazy, about clothing. So the first is the character wearing both stays and a corset. I get that, the author was looking for layers, and didn't necessarily know that much about the clothing, mistakes happen. But in a later book the main character is thrown into the future, into that world's industrial revolution, and marvels at how incredibly fine (finer than anything she's ever seen) the clothing on even the servants is. (I don't remember the exact wording, but it was clearly referencing thread count/how thick the fabric was, and a bit of how even, not it being fancy or high-end materials). She's the daughter of a cloth merchant. A high-end cloth merchant. And I get that not everyone would understand how a pre-industrial cloth merchant would see much finer cloth than early industrial stuff. But the author has a bit at the end talking about one of her favourite historic sites, a mill complex (I think both spinning and weaving, but maybe just weaving) from the American industrial revolution. And it's one of those details where I can take the fantasy world, but you just exceeded my suspension of disbelief. (Like the fantasy princess who ends up in the real world, and is brushing her hair every day, but stops braiding it because without servants to braid it it's just too much work.)

[@ingridaguero6460]

Idc if the Ren Fair, Comic Con, and Halloween are still months away, I have all my costumes ready for them. Esmerelda and a Nymph for Ren Fair, a vintage Ahsoka Tano for Comic Con, last year I was a Victorian Rey, and Esmerelda for Halloween again because I love that outfit.

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

I rarely get inspired by clothing, unfortunately. I don't do good mental pictures so a lot of time the descriptions are lost beyond the general when I'm reading, and when I'm looking at actresses (and sometimes actors) on a screen, a lot of me is saying "cute but..." wouldn't suit my dad-bod-with-boobs figure/looks too structured to be comfortable/that neckline would make me scream/eek scratchy wool etc etc etc. I did make a short kirtle pinafore that's pretty decent and I do intend to make a full dress based on the pattern someday for when I need something other than my armour to wear at our local medieval festivals, and it IS less restrictive than my armour, but I still don't find it loungewear comfortable like I do the flannel rectangles-and-gores flannel housedresses I've made based on a few of the medieval and earlier shift "patterns" I've seen. I may just have to accept that I'm a historybounding carpet goblin and leave it at "comfy historically inspired".

[@sallyk4356]

I'm trying to go to my first Ren Faire this year. Probably won't have time to look this wonderful but historical fantasy has been my go to for years in my daily dress when I have spoons. I just want to look like a dnd character.

[@SnappyDragon]

BEST DESCRIPTION. This outfit can actually be made super quickly by machine-- hoping to do a video during my local Ren Faire season showing just how quickly . . .

[@AragornElessar]

I like using historical sewing/finishing methods for fantasy things. My budget Arwen dress is vaguely based on a bliault (and made of linen and cotton) but the sleeve ends are circles like the dress from the lotr films.

[@MiakaKirino]

I read a lot of fantasy... shifted to that from his-fi as I got older, moving from Little Women to Lord of the Rings. I love to pick up on the bits of description we get about clothes in whatever I'm reading, to try and picture what the clothing would actually look like. Thanks for the suggestion of Rook & Rose, I'll be picking those up, they sound like a lot of fun. Deep worldbuilding really helps a story come alive.

[@liska_dae]

My local ren faire does 1 weekend in the spring and 1 weekend in the fall. I just realized the fall faire is this weekend, and I don't have a costume. Not much I can do about this now. Ours is one of the casual ones, including a fairy court.

[@emmadickey5602]

Thanks for the book recommendations!!

[@josephinedykstra3383]

I like this perspective! I'm doing my Pennsic packing, where I wander in & out of historical fantasy garb. Also, the Lions of Al-Rassan was both wonderful and scarring (I... don't handle that level of grit well, especially when it feels very Grounded in a historical time and place) and Rowenna Miller's Torn handles fantasy!Paris c 1790 costume incredibly well

[@therewillbecatswithgwenhwyfar]

I’m loving this video!!!

[@winterburden]

Thank you so much, what a neat video!

[@horseenthusiast1250]

I love historical fantasy, so much so that I can't pick a favourite kind or example. It's basically how I dress half the time, and if I'm not sewing historical clothing, vintage clothing, or a sci-fi cosplay, I'm probably sewing historical fantasy stuff (either my daily wear or a cosplay). My most recent historical fantasy project (not counting the tunic I'm still not done with based on the Earthsea books) was a cosplay of Orpheus (as depicted in the Supergiant game Hades). I love a lot of the characters and a lot of the outfits in that game (whenever my cosplay budget recovers, Hypnos is next. I want his giant blanket so bad it's not even funny). But...as a musician and a goth (hilariously I don't write much goth music, but I listen to loads of it and write a little alongside the other stuff I write) who loves long skirts and dresses, big hair, gold, and sad little guys, I just HAD to cosplay Orpheus. I also love researching history, and have been on a 7 month and counting research bender focusing on ancient Greece, Thrace, and Scythia (and how horses affected them all. And on all their clothes. And plenty of other stuff. I'm so glad I have access to a college database right now because I am getting SPOILED for information). Overall, for the actual sewing I stuck to mostly linen (I didn't use linen for the himation trim). And I learned a lot and had an absolute blast styling the wig, which was the first time I'd done that! I enjoyed seeing how the historical and fantastical blended together. He wears a chiton, a Greek garment that's fairly gender neutral, and a very fancy himation, which add to the somewhat androgynous look he has in the game (it's perfectly acceptable masculine clothing, but with that and how high his voice is, some people get a little confused what his gender is, which I find fun). Notably, he has pretty much no Thracian influence I could see in his clothing (Orpheus is often said to be from Thrace. As a nod to this, whenever I draw him, if his legs are visible I give him similar tattoos to those I've seen on some Thracian characters on ancient vase paintings. It didn't really come up in the costume, though). And it's fun that he's got so much goth influence, considering he's a sad musician heavily associated with death and the underworld, and the game has so much AMAZING metal music in it (seriously, go listen to the soundtrack. It is SO GOOD. It's Mediterranean metal/prog rock Halloween magic and I want more of it so badly). You wouldn't expect Jareth's hair in black to look good with a chiton, but it looks amazing (I'm not kidding. I literally got a wig styled exactly like Jareth from Labyrinth, but in black, and I just teased the hell out of the top and BAM Opheus Hadesgame lol). It was a very different beast from a lot of my cosplay projects (I usually do a type of character, like an elf or my current project, a Starfleet officer, due to budget constraints making it harder to do a specific character). I really look forward to enjoying a simlar cosplay adventure whenever I can make my Hypnos costume (I am less excited about the fact that I will have to sew a quilt because I'm too nitpicky about it looking just right, but if I want his giant comfy glorious fleece-trimmed blanket cloak, then it's a struggle I'm willing to endure. Seriously, his blanket looks SO damn cozy).

[@writethepath8354]

This was fantastic!

[@suzanrudulph4141]

Love your research.

[@kerriemckinstry-jett8625]

Raise your hand if you now have several more books in your TBR list. 😊

[@SnappyDragon]

✋

[@kerriemckinstry-jett8625]

@@SnappyDragon _The City of Brass_ is really good, as are _The Goblin Emperor_, _Akata Witch_(like a Nigerian Harry Potter, but much better), and a whole bunch of books I've read recently. The Rook & Rose series and _The Lions of Al-rassan_ look good, so thank you for talking about them. 🙂 I'm always a bit hesitant to try cosplaying book characters if the books didn't spawn movies or shows or something, because then no one would know who you're trying to be.

[@universalqueenfern]

Are you looking forward to reading any other books? I'm always on the lookout for interesting books.

[@SnappyDragon]

I am taking diligent notes from this comments section, and the one on IG!

[@Redthreadwitch]

I love the Rook and Rose shout-out! 💙💙💙💙💙💙

[@gorcirithiel]

I agree with your sentiments on the whole, and people can do what makes them feel great. That being said, I once saw a guy walking around wearing duckbill crocs. They were 100 % cursed.

[@SimpleDesertRose]

I love a good Ren faire as much as the next person. You know the old saying, anything goes at fair. So i guess that means you can be what ever uou want😜 i live in Arizona and our Ren Faire is at the very end of winter just before the heat kicks in to full gear. I have plans to make a tutor kirtle style dress out of linen. Sadly i haven't been back to the faire since they shut it down in 2020. We litterally went the weekend before everything went into lock down. The people i jave talked to tje went theast couple years said it wasn't up to par. But everyo e is exoecting the 2024 faire to ne awesome. So i have a pattern and i'm working on getting some linen fabric for baoth a new chemise and a kirtle style dress. As for books that inspired fashion i would have to say that Heidi was the first. I wish my parents would have sacrficed some old bed sheets and let me make my own sress as i imagined it and run wild through the hills on our properly with my pygmy goat in tow. He already followed me everywhere anyways. Later when i lead the Little Princess and The Secret Garden i tries to imagaine what it must've been like for them to fo from the hot climaye of India to the cold climate of New York and Misletlethreat Mannor in England. Tjere was no way that was not a xultural shock for Sarah and Mary. There have been many other books out there that did a good job that descrined the fashions of the people in differnt places. Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series did a great job of dicri inf siffernt places and what they wore. Amazon did a terrible job at that. But he discribed the desert dewllinf peole to tje noths of the Teeth as being red or fair haired and wnat each class wore. Then differnt cites and cultures in differnt areas had diffent tyoes of dress. One place it was discribed as beinf hot and everyone wore veils. The Tinkers had their own way of dressing. The wandering nards had pacthed cloaks of many colors. The sea faring people wore lose fitted ahirts and pants dor ease of movement when in port but out at sea everyone was topless inculding the women. One place had a necklace that the women wore that told of their markral statous baised on the color of the sheath of the knjfe charm. Its been 20 uears since i read any of his books.

[@amygray9978]

Oh PLEASE come visit my ren fest!

[@MsHedgehog]

Any and all Robin Hobb books. I adore their world building

[@aragorn1780]

one of my favorite historical fantasies I do for ren faire (stolen straight from Outlander) is wearing my great kilt on highland weekend with the pirate boots... sometimes I'll wear the actual ghillie brogues if I feel like being more historical, but damn if the pirate boots don't look good with it! (added bonus of the Outlander fangirls fawning over your outfit but that's by no means the primary reason I wear that outfit at all >.> .> ahem ahem) other thing I like to do is add Skyrim inspired makeup to my otherwise 99% historically accurate Viking reenactment garb... it's not a full blown "viking fantasy" outfit like you see plenty of every Viking/Barbarian weekend at ren faire, and certainly not what you see in the TV show Vikings, it's my own look that combines both! lol and of course there's my actual fantasy weekend outfit which is honestly a 17th/18th century swashbuckler outfit with pointy ears XDD now if I want to do a "boring historical" look? tunic, liripipe hood, tights, and pointy shoes, inspired by 13th/14th century fashions and I will "hey nonny nonny" all around the fairgrounds haha

[@AnnaCMeyer]

The difference in styling between the historically accurate and Ren Faire versions reminds me of the difference in the traditional dress of the Dutch villages of Volendam and Marken. Women from Volendam wore brightly coloured skirts over dark, plain petticoats, whilst the women of Marken wore dark, plain skirts over bright, patterned petticoats, and claimed that the women of Volendam were immodest because they "wore their underwear on the outside". Like most Dutch traditional regional dress, these styles date back to the Dutch "Golden Age" of the late 16th to late 17th centuries, which were also divided on religious lines (Volendam remained Catholic, Marken adopted Calvinist practices). In the region of Zeeland, the same basic cap construction was styled differently by village and religious tradition well into the twentieth century.

[@heabooktubes]

I came back to watch this video after the author interview. ♥️

[@Skirt553]

Now I'm wondering how I can turn a Smokkr and Hangerok more fantasy-based.

[@melaniecourville1148]

Rereading the Lions of Al-Rassan right now. I love Guy Gavriel Kay

[@SnappyDragon]

His books get fairly regular rereads from me :D

[@melaniecourville1148]

@SnappyDragon my nephew is 11 and very into fantasy so I'm very anxiously waiting for him to be old enough to discover him. When I was pregnant I reread every one of his books again.

[@DustBunnyHerder]

I like the world building in Lois McMaster Bujold's Curse of Chalion and the next Paladin of Souls. The clothing descriptions are nearish to medieval, and the colours chosen for their individual of the quintune gods. Sadly the colours of the god I prefer look hideous on me or I'd cosplay from there.

[@teucer915]

Thanks for spending some time echoing what the union members need!

[@SnappyDragon]

Of course! And honestly it saved me the trouble of having to screenshot all sorts of things from TV shows.

[@Readera]

❤❤❤

[@schnuder]

Maybe I missed the comment with the information, but what is the name of the channel at around 6:10?

[@loganl3746]

Does anyone know what that shoulder-buttoned Eastern European blouse is called? Edit: it's a kosovorotka or a Tolstoy shirt, a Russian folk garment. Snappy did an interview with the books' authors in the latest video

[@SnappyDragon]

I have been doing some research and not found it yet, but stay tuned-- I should have answers to that and more soon!

[@johannageisel5390]

Is that piece of clothing worn by men or women?

[@nyves104]

💜💜💜💜

[@katebowers8107]

🧚‍♀️

[@greatlakesnarwhalmichellee4507]

Kushiel's Dart is a fantasy novel by American writer Jacqueline Carey, You may like how there are definitely Jewish references

[@davenport7321]

So, was inaccurate misspelled on purpose?

[@sannabengtsson3044]

Harry Potter ,Lots of the rings

[@greatestaxolotl4933]

as grand as fantasy heroines are, i love dressing as an npc village woman

[@casieperry9047]

I love Lord of the Rings!

[@Jordan-hd5gz]

Promo_SM 👊

[@victoriachudinov9580]

Kinda sad you didnt mention the Wheel of Time, given how important fashion is in the series, and how much time its dedicated to dresses and breeches ...

[@SnappyDragon]

I haven't read it, and from what I've heard it's not especially up my alley, so I don't think I'd do a good job discussing it.

[@victoriachudinov9580]

@@SnappyDragon fair. It has some very interesting ways of combining real world historical fashions, in a way thats rather rare in fantasy (and no surprise really given how much of it is written by dudes for dudes lol)

[@thehangmansdaughter1120]

Crossing a picket line offends every Kiwi bone in my body. Nationally, it's just a huge No-No. People have been socially shunned for doing so. It always amazes me when I see people do it elsewhere. SAG are only asking to be treated equitably, and with some damn dignity. Thanks for supporting the strike.

[@nowandthenandneverbeen]

My favorite historical fantasy media doesn't actually give a whole lot of material for costume speculation if we're looking at the main characters (the side characters they meet in different places around the world are a different story), but these are my comfort books, so I do think about them a lot--the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik -- they're Napoleonic war alternate history with sentient dragons as part of the military and society in cultures all over the world. The main characters are an English sea captain who becomes a dragon aviator, and his dragon companion. The main clothes characters wear are their military uniforms, green coats instead of the red or blue worn by the army or the navy. It's fun to look at the old portraits, especially of naval officers, and think about how they would be different for dragon officers. One of my favorite characters is someone you watch grow from little girl to young woman over the course of the books, and she starts as a runner, then becomes an ensign and eventually a "Midwingman" -- I like to imagine how I would build her uniform, and how she would wear it in different settings, the most buttoned-up formal occasions, or stripped down to her stays and shirt, around camp in the heat of the day (the aerial corp is known to be less formal than other branches of the military).