Renaissance Accessories how to create an authentic appearance all the little things that make or break your costume

What Class / Origin? Beware of the Sumptuary laws! The classes you can choose from for our faire will be: Nobles Working Middle Class / Merchants Peasants Beggars Beware of the Sumptuary laws! Like your garb, what accessories you will wear depends greatly on what class you are, and to a lesser extent what your origins are Most of the accessories are cross-cultural, but check if you are curious about accessories specific to your ethnicity

Accessories General Rules: (excluding hats) -Nobles will wear the most accessories; high quality, rare, and expensive -Upper middle class and middle class will wear less accessories, and will be less coordinated than nobles; they will be trying to imitate the nobles; the accessories won’t be as expensive or rare -Peasants will have very few accessories, of much worse quality -Beggars will wear practically no accessories

Hair Females -hair was modeled after Queen Elizabeth in being curly and red or light colored -hair styles often used a heart-shaped wire frame to make the hair stand higher on the head -wigs were also often used due to the difficulty in making hair do the desired things without falling out. (thanks to technology, we no longer have this problem.) -braid crowns, curls, and buns were the most common styles, all of which were worn with a snood or caul -unmarried women (of lower classes) can wear their hair loose, usually long -it was considered improper to show too much hair -a snood or caul would almost always be worn -hats were almost always worn out-of-doors, and usually indoors as well (see next slide) (pretty much, if you’re wearing a snood / caul, your hairstyle will be mostly accurate) Note on crocheted snoods -hairstyles were often adorned with jewelry, gem stones, beads, feathers, and/or flowers

Hats Females coif attifet Italian bonnet flat cap toque Gable hood French hood solano / sun hat muffin cap tall hat

Hair Males -hair was usually worn at a natural length, between just over the ears to a little past the shoulders, however none on the forehead -if hair was longer, it would sometimes be pulled into a low ponytail or braid -beards were common, and usually well maintained -men also wore wigs as a sign of wealth -men also almost always wore hats when out-of-doors and often indoors (see next slide)

Hats Males coif muffin cap / bag hat toque flat cap capitano tall hat

Make-Up Females -make-up was used to make the skin very pale (white, not even a natural glow) -red lips were common -blush was applied above the cheekbone, not on the apples of the cheeks as is done now. -eyes were wanted to sparkle -eyeliner (like) used often -eyebrows were plucked to be very thin and high -most of the make-up used at the time was poisonous with repeated use (don’t use that make-up please) -note on hair: was often plucked to push the hairline much further back – please don’t do this as there is no way to effectively get this look without lots of pain

-earrings are not common, but when worn, they are usually large and ornate or chandelier style -all earrings are hoop style Jewelry Females -bracelets were common, and of many types, from small and delicate to cuffs -multiple necklaces were usually worn -a few long strands of pearls or gold chains -a single necklace with large stones, most likely gaudy in appearance and choker-like -multiple rings could be worn (but NOT on middle finger) -similar in style to a class ring with a single central stone and sometimes smaller surrounding stones -if Gaelic, then bands with Celtic designs could be worn -plain bands could also be worn for lower nobles -if wearing a pendant, it will fall to near the stomach -the most common things to be on pendants are crosses, and sometimes animals -the cord used for the pendant would be a wide soft ribbon

Jewelry Females (continued) -large, ornate brooches were common -worn in front center of bodice, at shoulder front of bodice, or on hats -could have pictures in them (like lockets) -ones shaped like beasts or ships often dangled on chains from smaller brooches -girdles (like a decorative belt) often worn -could have tongue or not -often had a pomander (scent), fan, or a prayer book hanging at the end -jewelry, gemstones, and buttons were worn all over, sewn into clothes and hair

Jewelry Males -men did wear jewelry -necklaces were usually those of office or longer gold chains -brooches were common, usually with a single large stone and smaller surrounding ones -like women, worn center chest, shoulder, or on hat -rings were worn, similar to the ones worn by women -the more rings, the more wealthy -earrings could be worn in one ear (usually left) -always hoop style -sailors always wore this hoop earring

General Accessories Females -gloves, usually white or tan -rings and bracelets would be worn outside of the gloves -almost always worn out-of-doors to keep the skin white (and for warmth) -everyone has a handkerchief -pomander (for decoration and to keep away some of the nasty smells) or sweet bag (full of potpourri like stuff; same purpose) -aprons (practical) -belts (less common for high noble females, mostly worn by the lower class) -made or leather, cloth, or rope -worn to sit closer to hips, and not meant to hold anything up -if wearing a girdle, not wearing a belt -pockets -come in many styles, hang from waist -usually worn under overskirt -not often free-swinging due to the high number of pickpockets

General Accessories Females (Continued) -zibellino -everyone has a knife (for eating) -baskets were used for carrying things -could be covered (part of basket), if not then covered with a cloth -stocking were made of wool or knitted -solid colors (no stripes!) -went to just above knee, and tied there with garters -ruffs were worn around neck -could be as many as 5 worn at a time -could be attached to partlet -fans -could be straw, wood, or feather

General Accessories Males -gauntlet (glove) used when fighting General Accessories Males -belts made of leather or rope, used to hold things, not hold pants up -could have D-ring or regular buckle -pockets vary in style -stockings -every gentleman would carry a sword and dagger at all times, usually in a matched set -hang from belt -everyone has a handkerchief -everyone has an eating knife -men also wear ruffs, not as many though

Footwear Females -soft soles -flat or heel, usually no more than 2’’ high. -toes of slipper shoes slightly rounded -high tongues, sometimes matching clothing -embroidered silk and brocades favoured -embroidery of brightly coloured or gold thread Riding boots of Elizabeth I c1680

Footwear Males -lacing is brand new -similar to female shoes in most things -boots were worn by military and riders (for when riding) -these boots would go past the knee to mid thigh -mules were new French style -could be worn alone or over another shoe usually didn’t have as high heel as in picture mule

Today’s Activity Skits

Skit Requirements In groups of 4 or 5 Use your correct accent Be in character (act as if your character is thrown into this situation) Your skit will be based around a bag of props, which you must use to make up a skit to entertain the Queen The skit must be appropriate for the Queen’s eyes It must be at least 2 minutes long Each group member must speak at least twice, and each member must use a prop

Judging You will perform your skit for everyone, while the heads critique Judging will be based on: Correct accents Character Realism Overall creativity The winners will receive an award