Shopping-and-Product-Reviews:Fashion-Style Articles

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Children's Medieval Costumes - Fun at the Renaissance Fair

Children's Medieval Costumes - Fun at the Renaissance Fair

Admit it or not, parents love to dress up their children whether it is an everyday staple or a big renaissance fair. Although most of children's medieval costumes should best stay on the runway, it is amazing to note that a great number of children could easily glide down to reality and wear renaissance costumes with flair and ease.

Contrary to what is believed that in order to crop up a good medieval costume painstaking handiwork is needed, what most people fail to realize is that they can make children's' medieval costumes and fancy dresses through the use of little creativity and resourcefulness. But, if you choose to purchase a tailored and custom-made one, local boutiques and online stores are the best pit stop.

Here are few children's medieval costumes for your little boys and girls:

Boys Medieval Costume
A renaissance king costume, a crusader, a knight, and a musketeer tunic are some of the great selections for your little boy. If your boy is going to play renaissance faire king for a day, then a bright maroon or red cape with black velvet doublet and pants will certainly lent character to a renaissance king role.

Other accessories that include a crown and a renaissance sword replica of either Egyptian bast or a Napoleon ceremonial sword will absolutely complete your renaissance king gear.

Girls Medieval Costume
For little girls, a renaissance queen or princess will certainly be a crowd's favorite.

You may have a difficult time narrowing your choices, but what is perfect for little girls is one that will show off either a regal as a queen character or a sweet as a princess attitude. The choices of color can be gold with bright yellow panels, which will shine through the rich and vibrant texture of the fancy dress.

About the author: David L writes for ShopCompareCostumes.com and shares his interest in dressing up with internet readers. He's been writing for costume and Halloween blogs since August 2007 and has been a blog author since September 2005.

He shares his ideas and recommendations about Children's Medieval Costumes and other holidays at Shop Compare Costumes. Sign up to receive our free costume newsletter for exclusive discounts, coupon codes, and how-to articles on halloween costumes!

Renaissance Costumes - Choose the Best Attire

Renaissance Costumes - Choose the Best Attire

The creative mind's re-invention of Renaissance Costumes is considered a delight to the senses and a gorgeous feast for the eyes. This is the reason why a lot of festivity hosts opt for a renaissance inspired gathering more than any other concept.

Creating a renaissance period atmosphere is a bit challenging especially if you don't have any idea how to provide a real Renaissance look. So, for those who want to know how to choose the best garb for a Renaissance feast, here are few tips to combine high fashion, elegance, and stunning design in one:

1. Search through various Renaissance Costumes found in books

This pertains to different periods and cultures that have a Renaissance touch. Many different books have pictures of various costumes that can be a great concept for your choice. The global zeitgeist reads something like this: take what's indigenous in a specific renaissance period/culture and put in individual and innovative elements to come up with your own vibrant, creative costume idea.

2. The service of a local couturier

You can only have the best garb if you likewise have the best designer to inject fun and flair and design innovation to traditional renaissance costumes. Having your own designer will allow you to choose preferred patterns and styles where you can also ask for a designer's fashion sense in terms of mix of colors, creative embellishments, and fancy details.

3. Consider online resources

With the latest technology thriving each day, it is indeed possible to come across renaissance costume patterns, elegant headwear, and period accessories with just a simple search. So, if you're having a difficult time choosing which renaissance costume will fit you best, the internet will never fail to give you accurate, artistic, and whimsical costume idea.

David L writes for ShopCompareCostumes.com and shares his interest in dressing up with internet readers. He's been writing for costume and Halloween blogs since August 2007 and has been a blog author since September 2005. He loves playing characters and his creative side is most active when he's sharing his ideas with others.

He shares his ideas and recommendations about Renaissance Costumes and other holidays at Shop Compare Costumes. Sign up to receive our free costume newsletter for exclusive discounts, coupon codes, and how-to articles!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Handmade Medieval Toys At Bristol Renaissance Faire 2009

Handmade Medieval Toys At Bristol Renaissance Faire 2009

Chicago families visiting the Bristol Renaissance Faire can shop for handmade medieval toys that encourage imaginative play about magic and times past.

Bristol Renaissance Faire imaginative play

Designed to help visitors imagine that they have time traveled back to Elizabethan England, the Bristol Renaissance Faire lives up to its slogan (Where Fantasy Rules) with themed buildings and rides, costumed actors, and creative entertainment and interactive activities.

During their visit to the Renaissance, parents and children can tour the merchants in the Bristol Faire Marketplace to shop for lovely handmade artistic items and crafts that can be used as toys for imaginative play.

Children's medieval role-play toys

Visitors to this Elizabethan-era festival are invited to arrive already dressed for the part or to rent costumes once there. Parents can also purchase kid-sized costumes and accessories to dress their children up as fantasy, medieval, and renaissance characters.

Read complete article in Examiner.com

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Choose Your Medieval Clothing Style To Attend A Medieval Wedding

Choose Your Medieval Clothing Style To Attend A Medieval Wedding

Do you have an invitation to attend a medieval wedding? Don't know what should you wear? Before you spend time searching for costumes and purchase anything, you should first find out if the wedding style. Is the wedding style going to be a peasant style medieval wedding or lords and kings style medieval wedding? Showing up in different style and costumes would certainly be awkward.

The bride and groom may have a simple wedding ceremony outside in nature like a peasant and move on to a medieval feast like in a castle. In this case, you could choose and wear a costume that meets somewhat between the two classes, like well-to-do merchants, lesser nobles, royal knights, a lady-in-waiting, or else.

The couple may have an elaborate church wedding and then have their reception at some outdoor venue. Dressing down would be more appropriate. You can choose more fitting to the lower classes such as a serving wench, a lesser knight, or a villager.

Medieval Clothing styles changed with each generation. But, there are still some common elements through most of the styles.

The materials used for medieval clothing was heavier than it is today. If you plan on sewing your own costumes, keep in mind that pastel colors were outdated. The colors should be vibrant, rich and deep. Choose materials that contain deep blues, forest green, burgundies or chocolate browns.

Choose a suitable materials for the main outer garment such as velvet, brocade or damask. Take care in choosing the material pattern. Medieval clothing did not contain stripes, polka dots or small patterns. You can add leather laces, ribbons and other such ties to secure clothing. If you elect to wear peasant garb, choose attire made from linen, cotton or other materials so you will remain comfortable.

If you don't have much time to search around, maybe rent a medieval costume isn't a bad idea. However, it depends on your costume rental shop or a professional theatre whether they have some sort of medieval clothing that you wants. Your medieval costume selection may be limited. You can try purchasing a medieval costume online to save your time.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Family Fun In A Medieval Mode

Family Fun In A Medieval Mode

Slashing swords, chain-mail armor, flowing gowns, pageantry, gold crowns - these scenes will greet spectators to Saturday's Highland River Melees, a series of battles set by the creek that wanders through City Park in Hagerstown.

The event features armored combatants who belong to the local chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism, a national organization promoting the history and culture of the Middle Ages.

Spectators are welcome to the event, which takes place all day Saturday.

It's easy to be captivated by the flash and crash of battle. But for longtime SCA member Eric Knibb, the group is about more than fighting.

"In itself, going out and hitting people with swords, it's a lot of fun," said Knibb, a Williamsport resident. "But the primary focus of the SCA is to re-create the positive aspects of the Middle Ages."

Chivalry, for one thing. Knibb said if a combatant loses a weapon during battle, their opponent allows them to pick it up before continuing. Courtesy is one aspect of medieval culture.

SCA members also re-create medieval foods, music, costumes, children's toys, tents, and more.

Knibb makes chain mail.

Under his adopted medieval Scottish persona, Fergus, Knibb makes shirts, armor and other chain-mail items and sells them to other SCA members or to the public. His product line includes pouches, shirts, jewelry, chandeliers and, um, bikini tops.

"Bikini tops are not medieval whatsoever," Knibb said, with a laugh. "I make them because people buy them."

Knibb has been making chain mail for 20 years. He met and married his wife, Glynis, through the group. And though he has no children of his own, he knows other families who are involved.

Read complete article in Herald-Mail.com