Costuming Workbook Peasant Class Your Legal Name:
Peasant Class Male & Female Shoes: (Required) Slippers were the most common shoe but boots are acceptable for festival. No zippers or modern closures should be visible. Pouches: (Required) Pouches are used instead of pockets to keep important items secure. Most any kind of bag without a modern closure will suffice. They can be hung from the belt, or, for ladies, worn under the skirts and accessed through an opening in the skirt seam. Sleeves: Sleeves are worn in various styles. They can match the bodice/doublet fabric, but don t need to. They can be attached or removable. Cloak/Cape: (Required) A cloak can be of varying lengths and can have a hood. A short cape can be worn over one or both shoulders on top of the jerkin. Gloves: Gloves or mittens are worn to protect the hands from cold weather or hard labor. Have a pair for when the weather gets colder later in the season. Apron: Aprons can be worn by women and men. They would definitely be worn if work is being done in order to protect your clothes. They would be made of linen and can be plain or decorated with a bit of embroidery. Aprons did not have ruffles or pockets.
Peasant Class Male & Female Hats: (Required) Some of the various styles are below. Feathers are optional an extra design element, though Peasant class would not wear pheasant feathers. Cavalier Hats are acceptable although they are not period. Straw hats are also common. A biggins or coif can be worn alone or with a hat. Coifs were only worn by women. Tights/Socks: (Required) Tights or tall socks need to be opaque (not see through). Though tights can be used, socks that come to the knee or higher are recommended for ease of privy use. Tights that end at the ankle are permitted only if wearing boots that hide the foot opening. Men must wear a dance belt or cod piece with tights. Garter: Ribbon or string tied or buckled around the knee to help keep the hose or tall boots secured. Blade: Peasants would typically only carry a small dagger to be used for work. All blades must be approved, peace tied and secured in a sheath at all times. Mug/Cup: (Required) Metal, wooden, leather, or ceramic cups will suffice. Be aware that any ceramic or glass mugs have the potential to chip or break. Glass bottoms on metal mugs must be covered. Belt/Basket/Sack: (Required) A leather belt or cloth sash is used to hold pouches, blades and a cup. In lieu of a belt you may carry a basket or a sack to hold all your important items.
Peasant Class Male Shirt: (Required) Non-white cotton or linen shirts are worn to the wrist. Shirts are long and usually hit between the hip and thigh. They can have a collar or be collarless. Collar and cuffs have button and loops for closures or tie strings. Doublet/Jerkin/Vest/Tunic: (Required) A Doublet is a close-fitting jacket with a straight collar. A Jerking is an over-garment without sleeves typically worn on top of the doublet. A Vest is straight-wasted. Any of these can be worn open or closed. A Tunic is a loose-fitting garment that pulls over the head. Pants: (Required) Various styles of pants are shown below. They are typically worn with tights/hose/thick stockings. Stockings or tights need to be opaque (not see through). Stockings that come to knee or higher are recommended for ease of privy use. Tights that end at the ankle are permitted only if wearing boots that hide the foot opening.
Peasant Class Female Chemise/Smock: (Required) Non-white cotton or linen shirt can be cut hip length, but knee length is more comfortable and modest. Drawers/Bloomers: (Required) Many ladies choose to wear drawers or bloomers under costumes for comfort. Bike shorts would also suffice, as long as they are under the skirt and not seen. Partlet: This is a heavy weight fabric worn on top of the bodice. Bodice: (Required) The bodice is fitted but not overly compressed and must cover the bust. It can have shoulder and waist decorations in the form of shoulder tabs or peplums. The overskirt can be attached to the bodice by stitching, ties, lacing, or hooks and bars. They can lace up the front or sides. A corset may be worn underneath a bodice, but does not replace it. Corsets are not bodices and are not to be worn instead of a bodice. Bum Roll: A Bum roll is a crescent shaped pad that is worn around the waist and under the skirt.
Peasant Class Female Skirt/Kirtle: (Required) Skirts are ankle length and full with no tiers or ruffles. They can be layered to add extra volume or warmth. A top skirt can be hitched up on the sides, the front or several places all the way around in order to display the under skirt (but not the legs or any leg coverings). A kirtle is similar to a skirt that has been attached to the bodice and has slits on the sides to access pockets. Pockets: Pockets can be hung from the belt, or on their own wide strip of fabric to tie around the waist. There can be one or two pockets. These look very similar to those used in the 1700s. They are worn under the top skirts and accessed through a side opening in the skirt seam. Jacket: Jackets with sewn in sleeves can be worn over the bodice or kirtle. It can be plain, trimmed, or fully embroidered. They usually have some kind of peplum.
Costume Development Worksheet Before a costume can be designed, one must have a full understanding of their developed Character. Complete the Character Development Worksheet located in the appendices of your Entertainment Handbook first and use it as a reference point while completing this worksheet. This form must be completed in full and submitted to the Festival Entertainment Department prior to making any purchases pertaining to your costuming. Please complete the form with as much description as possible. Cast Member s Name: Character Name: Character Station (check one): Peasant Lower Merchant Upper Merchant Nobility Misc. Use the following section to describe your proposed costume in full detail. Use the terms and style descriptions presented inside this workbook. Attaching supporting photographs, sketches and/or fabric samples are encouraged. Head (Headgear & Hair): Top Under Layer (Shirts, Chemise, Blouses, etc.): Top Over Layer (Vests, Doublets, Bodices, etc.): Bottom Under Layer (Leggings, Tights, Stockings, etc.): Bottom Over Layer (Skirts, Breeches, etc.): Shoes: Fabrics & Colors: Trims (Beads, Patches, Embroidery, etc.): Props & Accessories: Office Use Only: Proposal Approved? Yes No Needs Work Authorized Signature:
Design Your Own Costume Female
Design Your Own Costume Male
Costuming Resources Festival Approved Suppliers, Designers, and Costume Makers Below is a resource listing of Festival recommended suppliers, designers and costume makers. This list is intended to save you money and help you stay within Festival costume guidelines. It is strongly recommended that you present your Festival approved costume design to a member of the Costume Committee for guidance prior to the purchasing of costume pieces, materials and/or consigning a costumer for any work. Carolina Renaissance Festival Costume Committee (also recommended costumers) Vreanie Calhoun 704-896-5555 x234 vreanie@renfestinfo.com Maria Tucker 704-236-8840 maria@abiggerhammer.com Peggy Shirek-Oostendorp 704-905-9198 peggyshirek@me.net Bettina Queen 404-212-9485 sbseay@usa.com Casie Lester 704-241-5020 casie28209@yahoo.com Derek Nieman 704-860-0673 derek.m.nieman@gmail.com Sarah Moreno sdurnesque@gmail.com Additional Festival Recommended Costumers Susie Calhoun 704-846-6238 susiecu2@aol.com Angel Harris 704-825-4842 www.legendsandladies.com Fabric and Supply Resources Ledford's Upholstery & Fabrics 704-732-0233 Mary Jo's Fabric Center 800-627-9567 www.maryjos.com Midas Fabrics Multiple locations www.midasfabric.com Austin Leather Works 248-922-1641 www.austinleatherworks.com Dharma Trading Co. 800-542-5227 www.dharmatrading.com Jas. Townsend & Sons, Inc. 800-338-1665 www.jas-townsend.com Amazon Dry Goods 812-852-1780 www.amazondrygoods.com Richard the Thread 800-473-4997 www.richardthethread.com Lacis 510-843-7178 www.lacis.com Online Costume Stores Adornmynts 530-363-5966 www.adornmynts.com Sofi's Stitches 843-380-1554 www.medievalclothes.com White Pavilion Clothiers 800-810-3758 www.whitepavilion.com The Ren Store 520-721-8346 http://stores.renstore.com Sodhoppers Custom Footwear 503-435-0606 www.sodhoppers.com The Tights Goddess www.tightsgoddess.com Online Research Tools Renaissance Compendium of Common Knowledge www.elizabethan.org/compendium The History of Costume www.siue.edu/costumes/history.html Margo Anderson s Costume Patterns www.margospatterns.com Patterns of Time 719-573-2845 http://www.patternsoftime.com Elizabethan Costumes www.elizabethancostume.net