Renaissance Costume Ideas – Ladies and Courtiers for Halloween

Okay, you missed the Renaissance by a couple hundred years, guys no longer wear tights, and women dress up in slightly less than a voluminous skirt, bodice, petticoat, bonnet and apron (no matter how hot it was outside!) Still, that's what Halloween costume parties are for! If you're feeling particularity Elizabethan, there are a great variety of Renaissance-themed costumes to choose from.

Brigadoon Grand Heritage Collection Adult Costume

Brigadoon Grand Heritage Collection
Includes shirt, vest, skirt with overpiece, and scarf. Available in women sizes small, medium, & large.

The Renaissance spans from the 15th to 17th centuries, when plague in the previous century severely weakened the feudal system, the Crusades brought in new ideas (not to mention fabrics and dyes), and the beginnings of an urban middle class emerged. Clothing was marked by greater colors and flair than the medieval period, as dyes and fabrics became more varied, accessible and cheaper. Fashion quickly became a status symbol, with men and women in the ruling class trying to outdo each other with elaborate styles and colors. Purple was reserved for royalty, but darker colors were often worn to better show off jewelry and embroidery.

Even peasants could upgrade their clothing, which frightened the nobility so much that laws were passed restricting what colors they could wear. The lower class angrily responded by stitching two fabrics together and "slashing" their outer clothing, cutting geometric shapes and revealing the banned, brighter colors underneath. This grew into elaborate cuts and designs, with colors hanging out in a showy display.

Men's fashions of the period included first the square look (where the shoulders were stuffed to look bigger) and padded breaches and hose. Later, when the barrel look came into fashion, the middle of the vest or coat was padded. Men had all the fun, baring their legs with tweed hosiery, and later embroidered silk stockings. Very sexy!

Armored Knight Adult Costume
Armored Knight
Men's Adult Costume

Women's fashion changed just as fast, with elaborate gowns and dresses the style, with puffed sleeves, pleated skirts, flared underskirts and (later) the hooped skirt. The front was often slit

to show a contrasting, fashionable color underneath. Royal dresses included a high collar that could be worn with lace and ruffles. For commoners, a white chemise with a lacy bodice was common.

For your costume party, you can make your look even sexier while still wearing the essence of the Renaissance. (Don't worry guys, it doesn't involve you wearing panty hose.) Here are a few ideas for costumes that can be easily found online:

Royal Lady:

Haughty Nobleman:

Tavern Wench:

Country Maiden:

Renaissance Gypsy:

Renaissance Knight:

About the author:

Chris is the author and owner of Sexy Costume Ideas.com, a website that provides free resources, articles and great costume ideas to help express yourself at your next Halloween party, or any other event.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Ehm

Return to the top: Renaissance Costume Ideas

Back To: Halloween Costume Ideas

Spooktacular Fun!

About This Site

Most Popular

My Squidoo Pages

Renaissance Costume Ideas – Ladies and Courtiers for Halloween