[Ansteorra] period on a budget

[elizabeth at crouchet.com]

Research is the best tool to get you going and it is often free. You have been given some great links. 

In my experience, most "kits" include a minimum number of layers. That is the secret to looking like clothes and not a costume. 

The underwear: usually a white or natural colored layer closest to the skin: shirt, tunic etc.
    For later period you can use an oversized white cotton dress shirt with the collar removed. Replace visible buttons with 
    metal ones, just get cotton, more comfortable, shop second hand and garage sales or ask Dad for hand me downs. 

The outerwear: usually a color of slightly heavier fabric worn over the undershirt, wear one, can wear many more if the weather 
calls for it. Pile them up. 
    For earlier periods it is nearly the same shape as the undershirt, a little roomier, may be decorated or just well finished. 
    Usually lets the undershirt peak out at the edges of the neck and wrist and is usually longer than the undershirt. 
    For later periods it is usually a more fitted or constructed garment of heavier fabric that may be lined. The undershirt 
    will be visible at the neck and wrists. 

Pants: Same or heavier weight than outerwear. Same fabric color or contrast. Wear one, can layer several if the weather calls 
for it. 
    For earlier periods they are usually much like sweatpants with no elastic at the bottom but not stretchy. can be worn 
    over shoes or tucked into boots. 
    --You can use Scrubs pants for this. Just choose earthtones and be sure the stamped logos will be covered by your 
    over tunic. Get these at second hand stores. If it is cold, use sweats, take the elastic out of the bottoms of the legs. 
    Black, navy blue, brown (just not traditional gray). 
    For later periods they are often oversized and short and worn with boots or socks and low shoes. 
    ---You >can< use dark colored sweats for this, pull them up to the knee so they blouse. No cutting, etc. You can also 
    use greatly oversized scrubs pants and tuck them into boots, use earthtone colors. 
    For a period that needs tights: again  sweat pants, get them in tall sizes so they are long enough get socks to match 
    (black is easiest to match), have someone help you tighten up the legs at the inside seams so they fit close to your legs 
    like tights, but not very tight, they should be leg shaped but allow you to move. 

Shoes: always wear socks, it is more comfortable that way. Wear dark socks if you do not want them to show. If you wear 
boots, wear any socks you want. 
    For shoes: low black shoes with no logos or mocassins(cut the fringe off to leave a straight flap there). If not black then 
    brown. Canvas is good looking but does not last long and is not good in wet weather (chinese slippers).  Black leather 
    Keds brand shoes work for a lot (cover the logo on the heel with sharpie marker). Brown leather slip-ons found at 
    Walmart can work too. Look at women's shoes if you have short feet, and get wide width. If you wear a mens 8 then 
    you wear a womens 10 wide, or a mens 9 then womens 11, etc. 
No matter what shoes you get, get some rubber insoles for them and wear them! We use a lot of sites with very rocky ground 
and your feet will thank you for the insoles. 

Belts, use a good earth toned colored leather belt. If the buckle can be changed then even better but just use a belt.

An outer coat: if needed in bad weather
    most often for most period a basic cloak
    For most periods a square cloak will do: ie: a blanket, 
    ---get a second hand wool blanket, size single or twin, can be cut to a square or left as a rectangle. If cut, you do not 
    need to finish off the edges on wool, cut off trim and do not worry about minor damage to edges, it just looks like it is 
    not new that way. Get a solid color. It can be dyed in a washing machine. Any light color can be over dyed a darker 
    similar color. Light pink can be dyed to a brown or dark red. Rit brand dyes are cheap, koolade is cheapest but is hard 
    to find a good color. Use about $4 worth of black cherry unsweetened with some vinegar to dye a small blanket, this 
    give a pale but nice light red. Ask me for more info.  
    --Look at woven bedspreads too, and "throw" blankets. 
    It should be pinned at one shoulder. Use a large safety pin from the inside so it does not show. When you have a few 
    bucks at an event, ask someone to help you shop the merchants for a suitable affordable pin. 


These are ideas and examples. Use them as a place to start. Get someone who knows clothing  to go Garage Saling and Thrift 
Shopping with you. Ready made is sometimes more expensive than fabric by the yard, but it also gets you into the clothes 
now. Usually only the outer garment has to be made to look OK , it can hide the rest. You can often borrow the outer garment. 

Check the used clothing for:
wool coats and blankets that can be cut up and re-used or re-shaped, sometimes you find a wool or velvet cloak or cape here, 
use as is.
For underclothes: cotton shirts, nightgowns, old church play costumes, bathrobes
Ladies pleated wool skirts. If it is just a tube that has been pleated then is it about two or three yards or fabric when taken off 
the waistband. 
Ladies evening gowns for large bits of fancy fabric. Cut up the skirts or use strips of them as trim. 
Scrubs for pants, sweats for pants, 
Drapes for fabric
Leather belts for belts and straps
shoes
blankets and bedspreads and some heavy or cotton sheets for fabric. 
Pajamas bottoms mens and womens, oversized and natural fabrics in solid colors, like flannel!, use like scrubs. 


I hope this gets you started. It is rather longer than I had intended. 

Claire