| I went to my first Renaissance fair in the early 1990s. It | | | | costumes online. |
| was such an extraordinary experience , that I went | | | | Renaissance costumes can be very different in terms |
| back the next year, and the year after that. I continued | | | | of styles for both men and women. Clothing during the |
| to go every year until the year I left the United States. I | | | | period were specific to social classes. Each social |
| still maintain it is one of the things I miss most about the | | | | class was defined by not only the style of dress but, |
| USA (not including Taco Bell). | | | | most importantly, the fabrics. |
| The Renaissance fair is a celebration of the | | | | During the Renaissance period, there were laws in |
| Renaissance period. There are musicians playing | | | | place which prohibited peasants from wearing certain |
| songs from the time period. The merchants wear | | | | types of fabrics including satin, cotton, silk and velvet. |
| period costumes, as well as some of the guests. | | | | Those fabrics were deemed acceptable for only the |
| There are plays from the period and jousting | | | | nobility, despite a peasant being able to afford the |
| tournaments. Sometimes there are even tournaments | | | | fabric. Peasants were relegated to leather, linen and |
| with swords. There is always food from the time. | | | | wool mostly. |
| Along with food, merchants sell beer and wine, jewelry | | | | When choosing an adult Renaissance costume it is not |
| and clothing from the period. | | | | necessary to adhere to the strict rules. However, if |
| Part of the fun of the fair is dressing up and seeing | | | | you wish more authenticity, you should keep them in |
| everyone dressed up in costumes. There is usually a | | | | mind. There are many shops which carry authentic |
| king and queen of the fair and they are always | | | | replicas complete with fabric choices. These are |
| dressed in incredible costumes which are very well | | | | mainly used by professional actors. There are some |
| made replicas. | | | | aficionados who have them for costumes. Otherwise, |
| While a well made costume can cost hundreds of | | | | there are many lower cost, synthetic fiber costumes |
| dollars, because of the expensive fabrics used, there | | | | which you can buy online or at local costume shops. |
| are cheaper versions of different Renaissance | | | | |