General Costuming Advice for LARPing
In choosing costumes for a NERO-type LARP, that type being an
out-of-doors weekend event which includes physical combat, I have
two basic guidelines:
1) Can I run/move/fight/throw spell packets in this?
As a spell-caster, I have very few armor and body points. Three
or four hits from a moderately damaging creature will have me
down on the ground and bleeding out (from a in-game perspective).
That said, I like to have clothing I can run in and not get
caught tripping on hems or have to take small-steps because
of a narrow skirt. I also make sure that I have plenty of arm-movement
so I can throw spell-packets with sufficient accuracy and use
my boffer sword.
2) Can it get dirty and be washed easily?
When Lili is dying and on the ground, I play her dying and on
the ground. This means I'm sometimes going to have to lie in
dirt and mud, and my clothing is going to have to take it. For
those of you who have a nice costume you have purchased at a
Rennaissance Faire for hundreds of dollars, I suggest you don't
bring it to NERO; it will get dirty. Better to buy some thrift-store
items or find a peasant-shirt at a local K-mart than to ruin
a velvet doublet or otherwise fine investment. I also suggest
avoiding white, as it will get stained in quick order.
Other Considerations when Choosing LARP Costumes
Plan for Weather
If it is going to be hot, choose light-woven materials that
can breathe.
If it is going to be cold (60 degrees or below, day or night),
bring clothing you can wear in layers; long underwear, t-shirt
under blouse and pants, etc.
If it is going to be wet/rainy, I highly suggest in waterproof
boots of any variety, extra socks, three changes of costume
so you have something to wear while the other stuff is drying
out.
Costuming on a Shoestring
A basic costume can be built from: black sneakers, solid-color
sweatpants and a big solid-color shirt, and a belt. After
you have those things, check out the local thrift-store for
items such as vests, skirts, and peasant-shirts. A brightly
colored vest can add a great deal to your costume.
To make a simple tabard, cut a 3 foot x 6 foot piece of solid
color fabric, cut a hole in the center large enough to fit your
head, and belt it around your waist.
Costuming with No Sewing Skills
You can buy a costume from Renn Faires or online companies.
You can check out thrift-stores for possible finds. Never under-estimate
the power of a nice vest.
Also, never underestimate the powers of a hot glue-gun available
at any Arts-and-Crafts stores. With hot glue you can add jewels
or trim to your tabard, or even use it to "seam" the
edges of something.
Keeping to Medieval: What to Avoid
Without getting particularily picky, her are suggestions for
things to avoid when looking to create a medieval/fantasy costume:
1) Avoid all neon-colored fabric. Lime green or bright-fuschia
purple are not colors that could be made with natural dyes.
2) Avoid shiny-satin type fabric, like the kind you find with
most prom dresses and often "off the rack" medieval
Halloween costumes. Nothing says "Disney" like shiny
satin.
3) Avoid "The Goth Look" of all-black dresses and
spider-web designs. Unless you are an NPC, there is no reason
to go around looking like a vampire/greater-undead.
4) Avoid large printed patterns, often known as "calico
prints." The only sort of designs on fabric came from the
weaving of "tapestry-like", thick fabrics called brocades.
My NERO Costuming Endeavors
Period costuming can be an expensive addiction. I myself enjoy
collecting and sewing a wide variety of costumes. Many I wear
for NERO, a few I keep "just-in-case" for an NPC role,
and others I have for special occasions.
The costumes you see on this website I designed specifically
for Lilaiethyn. In my costuming for Lili, I wanted to create
clothing that was both elegant and servicible for adventuring.
As part of Lili's gear, I also bought a leather belt. I did
my best translating a blessing to Quenya, and then transcribing
it into Tengwar characters to paint on Lili's leather belt.
No matter what other clothing she wears, the belt is always
with Lili.
Costuming Basics for NPC's
If you volunteer as an NPC for a NERO event, you can expect
that the staff at "monster camp" will already have
basic costuming and makeup available for you to play the various
undead, orcs, goblins, and roving "crunchy" roles.
So all you really need as an NPC is "basic black"
clothing: black t-shirt or sweatshirt and black sweatpants or
black jeans. Do not wear t-shirts with big logos on them or
wear blue jeans, as such mundane clothing detracts a great deal
from the atmosphere of the event.
As a monster NPC, you also want some way to easily carry and
access treasure to give to the adventurers who kill you and
search your remains. Pockets are fine (so long as there is nothing
else in them). Also dark colored fanny-packs or a readily accessed
belt-pouch can provide storage for treasure as well.
If you are interested in being an NPC with an ongoing role
who interacts and roleplays regularly with the PC's over the
course of the event (or perhaps several events!), you should
use unique costuming pieces that all players can identify as
belonging only to that one character. For example, Cassandra
the Merchant always wears a blue dress and a brown wooden headband.
Even though an NPC may play several distinct roles in the span
of four or five hours, the PCs will soon come to recognize the
unique costuming and be able to identify the character from
across the room or across the field. Event staff will be pleased
if you bring a few costuming pieces of your own for special
NPC roles.
