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Here is a few ideas to help you on your way.

Garb/Clothing

Feasting gear

What to Bring

For your first one or two events, if you don't have medieval style clothes of your own, these can be borrowed from your local Hospitaller. Please contact them or the Autocrat of the event and arrange to borrow the appropriate gear for the event.  This is only a temporary measure and you are expected to get your own gear as soon as possible. When you do start getting your first set of garb together keep the following hints in mind.

 

 

Women:- Try searching op-shops for long dresses that can be modified easily. Cloaks can be made fairly easily and they hide a multitude of sins. If it is winter and cold, try getting something a bit too big so that you can wear warm mundane clothes underneath.  Modern looking slippers, boots and shoes can often hidden under long skirts.

 

 

Men:- Plain trousers, karate pants, tracksuit pants all look OK under a short tunic.  Plain boots that look medieval-ish are easy to find. Ugh boots have been around for over 1000 years.  A tunic looks like a large plain T-shirt and a bit of braid around the collar and sleeves can disguise the modern style of dress.  A Surcoat (a big, rectangular, strip of cloth with a hole for the head) can disguise a more mundane item of clothing underneath.  Long sleeved skivvies can be worn under tunics and Surcoat for warmth in winter.  Get a good plain colour belt to wear around your tunic.

 

Things to Avoid in Costuming:- Anything that is uncomfortable or dangerous.  Many ladies realise too late that the long trailing dress that looks so nice can trip you up if you aren't used to it.  Men find the same thing wearing swords.  If you are uncomfortable in your clothing then you will not enjoy the event you are attending quite as much.

 

Belts - Don't wear anything that looks like a white belt.  The white belt is reserved for knights.

 

Jewellry - Don't wear a plain chain without a pendant hanging off it - these are reserved for knights.  Don't wear spurs for the same reason.

 

DON'T wear crowns, tiaras, or coronets.  These are reserved for royalty and peers.  A good guideline is if it is wider than 2cm, it if has decorations that extend above or below the circlet, if it isn't plain straight circlet which has no points or jewels then don't wear it.  Plain circlets decorate along the band are OK but avoid anything decorated with stones, jewels, or pearls.

 

When in doubt ask someone who has been in the SCA much longer than you.

 

Swords / Knives / Blades avoid wearing sharp weapons without scabbards - they are dangerous.  Make sure all blades are secured in their scabbards - so they can't fall out.  Be very careful wearing a sword - it can stick out behind you and trip others or damage their clothes.

 

Under dress/Chemise Apron dress/tunic/surcoat Belt Comfortable shoes Jewellery/beads/brooches

Tunic Belt boots/shoes Baggies/trousers

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Goblet/cup - make sure you don't burn yourself if you like to have hot drinks. Ideal is to get clay or wooden goblet or stein.

knife, fork & spoon

bowl - wooden or clay - some metal plates can cause a reaction with different foods.  Stainless steel is ok to use.

plate - same as the bowl

tea towel - to dry your gear if there is more then 2 course you don't want to mix the flavours

candle & holder - the SCA can't supply all candles, so to help the group, bring a candle and holder to help light up the feast.

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What to Bring & What to Wear to a Tourney.

The weather in River Haven is windy and cold in winter, hot and sticky in summer, and sunburn can be a problem all year round.  Usually people don't wear their best clothes to a tourney, they wear what is comfortable.  A hat is important if you are going to be out in the sun.

What to bring to a Feast

Feast is usually an indoor event.  In River Haven, even in winter, a number of people in a hall will make the hall significantly warmer than the outside air so dress accordingly. Feasts often tend to be more formal than tourneys and fancier garb is usually warn.

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