The most obvious advantage of dressing in period costume while attending a Renaissance fair is being able to blend in with the other patrons who are at the event. As the Renaissance period covered the 14th through to the 17th century, you also have the opportunity to choose the particular period of time during the Renaissance that most interests you. So if you prefer the early 16th century style of dress over the more elaborate 17th century attire, you can let your imagination run wild and pick a costume that best suits your tastes and interests.
As you walk around the Renaissance fair in period costume, you will be able to feel more the part of the country peasant or a member of the leading English, French or Spanish aristocracy of the time. You may even find yourself using different expressions as you greet and converse with others in old English! Turning up to a Renaissance fair wearing modern fashions may make you feel more like a walking anachronism that does not belong to the time period you have entered.
Chance to Experiment
Dressing in Renaissance costume allows you to experiment with different fabrics and styles of clothing through the different periods of the Renaissance era and see what works best for you. You can also choose to dress in Renaissance fashions that were popular across Europe. Try out the English Gable Hood popular during the early 1500s to the 1530s that covered the hair and added pointed definition to the face, or the French hood of the 1530s through to the 1540s that Anne Boleyn preferred to the stiff English Gable hood. Male history buffs can also get involved in experimenting with Renaissance costume and accessories.
Dressing in Renaissance costume while attending a Renaissance fair is a fun way to get more involved in the time period that is being celebrated and have a glimpse into the lives of the men and women who have only ever walked across the pages of history books, but never quite come alive for some.
