Building a working
LARP
Wardrobe
Be like shrek. Embrace the layers.
It’s currently hot in Texas. Like, really hot. Like, don’t walk outside barefoot unless you want to burn your feet hot. It’s got me longing for the sweet relief of fall where I can open the front door and not immediately feel as though I have jumped into a pool.
It’s roughly four months until Hynafol, and I can’t wait to be back at Sherwood in the crisp, cool weather. But if I’m being realistic, fall can also be hot in Texas. Halloween is the biggest offender here. Every year when I plan my costume, I play a game of Texas Weather Roulette. Much like Vegas, the house always wins. Without fail, the years that I’m in head-to-toe vinyl and praying for a cool evening, Texas decides to withhold fall until mid-November. On the flip side, I think the year I put together a Hutt Slayer Leia costume the high was a balmy 62 (which only dropped as the night went on).
So…. what’s a girl to do when prepping for a multi-day event during inevitable temper tantrum that is Texas weather in the Fall? Breathable layers.
One of the things I did this time around was invest in natural fabric. My wardrobe is made up of linen, cotton, and rayon. One of the reasons for this choice was to follow the decorum guidelines set by Hynafol’s producers, the second reason was that I wanted to keep my base layers breathable. I figure I can always add warmer layers on top if needed. On a practical note, I’ve already made it through a full day at Sherwood in this garb when it was *solidly* in the high 80’s. And while I’m frantically knocking on wood that the weather during Hynafol will be 10 to 15 degrees cooler, I know that it’s not completely unbearable if November serves up a heatwave. I’ll just have to be sure to stay in the shade and keep hydrated.
As far as what I’m packing for the trip, I’ve got two under dresses (I’ve added a second in my Hynafol guild colors) and my apron dress. I figure that should give me the opportunity to mix and match a bit so I’m not wearing the same thing every day. I’m also making a warm coat for the nights and something to lounge/sleep in. Depending on what I have in my fabric stash, I might make some pants and a tunic for battles (although charging onto the battlefield in a dress while banishing an axe is the main character energy I strive to embody).
This is all pretty basic, but one of the newer things I’ve added to my garb collection is washable under layers… aka the shift. Extreme Miranda Priestly voice:
I know that I’m not reinventing the wheel here, but this has changed the game for me. I’ve always been afraid to add layers to my cosplays since most of the time we’re wearing these gowns to outdoor events in Texas. But I also must confess that most of these gowns are made from synthetic fabrics, so they just trap any heat that is trying to escape the body. Being able to invest in natural fabrics that allow breathability has really been key for this project. I currently have one shift sewn and ready to go and a second cut and hiding somewhere in my sewing room. My goal is to have at least two so that I can wear one and wash/dry the other. This way I always have a clean layer between my body and my garb.
I’m sure my packing list will grow over the next few months. I mean, we haven’t even started working on armor, but I feel like I’ve got a solid start. Four months to go! Let’s do this!
