Garb FAQ

Garb is a term used by rennies and SCAdians when talking about their costumes. Garb tends to denote that the costume is more period correct rather than cheap imitations that one might wear for Halloween.

I just bought a new piece of garb, but it doesn't match the rest of my set. Does it matter?

Not really. Many people argue that clothing didn't match during the medieval and renaissance periods. I don't have any documentation to back up that statement, but the longer you spend involved in renn faires and the SCA, the more garb you'll collect. Trying to keep all the pieces matching can become very expensive and tedious, as well as robbing you out of having a wide variety of clothing choices.

This really only applies to the color of your fabric, not the style. You wouldn't mix an undyed muslin chemise with an expensive silk velvet bodice and skirt. But mixing colors is all part of the fun!

I hear people talking about “mundanes”. What are they? (Also: Norms and 'Danes)

Mundanes refer to two things. 1.) a normal person, usually wearing normal clothes. As in “Tuck your boobs in, there's a group of Mundanes coming!” 2.) Normal clothing. As in “God's teeth, I can't wait to get out of this bodice and back into my mundanes!”

Someone said I was naked, but I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Are they crazy?

Yes. But not for saying that you were naked. Naked is just another term for not wearing proper clothes. The same as saying that you're wearing “mundanes”. (see above)

What's a bodicegasm?

Most of us love the way bodices enhance our figures so much that we tend to over do it a bit. Much like a sausage ripping out of it's casing, the act of unlacing a bodice is said to be “better than sex”. If you're offended by terms like this, then Faire may not be the place for you.

What's a Treasure Chest/Ice Chest?

The bountiful cleavage produced by wearing a bodice tends to create ample room for storing things, such as coins or ice (not so much stored as enjoyed during hot afternoons). Sometimes, coins, ice, or other things are tossed into the cleavage by Rogues, hoping to win a kiss (or something else) by aiming just right.

What's a Rose Garden?

A single rose, or multiple roses tucked into a lady's cleavage. Rogues are often encourage to “stop and smell the roses”. See above.

What's Grape Diving?

Like the game of Treasure Chest, but in reverse. A lady will place a single grape (or something equally small and slippery) in her cleavage, and the objective is to have a Rogue remove the grape without using his hands. Playing is the prize.

What kind of buttons should I wear?

None, if possible. For the most part, buttons are not period. If you must use buttons, try to hide or disguise them. If that's not possible, try to get shell or shell appearance buttons, pewter, or wood. They'll blend in better.

I don't have time to make/money to buy a set of garb. Can I just wear my mom's prom dress from the 80's? It looks close enough.

No, it doesn't. I understand what you mean- puffy sleeves, empire or princess waist, sweetheart neckline. I get it. But it doesn't look period. Not even close. If you absolutely must wear it, at least add an ankle length skirt underneath or over top and try to round out or square the neckline. Add a long belt and sling it over your hips, and if possible, remove the zipper and replace it with ribbons to tie. It won't fix it, but at least you won't seem completely clueless.

OK, so I have my prom dress fixed up. Where do I get one of those Princess Cone hats? I want to be a fairytale princess!

You can probably find one at the Disney store, or a party supply store, but you won't want to. Princess cone hats were popular for about 20 years, and it wasn't during the Renaissance. If you wear it, you'll look more out of place than if you just wore your t-shirt and jeans- at least those have similar lines to what men wore in period!

If you simply must have a princess cone hat, take some card stock or poster board. Roll it into a cone. Staple it into place, leaving a small hole at the top. Spray glue the cone and press fabric on top. Let it dry. Trim off excess, poke a small hole on two sides of the bottom of the cone and thread with ribbon to tie onto your head. Take several pieces of ribbon or a big-ish piece of gauze, organza, etc. Thread through the small hole and knot on the inside. Voila. Quick, cheap, and a lot closer to reality than anything you can buy.

What's a bodice chiller?

A few years back, some enterprising glass blower (I may be wrong, but I heard that it was at Maryland Renaissance Faire- MDRF) created beautiful swirls of glass, much like a tall shot glass but with a rounded bottom. These are filled with ice and place in the cleavage created by bodices and corsets, helping ladies to stay cool in the heat.