PSA: Proper clothes.

[liadethornegge]

My Gothic Army Dress is a supremely comfortable item of clothing. I put it on for the pictures with the hood, but I kept it on since, and I just feel so at home in it I didn't want to take it off. So I didn't, and went out into the kitchen. The people whom I share it with didn't even raise an eyebrow. I think they're used to me now. Granted there was only one of them out there.

Still, it's a victory for comfortable clothes as opposed to just garb.

If anyone noticed I changed my LJ tag 'garb' to 'clothes' and also changed the heading on my homepage to clothing rather than garb a while back. Did anyone notice? Well, I decided that what I am making isn't theatrics, it isn't costume, but clothing, and it deserves the respect.


Also, updated Aros website, added a link to pix of the Microevent on Saturday. Only four and only the toddlers are dressed, the adults hadn't changed into proper clothes.

Comments

[beths-dress.livejournal.com]

Hi Lia, that's beyond cool that you're making something that feels more like clothes than costumes. I wish I could get to that point. Love the liripipe and gothic army dress. I'm especially fond of the spiral lacing down the front...so perfect.

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much :)

I feel like this more about the GFD wardrobe than my 16th Century stuff. We'll see how I feel about this green English fitted gown I'm working on now. It's got a pocket so it has great potential. It's an ever changing field of operations sort of thing.

[armillary.livejournal.com]

I have things that feel like costume, and things that feel like clothes. Generally speaking, the flashier the fabric, the less "real" it feels to me. Go figure.

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

That's sort of how I feel as well. My goal is to make all clothes all the time (at least that's how I feel now). But my big blue Tudor court gown with the fur sleeves is definately a costume to me. It doesn't feel casual and self-evident.

One may argue that that type of clothes shouldn't be, and weren't even at the period they are from. Good or bad? Right or wrong? One can ponder this for many hours more and still be a little confused.

Anyway, I know what you mean :)

[folo1.livejournal.com]

"If anyone noticed I changed my LJ tag 'garb' to 'clothes' and also changed the heading on my homepage to clothing rather than garb a while back. Did anyone notice? Well, I decided that what I am making isn't theatrics, it isn't costume, but clothing, and it deserves the respect."

Bravo! I have made a conscious effort not to use "garb" and to reclaim the word "costume" in the sense of "clothing of a specific period." I have come to regard "garb" as a short-hand for "substandard SCA clothing,' which is probably an exaggeration. However, I have found using the term "garb" in many living-history circles automatrically alerts the other person to an SCA background often leads them not to regard you seriously.

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

Well, for me, 'garb' is more the SCA uniform of t-tunic and poufy pants, probably tied around the shins with strips of fabric. It's not a big trend here in Drachenwald - in fact you rarely see it at events - but for the rest of the Knowne world... And, yes, I've also only ever seen it used in SCA circles.

I rather like language and words, and I like using the proper ones. I don't even know where 'garb' comes from, but it feels renfaire tainted to me. Silly thing to feel perhaps, but there it is.

I'm not comfortable with 'costume' either, because that feels like theatrics, and I want to wear my historical wardrobe with the natural ease I wear my everyday clothes. So, clothes it is. Historical clothes, clothes of the period.

Well, it's a topic I have mulling on a back-burner pretty much every time I pick up any sewing project. I'm sure my opinions will shift with time, as it has away from garb (which I was quite happy with from the time I started in the SCA).

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

*smiles* Thank you.

Yes, it does feel good. It's a topic that's always sloshing about in the back of my mind when I'm sewing, and it came to a head just a short while back. I'm quite certain I haven't finished my thoughts on this, but for now it's in the background again.

Garb is loaded with lots of things for me. And to start out, I felt quite comfortable using it, as that singled me out as a SCAdian. It helped me with my identification in this new group hobby I'd found. Then I did more research and it started to chafe at me. Finally then I decided that I don't want to make garb, I want to make clothes. Especially since I'm putting as much effort into it as I am. And here we are today.

It's an interesting topic to ponder and discuss I find. Words and their usage have always fascinated me - I love language!

[folo1.livejournal.com]

I had read that "garb" actually came from post-period theatrical jargon and, in the Middle Ages referred only to sheafs or bundles of grain. Actually, the thought of everyone walking around in wheat stalks sort of amused me, but there are those who say that I am too easily amused :)

[liadethornegge.livejournal.com]

Well, I chortled reading that, so I must be as easily amused :)