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New Member's Guide
Introduction
What
is the SCA?
Getting
Involved
Glossary
SCA
Etiquette
Your
Persona
Your Name
Medieval Clothing
Making Clothes
Your 1st Event
Awards
Officers
Medieval Clothing
One way to fully participate in the SCA is to dress like a medieval person would have. At some SCA functions, you are required to make an attempt at medieval clothing. In the SCA, because we are recreating the culture of the Middle Ages instead of acting in a play, we refer to our clothing as "garb" rather than "costume."
Because the period we recreate is so long and diverse, you will want to decide what type of garb to wear after you determine the basics of your persona.
Until you decide what kind of garb you need, you can make some generic "medieval" garb (refer to Making Clothes for a simple T-tunic pattern). Your local group also has Gold Key garb for you to borrow until you have your own garb.
Garb Basics
Textiles
Natural (cotton, linen, wool) woven (not knit) fabrics. Avoid drapery satins, brocades and nylon velvet. Avoid elaborate dresses that look modern (prom or bridesmaid dresses), even though they may look "old-fashioned."
Colors
Muted colors or earth tones. Avoid patterns for now.
Accessories
You can buy pouches, belts, pins and other jewelry from merchants if you do not wish to make them yourself. Try to avoid wearing things that look obviously modern. Certainly you may wear your glasses, but put your watch in a pouch and wear boots rather than sneakers
Sumptuary Laws
In the SCA, "sumptuary laws" serve as guidelines regarding the wearing of certain kinds of apparel. Usually, these items symbolize something about the wearer, like a title or office. Most of the guidelines about these items are derived from medieval laws, although we have far fewer such laws than they did. You should avoid wearing the things described below. By doing so, you can avoid misunderstandings and hard feelings.
Belts
Belts can be made from cloth, leather, metal or rope. The color of the belt, however, may signify the rank, title or affiliation of the wearer. Until you have been granted these titles or privileges you should avoid wearing belts of the following colors.
- White - knight
- Red - squire
- Yellow - protégé
- Green - apprentice
Spurs
Spurs are reserved for members of the Order of Chivalry (knights and masters at arms) in Calontir and in many other kingdoms. In some kingdoms, gold spurs are reserved for the Chivalry and silver spurs are for their squires.
Chains
Unadorned gold chains are reserved for Knights of Calontir. Anyone can wear simple chains with things hanging from them.
Baldrics
A baldric is a sash worn diagonally across the body, from the shoulder to the hip. These signify a wide variety of ranks and offices. The simplest solution is to avoid wearing one.
Crown, Coronets and Circlets
In Calontir, you may wear a leather or cloth circlet, or a 1/2 inch wide metal circlet with no projections above or below it and no decorations. Crowns, coronets and tiaras are reserved for the nobility.
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