Celebrating the Essence of Renaissance Through Renaissance Festivals

The renaissance festival is a once a year event that is celebrated in the memory of the period. People participate in this festival dressed in bright medieval clothing and they make merry by preparing delicious dishes and also take part in other fun activities. Since this festival is connected with thehistory you will witness many interesting facets of that era. However, stress is given on the fashion and dresses that was prevalent during that time.
During that period Elizabeth I was the Queen of England and hence the period is also known as the Elizabethan Period. It was she who popularized the costumes that are still a rage today. Therefore the festival is basically a celebration of her reign. The trend of celebrating this festival started towards the latter part of period and is still continuing till today. The renaissance period was preceded by the Dark Ages and people decided to hold this festival as a mark of celebration for emerging from that period. All about art and color and therefore you will find people putting on colorful medieval dresses during the event.
In those bygone days this festival used to have themes and activities for the enjoyment of the participants. Today there are contests and games for both grown-ups as well as children. There are contests and games like wordplay, singing and dancing, music, juggling and a lot of other fun activities.
Although Europeans celebrate this festival in a more subtle way giving stress on the educational and historical value of that period, it is the Americans who through their unique way make this festival a truly lively event. The Europeans by celebrating this festival try to delve into the rich history of the period when Queen Elizabeth I ruled over England. On the other hand the Americans try to portray the essence of that period by dressing up like the people of that era. So you will find gents sporting pirate shirts to experience how pirates of the past lived and felt. Similarly ladies dress up in different like princess dress, peasant dress etc.
Thousands of visitors attend this festival wearing medieval dresses. Some of the costumes are based on fantasy characters like pirates, Vikings etc. So you will find men and women dressed in costumes like pirate shirts along with matching accessories. There are shows, games, food and drink as well as other activities which used to be a part of the period. Art and handicraft items based on the theme of renaissance are put up for sale. Even Shakespearean plays are held on elaborate stages and performers enact performances based on characters from the past.
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Renaissance Clothing- Reflection of Social Standing even Today

Renaissance clothing, the inseparable part of middle age has succeeded in maintaining its charm in modern era too. But now their usages are restricted to famous events, plays and in some history based Hollywood movies. Although now-a-days they are not worn on daily basis as earlier yet these renaissance medieval clothing is great source of inspiration for modern designers. It is not like that that they are completely vanished from normal day life; in altered form people are still wearing them.

The variations in the designing, color, fabric was treat to watch. Regardless the kind of technology they had at that time, the quality of the costumes were unmatchable. Even today it is hard to find the same level creativity and quality. Designers of that time knew how to use colors like velvet, violet, red beautify renaissance dresses with embroidery, laces and some extravagant costumes with costly stones and gems. Not only today’s people but the 16th century person also knew how to dress well. If you see the portrait of those persons whether they were rich, poor or commoner you will observe that they dressed well irrespective of their status. Everyone according to their status had managed to maintain the distinctive styling sense.

The factor which influenced the dressing style of men and women of that era was division of classes on the basis of material and color of fabric. If you know poor people were not allowed to wear expensive and extravagant fabrics, even if they want they couldn’t afford. They dressed according to wealth, social standing and importance in society.

If you pay attention to your surrounding you will find people around you wearing renaissance clothing which reflect their status so, dressing accordingly is not aged fashion but still exist. Knowingly or unknowingly we also dress according to our standing in society. This is why a commoner wears pants and shirts, a businessman is more into tuxedos and a socialite wear cocktail dresses. Wealthier people wore more gold, diamond stud jewelries like necklace, earring, ring and others and branded items. They flaunt their expensive accessories like hand bags, foot wear. These things show the same trend that were prevailing during middle age and are not just mere coincidence, they are done deliberately.

It is a fact that our sense of fashion is mirror of bygone era. If people of today’s modern world so strongly attached to dresses of their status then you could also imagine how seriously the people of those conservative times took their clothes.

Renaissance Festivals is a medieval and renaissance clothing online store where you could be able to find the renaissance dresses like medieval shirts, pirate shirts and other costumes in wide array of collection.