If you’re planning a visit to a renaissance faire, medieval festival, LARP event, or other fantasy function, you may be asking yourself the same question as many people…what do I wear?
If you’re an imaginative first-timer, or a seasoned festival-goer, creating your own handmade costume can be one of the most rewarding parts of the experience - and it doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Really!
In this guide, we'll show you how to design a DIY fantasy costume using Twig + Tale sewing patterns, with tips to save time, money, and creative energy along the way (+ some inspiration from our own projects, and community makes!)
What to Wear to a Renaissance Faire and Other Fantasy Events: The Basics
The answer to this is simple - for most events, wear whatever you want! Outside of specialized, historical reenactment events or festivals that cater to a really specific time period, there are very few rules around costume, and those that exist are mostly related to safety. Consider this your permission to let your imagination run wild! Most venues will welcome festival-goers in everything from historical garb to fantasy, storybook, and nature-inspired costumes, and so much more, but it’s worth looking up the guidelines for your own event before going too deep.
That said, many people creating specific costumes for fantasy festivals will opt to choose outfits with historical flair, paired with fantasy or storybook elements. Sometimes there will be themed weekends that can inspire your costume, but these are generally not hard-and-fast requirements. Whether you want to be a mischievous fairy, elegant elf, daring rogue, happy hobbit, or swashbuckling pirate, there's a place for everyone's favourite stories to come to life.
How to Choose Your Fantasy Character (and Why It Makes Everything Easier)
There are lots of different approaches you can take to creating your Ren Faire outfit - here are just a few creative strategies to get you started.
-
Consider choosing a "character" for yourself - whether it's taking inspiration from an existing story, choosing an era from history, or creating your own character from scratch, this can help make decisions easier. This can be just a general idea, such as my "Luna Moth Fairy" inspiration above - or you can even go on to create a name and backstory to fully immerse in your character! Once you have a character in mind, our beginner's guide to building a ren faire costume in three steps will walk you through exactly how to bring it to life.
-
Take a look at existing pieces you own, or fabric you already have tucked away, and see if there's anything that inspires an idea. This is one of our best budget tips for creating a ren faire costume.
-
Going with friends or family? See if they have ideas that could spark ideas for a group costume! (Even little ones can easily get in on the fun!)
-
If your event is centered around a theme, see if there's any way to build a costume you'll love around it, even if it's a really creative take. "Celestial Pirate" wasn't something I'd ever seen on a store shelf, but I love how it came together below using the Driftwood Dress, Sunny Hat, Epoch Tie-On Pocket, and the very first prototype of our upcoming Ivy Corset Belt!
Ready to Plan Your DIY Ren Faire Costume? Here's Where to Start
Once you've decided on a character you'd like to bring to life, next comes planning out the specifics of your fantasy outfit. There's a lot to consider, from practical details like fabric and fit, to the storytelling touches that really bring a character to life - so we've broken the full process into four dedicated guides. Dive into whichever is most useful to you right now, then come back for the rest!
When you've gotten your look all together, we'd love to see it, as we are always inspired by the creativity of our community! Come share them in our free T+T Treehouse community, or on our various social media channels.
The Complete T+T Fantasy Costume Guide
Ready to dive deeper? Explore the full T+T fantasy costuming series:
- Want to try some of the patterns you see here? Come check our our Renaissance Faire Sewing Collection for a curated look.
-
Build your look from scratch with our beginner's guide to making a ren faire costume in three steps
-
Find out what to wear to a renaissance faire with our practical tips on comfort, fit and adaptive costuming
-
Discover the best fabrics for renaissance faire and fantasy costumes, and where to find them
-
Make it work on any budget with our guide to budget-friendly DIY fantasy costume tips
This wee hobbit look was created using the Traveller Cape, Pathfinder Vest, Driftwood Blouse, and Tree Climbers - all ready for second breakfast!
Did you skim? Here’s an overview of some of the FAQs we’ve shared in this post!
Do I have to dress up for a renaissance faire?
Most renaissance faires and fantasy festivals warmly welcome attendees in everyday clothes, but dressing up is half the fun! There are no strict rules for most events, so feel free to go as elaborate or as simple as you like after reviewing any rules at your event.
What do people typically wear to a ren faire?
It can depend on the event, but you'll see everything from historically-inspired garments like chemises, tunics, and corsets, to fantasy characters like fairies, elves, hobbits, and pirates. The short answer, in most cases: whatever sparks your imagination!
Can I make my own renaissance faire costume without much sewing experience?
Absolutely! Our beginner's guide to building a fantasy costume breaks the whole process down into three simple steps, even if you're just starting out.
How much does a DIY ren faire costume cost?
With some creativity, as much or as little as you like! Secondhand shopping, upcycling, and working with what you already own can keep costs manageable, and provide an opportunity for some fun. See our budget-friendly costume guide for practical tips.
What Twig + Tale patterns work well for renaissance faire costumes?
Quite a few! Popular choices in our community include Breeze, Driftwood, Overland, Lorien, and the Wings Collection — but honestly, you might be surprised how many T+T patterns lend themselves to a fantasy look with a little creativity! We've curated some of our favourites in our Ren Faire Ready collection.
~Featuring photos by Erica Wright, Elise Mead, and Emmaline Fenner~
