Ring belts are popular at ren fairs and for newer members but may not be supported with much historical evidence. Many surviving buckles with tongues can be found from different time periods. A number of vendors cater to reenactors with different reproductions available online.
This is a modern buckle taken from a worn out belt and attached to a strip of leather to form a belt. This easily made belt works very well for people new to the SCA.
There are a number of resources that we have seen that state that many of the belts used in period were more narrow (less than 1 inch in width) so this belt is less representative.
A tunic and an outer layer coat associated with Norse cultures. The front panels cross over each Simplified version of pants worn in many cultures and times periods from antiquity to the end of the SCA period
Description:
Wool coat lined with linen decorated with a tablet woven band. The coat is shown over a
One of the many variations of the pants seen in imagery from antiquity through to the end of the SCA period. There are many works of art that do represent people in a variety of pants. The garments can be documented and construction can be inferred in a variety of forms. Many examples of surviving extant fragments were of wool.
Variations in pants include how baggy the garments are, how long they are, how wide the waistline is and how the waist is cinched closed.
This example is for a basic SCA ‘pajama pant’ constructed from a medium cotton material with a drawstring closure for the waist. The pants are made in 2 parts with the seams sewn up the inside of either leg and then the legs are sewn together with one crotch seam. The top of the pants are folded over to form the channel for the drawstring. This version may be slightly tighter than how some people construct them.
Patterns are easily generated by laying an example of a normal pajama pants that fit the person on a folded pieces of paper.
Attempt to replicate one of the simple versions of commonly seen undergarments.
Description:
One of the many variations of the underwear seen in imagery from antiquity through to the end of the SCA period. A common and personal garment like underwear is less likely to survive or be well represented in documentation. There are many works of art that do represent people in undergarments and so the use of the garments can be documented and construction can be inferred. Undergarments would nearly be universally constructed from linen.
Of the different styles of braies they vary in length, in how they are held up or how much fabric is used in their construction (ie, how baggy they are). Use of braies is often one of the latter stages of refinement for SCA participants as they are rarely seen. Wearing Braies can take some getting used to as they tend to have more fabric bunched up then we are modernly use to.
This is an attempt to replicate one of the very basic ‘boxer short’ style braies. It is made from 2 pieces for either side and sewn together with a single center seam. The waistline is folded over to allow for a drawstring.
The example is made out of linen and using a shoestring for the drawstring.
Many illustrations of people from all levels of society survive showing people wearing undergarments but this example gives us insight to the construction technique. The historical use of braies by women is assumed by us and use by members of the SCA is common.
Inspiration Images
Common Materials
Fabrics:
linen
Effective Substitutions
Fabrics:
linen blends
Linen
wool
cotton
cotton blends
Ensemble Components
Underwear such as braies are seen through many time periods and cultures and so can be associated with many different ensembles
Accessories
Source/Links
Instructions for constructing braies like this are covered in books like Medieval Tailor’s Assistant, a very good book worth buying
Attempt to replicate one of the simple versions of commonly seen undergarments.
Description:
.
One of the many variations of the underwear seen in imagery from antiquity through to the end of the SCA period. A common and personal garment like underwear is less likely to survive or be well represented in documentation. There are many works of art that do represent people in undergarments and so the use of the garments can be documented and construction can be inferred. Undergarments would nearly be universally constructed from linen.
Of the different styles of braies they vary in length, in how they are held up or how much fabric is used in their construction (ie, how baggy they are). Use of braies is often one of the later stages of refinement for SCA participants as they are rarely seen. Wearing Braies can take some getting used to as they tend to have more fabric bunched up then we are modernly use to.
This is an attempt to replicate one of the very basic ‘boxer short’ style braies. It is made from 2 pieces for either side and sewn together with a single center seam. The waistline is folded over to allow for a drawstring.
The example is made out of linen and using a shoestring for the drawstring.
Many illustrations of people from all levels of society survive showing people wearing undergarments but this example gives us insight to the construction technique. The historical use of braies by women is assumed by us and use by members of the SCA is common.
Inspiration Images
Common Materials
Fabrics:
linen
Effective Substitutions
Fabrics:
linen blends
Linen
wool
cotton
cotton blends
Ensemble Components
Underwear such as braies are seen through many time periods and cultures and so can be associated with many different ensembles
Accessories
Source/Links
Instructions for constructing braies like this are covered in books like Medieval Tailor’s Assistant, a very good book worth buying
Attempt to replicate one of the simple versions of commonly seen undergarments.
Description:
Many illustrations of people from all levels of society survive showing people wearing
One of the many variations of the underwear seen in imagery from antiquity through to the end of the SCA period. A common and personal garment like underwear is less likely to survive or be well represented in documentation. There are many works of art that do represent people in undergarments and so the use of the garments can be documented and construction can be inferred. Undergarments would nearly be universally constructed from linen.
Of the different styles of braies they vary in length, in how they are held up or how much fabric is used in their construction (ie, how baggy they are). Use of braies is often one of the later stages of refinement for SCA participants as they are rarely seen. Wearing Braies can take some getting used to as they tend to have more fabric bunched up then we are modernly use to.
This is an attempt to replicate one of the very basic ‘boxer short’ style braies. It is made from 3 pieces, either leg is sewn up the leg and sewn together with a central panel between either side. The waistline is folded over to allow for a drawstring.
The example is made out of linen and using a shoestring for the drawstring.
The historical use of braies by women is assumed by us and use by members of the SCA is common.
.
Inspiration Images
Common Materials
Fabrics:
linen
Effective Substitutions
Fabrics:
linen blends
Linen
wool
cotton
cotton blends
Ensemble Components
Underwear such as braies are seen through many time periods and cultures and so can be associated with many different ensembles
Accessories
Source/Links
Instructions for constructing braies like this are covered in books like Medieval Tailor’s Assistant, a very good book worth buying
Attempt to replicate one of the simple versions of commonly seen undergarments.
Description:
Many illustrations of people from all levels of society survive showing people wearing
One of the many variations of the underwear seen in imagery from antiquity through to the end of the SCA period. A common and personal garment like underwear is less likely to survive or be well represented in documentation. There are many works of art that do represent people in undergarments and so the use of the garments can be documented and construction can be inferred. Undergarments would nearly be universally constructed from linen.
Of the different styles of braies they vary in length, in how they are held up or how much fabric is used in their construction (ie, how baggy they are). Use of braies is often one of the later stages of refinement for SCA participants as they are rarely seen. Wearing Braies can take some getting used to as they tend to have more fabric bunched up then we are modernly use to.
This is an attempt to replicate one of the very basic ‘boxer short’ style braies. It is made from 5 pieces, either leg is sewn up the leg and sewn together with a central panel made from a front and back panel as well as bottom gusset. The waistline is folded over to allow for a drawstring.
The example is made out of linen and using a shoestring for the drawstring.
The historical use of braies by women is assumed by us and use by members of the SCA is common.
.
Inspiration Images
Common Materials
Fabrics:
linen
Effective Substitutions
Fabrics:
linen blends
Linen
wool
cotton
cotton blends
Ensemble Components
Underwear such as braies are seen through many time periods and cultures and so can be associated with many different ensembles
Accessories
Source/Links
Instructions for constructing braies like this are covered in books like Medieval Tailor’s Assistant, a very good book worth buying
Examples of split hose sewn from linen and tied to the breech garter at the waist.
Description:
This is an example of split hose made out of wool. They have enclosed feet and a hole at the side to tie to a belt or girdle. They may commonly be seen with a garter tied just below the knee to assist in keeping the hose from slipping. The garter may be a tied woven band or a band with a buckle.
There is evidence supporting the use of some form of split hose stretching to early medieval times with their height in high medieval times. By the 1300’s the split hose were beginning to be less fashionable and were replaced by joined hose, however split hose continued to be used until the end of period.
The longer forms of the split hose may be associated with male fashion and the short hose with women and children, but people likely wore what they preferred as well as what matched their needs.
The best hose is made out of light wool fabric that has some spring to the weave and cut on the bias (diagonally.) although very wasteful of the fabric, the bias cut means that the resulting hose are slightly more elastic and fit better.
Inspiration Images
Common Materials
Fabrics:
Wool
Effective Substitutions
Fabrics:
linen blends
Linen
wool
cotton
cotton blends
Wool blends
Ensemble Components
Hosen were worn by many different cultures and time periods and by many levels of society. Closely associated with the hosen are the Braies worn under the hosen and the girdle or belt used to hold them up as well as the garters to keep them from slipping worn just below the knee.
Accessories
Garters or woven material tied or a belt style garter. Girdle belt or belt worn at the waist and tied to the hosen to keep them up
Basic gathered apron made from one yard of linen fabric
Description:
This apron is made from three pieces with two long narrow strips sewn into the waistband and one large rectangle gathered along the waistband to form the main portion of the apron.
Aprons are easily constructed accessories that are also functional accessories to use with your SCA clothing. They can easily be made in a few minutes by machine or just a couple hours by hand. They add to the completeness of an ensemble by adding another layer to the look. They are also very functional in protecting the clothing beneath it.
Inspiration Images
Common Materials
Fabrics:
Linen
Effective Substitutions
Fabrics:
linen blends
Linen
cotton
cotton blends
Ensemble Components
Accessories
Source/Links
c 1300-c 1340, The Decretals of Gregory IX, edited by Raymund of Penyafort (or Peñafort); with the glossa ordinaria of Bernard of Parma in the margin.
SCA Iowa Garb Guide 