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What to Wear to the Renaissance Faire

Half the fun of going to the Renaissance Faire is dressing up! Now is your opportunity to unleash all your cloaks, corsets, and capes on the unsuspecting populace. If you’ve never gone before and you’re not sure what to wear to the Renaissance Faire, we get it! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Medieval Goth Outfit

Medieval goth outfits incorporate things like leather wrist guards, corsets and doublets, velvet capes, lace-up shirts, leather harnesses, leggings, brocade bodices, and long skirts. If you have some Victorian gothic or steampunk clothing, you can probably mix and match from pieces in your wardrobe to create a look that says “huzzah!” with a little bit of modification.

The real challenge with medieval gothic outfits is staying cool while wearing all those layers (especially if you’re wearing black clothes). Go for fabrics like cotton or linen, which are breathable and period accurate.

Steampunk Outfit

Person wearing a black hat and steampunk goggles against a brick wall.

A steampunk look combines Victorian fashion and the aesthetics of analog steam-powered technology, incorporating decorative gears, clockwork, and brass tubes, for example, often with goggles and top hats. It’s inspired by literary works that explore science fiction concepts in a Victorian setting, such as the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen comics by Alan Moore and The Difference Engine by William Gibson.

This eccentric look would work so well for the Time Travelers Weekend on October 5th and 6th, evoking The Time Machine by H.G. Wells and the early science fiction of Jules Verne. If you’re a fan of steampunk media, this is your chance to go all out with an outfit that looks to the past with a steam-powered vision of the future.

Celtic Attire

Man wearing a white shirt and dark pants against a plain background

If you have a kilt, it’s your time to shine. Break out the tartan and prepare to kick up your heels and show off those calves. It's the perfect look for men wondering what to wear to the Renaissance Faire.

For women, a long plaid skirt with a linen blouse and corset or bodice would fit the theme. Try wearing some intricate Celtic knot jewelry, or buy some at the Faire as a keepsake.

Fairycore Aesthetic

Woman in a floral dress with a butterfly, surrounded by purple fabric and sparkles.

The fairycore or more casual fairy grunge look is comfy yet ethereal–perfect for a day traipsing through the fairgrounds. This look is characterized by soft pastels, layered skirts, wispy blouses with bell sleeves, and lots of glitter. If you want to feel like a princess of the fae, grab some wings and pointed elf ears, and get creative with a cute outfit.

For a more relaxed take on fairytale fashion, try the fairy grunge aesthetic. For this look, stick to earth tones and loose clothing. Fairy grunge clothes often incorporate lots of eclectic textures and patterns, sometimes in patchwork, with frayed or tattered edges and ripped tights.

Some accessories you can incorporate into a fairy-inspired look would be crystals, butterfly or dragonfly necklaces, and flower crowns.

Dark Fairycore Outfit

Woman in a forest wearing a black ornate headpiece and holding greenery.

For a gothic look with a touch of the fae, try a dark fairycore outfit. If a fairycore outfit is Tinkerbell, this look is pure Maleficent. A black dress with wisps and tatters of fabric would be ideal, paired with some black boots and dark makeup–and even a pair of black wings. Think about incorporating nature imagery in a strange or moody way in your accessories, such as roses with thorns, moths, and moons.

Pirate Costume

Person in a dark, ornate costume with a large hat featuring feathers, standing outdoors.

If you’re feeling naughty yet nautical, grab a feathered tricorn hat and a frilly shirt (and some rum, naturally).

Apart from the ostentatious headgear, a typical pirate look consists of an open-necked linen shirt, pantaloons or striped trousers, and an eyepatch if you’re feeling extra frisky. From there you can get as ornate as you desire, with a lace cravat, embellished frock coat, and leather boots–parrot optional.

Dark Magician Costume

Person in fantasy costume standing by a lake

To practice the dark arts, you’ve come to the right place. Grab a tattered black robe and join all the other witches, sorcerers, wizards, and dark mages. This is the perfect opportunity to break out your finest black buckled boots and wooden staff, and traipse through the fairground casting spells and incantations. Other dark magical outfits can be made with: corsets, leather gauntlets or wrist guards, mysterious crystals, long witchy nails, and black lace blouses–and don’t forget the eyeliner.

Era-specific Medieval Costume

Woman in a pink dress with green shawl standing in a forest

If you’re a stickler for historical detail, now is your chance to let your research pay off. Dress as a knight or peasant, lord or lady, monk or plague doctor, and blend in with the festivities. For an extra authentic touch, create your costume with period-accurate fabrics like light wool and linen in colors that would have been made with available plant-based dyes. (You don’t actually have to weave and dye your own fabric–but it couldn’t hurt!)

There are so many interesting fashions to explore in the medieval and Renaissance period that you’re sure to find an outfit that speaks to you. You might enjoy the elaborate slashed sleeves and leather doublet look of the High Renaissance, or adopt a more loose and homespun medieval peasant aesthetic. From princess to politician to fish monger, let history be your guide as you create the perfect Renaissance Faire costume.

Costumes are also available to rent or buy at the Renaissance Faire–but chances are it’s a lot more inexpensive (and fun!) to create your own.

Casual Wear

Person wearing a patterned black and white top and cap, sitting against a brick wall.

Of course, you don’t necessarily have to dress up in medieval finery to attend the Renaissance Faire. Most attendees wear comfy, casual clothes like they would to any amusement park or outdoor festival. If you normally wear goth clothes, there’s no reason not to break out one of your favorite summertime goth outfits–just be aware the fairground can get pretty dusty, so avoid wearing your best black clothes.

If you want to get into the spirit of the Renaissance Faire without dressing up head to toe, you can incorporate something like a flower crown or leather wrist gauntlets into your everyday outfit. Accessories like this are available to buy from craft vendors at the Faire if you feel like getting a little festive on the spur of the moment.

Woman in a black lace dress with a red corset standing in a forest.

These renaissance fair outfit ideas should help you put together an ensemble that is just as spellbinding as you are. Now, unleash your imagination and get ready for a Faire to remember!