In addition to Hawaiian culture, I also enjoy learning about cultures around the world. When we were children, my mother introduced my brothers and me to The Society for Creative Anachronism. It nurtured my love of costuming and old cultures.
I re-joined a few years ago and am active on-and-off. I no longer have to time to tan leather from animals I raised myself, and to hand-sew period boots. But I still enjoy dressing up. None of these are “authentic,” but they will help you step out of the mundane world while you learn to make accurate replicas!
But first, my Etsy shop, Brazen Wench. . .
And now, links to some of my favorite products:
Yes, that is my real hair. And those are my own front stairs. The castle is somewhere in Ireland, and photoshopped in, since we have no old castles in Hawaiʻi!
Shoes
I like shoes that are comfy and inexpensive enough that I won’t cry if they are destroyed by a muddy field or hot asphalt. At these prices, you’ll want to keep a tube of Shoe Goo in your kit so you can make repairs, and sometimes the soles will separate due to either moisture or heat. but once you Shoe Goo them back together, they’ll usually go for a few years.
White shoes would not be my first pick, and these are a bit pricier than what I would normally go for, but these can be painted, tooled, or dyed for a specific look.
Basic black is less expensive.
Fillets
I find nightgowns to be a good source of shifts to wear under my other garments. I generally choose white, as I can bleach it when it gets stained. Walking about muddy fields is unkind to long dresses!