What constitutes "offensive" garb?

I hate the word "offensive" because it's not so much "offensive" as it's just not quite "appropriate" for Pennsic.

So on that note - I'd have to say: those sheer material belly dance hip scarves with all the jingly fake coins.

Things that I've seen at SCA events that I find offensive.
1. Civil War garb (very accurate if you are trying to reenact 1860's)
2. Stark Trek Federation uniform (please!)
3. Klingon uniform (get real!)
4. Purple velveteen bathrobe with glitter applique moon and stars, conical henin covered in same fabric and a wand (fully matured adult stating that he was Merlin.
5. 18th century "Captain Hook" style garb
6. American Revolutionary War garb (again accurate, but not our "period")
7. Kilts are in no way period to the SCA. I am a Scot mundanely of a noble line (with title) and If I were to dress in distinctively "Scottish" medieval garb, it would be with a saffron coloted shirt and cassock, boots and leggings. I am about as far from "period police" as you can get but on this one point...... it bothers me.
8. Tri-corned hats
9. Hooded sweatshirts are NOT medieval even though they have a hood.
10. We all love Tolkein and the Lord of the Rings movies. Those are fantasy items, please don't wear the licensed reproduction garb to events, it's embarassing.

Things that I personally don't care about that are anachronisms, but who cares?
1. Boots with heels and shoes that are made for left and right feet (heels didn't start showing up on footwear until after the reign of Henry VIII of England)
2. Any woman that wants to run around half naked will get no complaints from me. ;-)
3. Sewing machines, commercially woven fabrics, commercially dyed and processed leather, fake fur, synthetic materials (let's not get too crazy here)
4. bras (on women of course, unless of course you see yourself as Kramer or George)This comes into a comfort item for women and just none of anyones business.
5. Carrying many knives and blades (of course nobody did that in period, but as Scadians, we like our sharp pointy things)
6. Whatever you drink fluids out of at a summer event is quite alright with me. I'd rather have you hydrated and if you dont have a "period" tankard or container, go ahead and drink from the sports bottle or plastic jug.

Whatever you may find offensive or not, make a mental note of it for yourself. You are not being kind or helpful by confronting the "offender" with your insights. You're just being a pain in the ass. If you feel the need to vent about it, wait until you can get on the internet and do what we are doing here.

Sorry my good Lord Fulke, I don't think a "reasonable attempt" is THAT open to interpretation in the context of what we are doing.

People who come to us know we are trying to be medieval. We are not Worldcon, Dragoncon, Starwood or Burning Man, even though we have many members that cross all those borders.

We specify our time period for people to dress in. Heck, we even lend people clothes if they don't know any better (and really, how hard is it to look at period costumes in a book? Or even online?)

And I agree, the SS uniforms are truly offensive. That would be where I would be calling the autocrat in a huff.

Vampires, goths, and ravers, mostly. Jeffrey's list pretty much covers my own feelings on it.

I don't mind "joke" garb, within the context of the joke: Elmo bikinis, medieval "pimps", etc. I get the joke and probably think it's funny. Everyone knows it's not supposed to be authentic.

Someone shows up in rave wear, though, I'm going to think they are clueles and either don't know where they are or don't respect our scene.

Here in the Midrealm, that's generally handled on a group by group basis. Generally the group hosting a given event will have garb available for newcomers and then people can borrow garb to take to wars if they don't have enough of their own stuff. (My tentmate and I shared a couple chemises at Pennsic this year. She looked *way* better in them than I did.)

We certainly do have "Gold Key" and in fact I've donated a number of items that I made in my earlier years in the Sca when I was doing late 15th early 16th century period. One doublet that I made was borrowed by a newbee that was a bit larger than I am and it didn't fully lace up around him, but it was a really nice piece made from silk velvet and a beautiful brocade. At feast one of the "garb/period police" came up to him and told him: "You know, you've really outgrown that garb and now you just look fat and ridiculous. If you want to get some better fitting garb come over to my booth and I can make something up for you."
He was humiliated and stopped coming to events. The garb BTW won an A&S competition. It was very period, but it perhaps didn't fit too well. I mention this to point out the dangers of over zealotry from "officianatos". They can do much damage.

Pennsic is the major offender, its where alot of our restrictions seem to be lessed and those that don't lower their standard come off as being the nazis. The war should be our showiest event, not the lowest common denominator....

basically what I'm hearing so far is us womenfolk can wear what we want, as long we're showing some titty!

<<Re: What constitutes "offensive" garb?
I don't know guys, I will admit that goth gear and things of that vein have a place elsewhere (although I do very much appreciate the beautiful women sporting such "garb"). I'd like my persona to be an amazon...a group whose existance is questionable at best. That's why it's the society for *creative* anachronism. Unless anyone has any suggestions for where I should look for garb ideas, I'm going to make the best attempt I can at period clothing for my group of choice. Appropreate, maybe not. >>

The Atlantian A&S page has a wonderful database of reviewed links that you can search by region or time period for garb ideas, documentation starting points and construction help. You might want to look at the early Roman, Greek and Briton stuff. They are all comfortable in hot weather, easy to make and actually look good on lots of different body types.

moas.atlantia.sca.org/wsnlinks/index.php

This website has tips for finding fiber types- very useful for places like the swapmeet

www.fabrics.net/fabricsr.asp

"That's why it's the society for *creative* anachronism. "

Heya Ashley!

While I'm glad to hear you're willing to do some research into the area you like (Try and find the book "History's Great Untold Stories: Larger Than Life Characters & Dramatic Events That Changed The World" by Joseph Cummins for some good leads. But be prepared to NOT be dressed like Xena, Warrior Princess.), I do have to comment on the above phrase.

People have repeatedly used The Rule Of "C" to justify doing whatever they want in the SCA. The "Creative" part in the name of our group is not a sanction to play the SCA however one likes because one is artistic and creative. It is not artistic license.

It refers to the fact that we are playing within a time period and CREATING a society by actually acting the roles and making garb, as opposed to just reading it in a book. But we state that we are historically based, not fantasy based.

*giggle* I'm picturing little shoe covers, like spats, that say "my eyes are *way* up there"

Leah,

My first SCA event was Pennsic 32? or 33? Imagine a newbie getting inundated in everything all at once. A friend drug me there after shopping at an ethnic place in Baltimore and buying me an embroidered shirt that looked somewhat medeival. Other than that I had cutoff shorts and black lowtop tennies as I entered troll.

We went directly to the merchant area and bought me a pair of black pants that tied at the waist. I was all worried about footwear but everyone else (well at least a large number) of people were wearing their mundanes because it had rained the entire week of landgrab and they "didn't want to ruin their leathers" as it was explained to me. There was ankle deep mud and straw everywhere...

I need to wear my glasses to see. Someone else needs sunglasses. You need special shoes. Some people need the motorized carts. And medical things. The Pennsic complex is FILLED with lots of non-period things (barns, tractors, buildings, busses, fences, cars, etc.). I find the medieval disappears for a moment when I encounter these things initially, but then I try to have a conscious mindset that focuses away from the mundane rather than dwells on it and pop back into being "at War" again. I suppose some people have trouble looking past those things and transitioning in and out of our make believe world...

I am guessing that you pass the 10 foot rule and that your overall contribution (even with the mudane shoes) is a net positive, at least for the vast majority of us. So do what you have to do mundanely and then do what you want to do garb wise and it'll be fine.

Peace,
Pewter

Leah, I agree 100% regarding your post about foot wear. I've had four surgeries apiece on my feet, and will never be able to wear period shoes. I have recieved serious flak at times over this. The individuals who are tactful, and merely trying to give the "newbie' a "heads up" don't bother me...and I do appreciate helpful suggestions on my garb-which is definately in a state of on-going evolution. However, the strident individuals I tend to treat to the sight of my surgically reconstructed footsies...heh,heh,heh....the abject apologies I tend to receive at that part warm my evil heart. <G>

"Oh, and ill-fitting loincloths have caused some offense...some things are things one just really doesn't want to look up and see."

Rules of thumb:
If everyone seems to be looking the other way every time you wear a loincloth--it's ill-fitting.
If you can't get a loincloth that fits properly--you shouldn't be wearing one.

Hee hee...one year I saw a woman walking around on the battlefield on the morning of landgrab, standing there topless, as we all drove past, leaving for our campsites. I wondered if her parents hadn't given her enough attention as a child, or what?! lol

Folks' garb usually doesn't offend me much...I usually remind myself that the developing of one's persona and garb is a journey, and that my first attempts at garb were sad at best. I can ignore most of it (although the goth kids are pretty annoying!).

I guess what I found more offensive this year would fall under a different topic: rude and/or coarse language in mixed company. I brought my 7-yr-old during the first bit of War, and there were at least a half-dozen occasions when I found myself inwardly cringing at the extremely colorful language we overhead from strangers while in the marketplace, both day and night.

I'm no prude, but it seems that common courtesy in this regard is often ignored. One lady started talking to someone we were walking with near the barn, and every other word was f*** this and f*** that, and how many guys she would attempt to f*** this War, etc. I just walked away, but it irked me a little. Am I unrealistic to think that Pennsic could be more family-friendly? At least in public areas...I don't care what goes on at the parties or in private areas.

"I thought of another "offensive" garb -- Well, it's not necessarily the garb that's offensive. It's more the lack of garb that could be offensive or at least embarassing. Would someone explain to me why most men feel that it's perfectly justified to jauntily stroll or strut to and from the shower trucks wearing nothing but a T-tunic or a towel with no undergarments?"

I suppose I am busted...

At Pennsic, the solar showers are basically in my camp. So I wrap a towel around my waist and grab my soap and shampoo and walk to the shower from my tent. Depending on my mood, I either blush or shake my booty (still covered by the towel) at the ladies that make catcalls.

But I do it out of convenience, not because I am an exhibitionist. In fact, someone stole my towel one time as a joke while I was showering and left me a dish cloth with a couple pieces of string tied to it. I was mortified at the thought of making that 30 yard dash in the buff with a dish cloth over my bits. But the showers have no place to sit to change in and out of clothing and a wet floor that soaks everything that touches it. So I use my nearby tent as my dressing room instead. The towel does reach 95 percent of the way around me so hopefully I am not scaring someone for life with the little bit of hip that might show...

We have women in nothing but light chemises pass by on the way to the shower and return with the chemise a bit wet and showing that they are naked beneath. I don't mind.... *wink* Is my towel really offending people? I just never thought of it I suppose...

We have an in camp shower and I walk to and from the shower in linen shorts. No point in wearing a shirt. In the morning I will throw on a tunic to run to the port-o but my tunics come almost down to my knee. I am sure women are happy that I am not endowed enough for that to be a problem.

I just do not see how it is offensive. People wear less at a swimming pool.

I have this one bodice that I CANNOT LACE. I don't know why...it's jinxed or something. I will always, without fail, completely bugger it up every time I try it.

My brother Kaz can lace me into that thing like he's the Flash or something. He tells me with a smirk he has lots of experience with the lacings on ladies clothing. I bet that's right. ;-DDD

Wow Ziggy -- hey I didn't realize Bret Michaels (lead singer of POISON) was at Pennsic this year. : ) Hee !!!

"i know the 80s were a long time ago, but your autographed Poison tour t-shirt doesn't count as garb. i don't care how old it is."

Nice attempt to unify the posts in the thread! (clap clap clap)

"i know the 80s were a long time ago, but your autographed Poison tour t-shirt doesn't count as garb. i don't care how old it is. "

Now wait a minute! If it's really pre-1600, it's all good. But if it's in that nebulus time between 1601 and 1650, then it is up for debate... *grin*

yea, I like blueberry pie, since we're off topic... I had a dream about Jefffrey last night, got that off my chest, gonna go now...