In Norway, summer is the big season for medieval and viking markets and festivals, one of them being Borre Viking Market, and obviously, that means having attire that fits the period.
Some markets or festivals are stricter than others if you chose to be a participant and part of the camps inside the actual market (as guest you can get away with pretty much anything, but expect some looks of resentment if you show up in your best neon spandex suit), and as I plan on being able to participate as part of a camp during at least one market next year, I'm slowly building the skills and knowledge to make myself an historical wardrobe pre-dating the 18th century.
My first venture into Viking clothing is the signature «apron
dress». This is a dress with straps, usually made out of
wool and worn over a shift (usually made out of linen). Last year, I bought two meters of gorgeous rusty red wool, for this specific
purpose. However, being me, I didn’t really get started on it before, well,
pretty much the night before the market, so I cheated a little and used the
machine for the long seams on either side and in the back. But everything else
was sewn by hand!
Unfortunately, I only had synthetic thread, so I chose one in a colour very close to the rusty red so that it would not be a chronological eye-sore. Last year I acquired a set of turtle brooches to attach the straps with, and I also made the decorative pearl and bone string that hangs between them. I used my medieval inspired green linen dress as a shift underneath it. For the occasion I also dug out my old bronze Snorre necklace that was given to me in my early teens, which is based on historical finds, the “Mjølnir” pendant I bought at Tønsberg Medieval Festival last year and some bronze bling from various festivals for my fingers and ears. So here's the outfit I wore for this year's Borre Viking Market (and, yes, the belts are very historically inaccurate, but as a guest and not a participant, I didn't really care that much; I'll go for complete accuracy when I'm a participant):
Unfortunately, I only had synthetic thread, so I chose one in a colour very close to the rusty red so that it would not be a chronological eye-sore. Last year I acquired a set of turtle brooches to attach the straps with, and I also made the decorative pearl and bone string that hangs between them. I used my medieval inspired green linen dress as a shift underneath it. For the occasion I also dug out my old bronze Snorre necklace that was given to me in my early teens, which is based on historical finds, the “Mjølnir” pendant I bought at Tønsberg Medieval Festival last year and some bronze bling from various festivals for my fingers and ears. So here's the outfit I wore for this year's Borre Viking Market (and, yes, the belts are very historically inaccurate, but as a guest and not a participant, I didn't really care that much; I'll go for complete accuracy when I'm a participant):
Whilst at the market, I didn't really take that many pictures, but I managed to get this of one of the ships harbored at the pier:
Here's the loot I got from the market! A really cute, green ceramic mug, rusty red linen thread, a little bundle of natural coloured linen thread, beeswax and a gorgeous woven trim:
After the market, I used my newly acquired linen thread to re-sew all the visible seams, getting rid of that awful synthetic thread. I also added the lovely woven trim I got to the bottom of the apron dress:
Har så lyst til å lage en sånn kjole en gang ^^ de er kjempe fine! Men må øve meg litt først på å sy, både for hånd og maskin, før jeg begynner på et sånt prosjekt ^^' kanskje jeg kommer til å plage deg litt med spm når jeg endelig får begynt på en slik kjole XD
ReplyDeleteHei Mette! Selekjoler er blant de enkleste plaggene å lage, så det er et veldig greit sted å begynne! Jeg er ingen guru på historisk søm, men det er bare å spørre i vei, så svarer jeg så god jeg kan. ^_^
DeleteOk, må skrive på norsk for engelsken svikter. Får du sjansen til å overnatte på markedsområdet, i vikingtelt, GJØR DET. Fikk tilfeldigvis plass inne på Borre fordi noen fra vikinglaget hadde kansellert, og det var magisk! Blir veldig spesiell stemning på markedsplassen etter stengetid; folk lager mat, koser seg og sosialiserer, skravler - og åpner mjøden seinere på kvelden :D
ReplyDeleteElsker kombinasjonen av grønt og rødt i drakten din, og det brikkebåndet er virkelig nydelig! Og beklager lang, usammenhengende kommentar D:
Ja, jeg vet det er kjempekos, men i år har det vært for mange faktorer som har bidratt til at det ble umulig for meg. Til neste år, derimot! ;)
DeleteTakk! Elsker grønnfargen på linkjolen min, så jeg tror nok jeg må kjøpe mer av det stoffet til serken jeg planlegger å få ferdig til neste år, og den røde ulla falt jeg jo pladask for, hihi! :)
Jeg setter pris på alle kommentarer, så ikke noe problem. :D
The outfit looks amazing! I definitely can't tell that there is anything not correct about it! Only a real Viking would know, and they probably wouldn't know what synthetic thread or sewing machines are!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Well, reenactors are generally very knowledgeable and some of them would spot synthetic thread from miles away, but I think that's a good thing! It means that history is still alive and that we have living resources to learn from. :)
DeleteThat said, I'm all for tweaking history a little to suit my own style, as long as it still fits in. ;)