A discussion was recently had on one of the SCA costuming groups. Someone posted a rather striking photo of garb and was trying to find the source of it. They had found the photo elsewhere, asked the poster as to the source, and were given an SCA website. The person who added the photo to the list was sure it was SCA made.
I was not so sure it was made by an SCA member. For one, I had seen either that exact image, or the garb in it, before. The other reason though, is that I do not thing I have ever seen anyone in the SCA produce earlier period garments with THAT level of quality and detail.
Yes, we have amazing artisans and costumers. And I have actually seen THAT professional level of detail and quality in very late period attire produced by members of the SCA. What you can't see in this small image is that those borders on the bottom of the tunics are embroidered. Perfectly embroidered.
If you want to see the costumes closer you can do so here: http://ranaan.altervista.org/html/SCA-Gallery.htm (And no, I cannot explain the final image on that page. LOL)
As it turns out, the costumes were commissioned by a town in Italy for part of a pageant or faire that they have each year. Some of the costumes they use are painted, and some are painstakingly embroidered and embellished by hand. They are all striking.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lefotodifra/4661291435/
http://www.altomilaneseinrete.it/notizie/2009/05/palio_1.htm
http://www.matteoquaglia.it/palio_legnano_2009
And the actual organization: http://www.contradasanterasmo.com/
This whole thing, however, reminded me of a recent conversation about garb, and what garb was "good enough" for 12th Night. A friend with lots of lovely Viking garb, as well as a few nice Italian Renn (not 100% accurate, but they are lovely and well-made and clearly far surpass the required "attempt" at garb), and was torn because she felt her costumes were not appropriate for 12th Night.
After reminding her that some people will be there who are just starting out, or who just prefer T-tunics, or who simply don't have "court garb" yet, we got side tracked talking about how it was back-in-the-day. I clearly recall being told in my early years in the SCA that you made late period European garb as Court garb - garb that you wear to attend Court or things like 12th Night. Tudor, Elizabethan, Italian Renn... all of those were considered appropriate items for ones Court Garb wardrobe.
Things have changed a great deal since then. While people still ooh and ahh over the decked-out embroidery-and-pearls look that many late-period European individuals still go for, it is now common place to have upper class Vikings at Court. Or someone in the well-to-do attire of a non-European persona.
I love the diversity. And I love much of the top-of-the-line non-traditional SCA garb I have come across.
But, I have yet to see something produced for an earlier period that matches the quality of the items above. Those costumes look elegant, rich, and yet, still real. Many attempts I have seen, while beautiful, still read as "costume" to me (and there is nothing at all wrong with that). I do not have the time to attempt such a feat myself, but I look forward to the day I see someone cross that line and go from fine work to fabulous. (Note, I have seen exceptional simple-but-elegant early period garb, but nothing embellished at the level of the items in the photo above.)
And please, if you have seen that somewhere in the Known World, send me photos so I ooh and ahh over their fabulousness!
I was not so sure it was made by an SCA member. For one, I had seen either that exact image, or the garb in it, before. The other reason though, is that I do not thing I have ever seen anyone in the SCA produce earlier period garments with THAT level of quality and detail.
Yes, we have amazing artisans and costumers. And I have actually seen THAT professional level of detail and quality in very late period attire produced by members of the SCA. What you can't see in this small image is that those borders on the bottom of the tunics are embroidered. Perfectly embroidered.
If you want to see the costumes closer you can do so here: http://ranaan.altervista.org/html/SCA-Gallery.htm (And no, I cannot explain the final image on that page. LOL)
As it turns out, the costumes were commissioned by a town in Italy for part of a pageant or faire that they have each year. Some of the costumes they use are painted, and some are painstakingly embroidered and embellished by hand. They are all striking.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lefotodifra/4661291435/
http://www.altomilaneseinrete.it/notizie/2009/05/palio_1.htm
http://www.matteoquaglia.it/palio_legnano_2009
And the actual organization: http://www.contradasanterasmo.com/
This whole thing, however, reminded me of a recent conversation about garb, and what garb was "good enough" for 12th Night. A friend with lots of lovely Viking garb, as well as a few nice Italian Renn (not 100% accurate, but they are lovely and well-made and clearly far surpass the required "attempt" at garb), and was torn because she felt her costumes were not appropriate for 12th Night.
After reminding her that some people will be there who are just starting out, or who just prefer T-tunics, or who simply don't have "court garb" yet, we got side tracked talking about how it was back-in-the-day. I clearly recall being told in my early years in the SCA that you made late period European garb as Court garb - garb that you wear to attend Court or things like 12th Night. Tudor, Elizabethan, Italian Renn... all of those were considered appropriate items for ones Court Garb wardrobe.
Things have changed a great deal since then. While people still ooh and ahh over the decked-out embroidery-and-pearls look that many late-period European individuals still go for, it is now common place to have upper class Vikings at Court. Or someone in the well-to-do attire of a non-European persona.
I love the diversity. And I love much of the top-of-the-line non-traditional SCA garb I have come across.
But, I have yet to see something produced for an earlier period that matches the quality of the items above. Those costumes look elegant, rich, and yet, still real. Many attempts I have seen, while beautiful, still read as "costume" to me (and there is nothing at all wrong with that). I do not have the time to attempt such a feat myself, but I look forward to the day I see someone cross that line and go from fine work to fabulous. (Note, I have seen exceptional simple-but-elegant early period garb, but nothing embellished at the level of the items in the photo above.)
And please, if you have seen that somewhere in the Known World, send me photos so I ooh and ahh over their fabulousness!
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