Okay, I want to LARP. What do I wear?

You may have seen shorts of Renaissance Faire attendees in their attire, whether they’re in meticulous period-accurate garb or fanciful costumes with layers of silk and lace adorned with hundreds of trinkets. They’re bold. They’re flashy. They’re expensive. 

You may have some preconceived notions that LARP is just as extravagant or inaccessible. Over the last year, I’ve heard from numerous people that their biggest anxiety when getting into LARP is the garb, but I am here to assure you that the barrier is much, much, much lower than you may think.

Basics

You need two types of outfits when LARPing with most groups: your player character (PC) garb and your NPC garb. 

Good NPC garb doesn't need to be fancy. Think comfort and blank slate!

NPC Garb

The NPC garb is easy. Players serve an NPC shift at game to make sure there are people to bargain with, outwit, and fight, so you might be called upon to play a plant assassin, a shambling skeleton, or a haughty diplomat. That means keeping things simple—all black, no accouterments. The game runners will provide the accessories you need, so your job is just to be a blank canvas. 

Medical scrubs are a great choice. They’re breathable, comfortable, and cost efficient, all of which make scrubs S-tier NPC garb. The downside is that they do not provide much protection from the underbrush in the woods. If wear and tear is a concern, sweatpants are also a viable option. The trade-off is that thicker materials, usually fleece,  will be warmer. 

For the top, get the reverse Delilah: a plain black tee. YNo need to be fancy. Same with shoes. Dark-colored sneakers with good support are fine, but remember that safe, comfortable footwear (whether for NPCs or PCs) is always a solid investment. 

PC Garb

PC garb is as unique as each character but the foundational basics remain the same.

Your character has a personality, a history, and a species. All of those aspects should be represented through your clothing, accessories, and makeup. However, there’s nothing wrong with starting simple and building on top of a foundation. Like with NPC garb, a good pair of plain khakis can serve in a pinch. As a bonus, the color is similar to deer hide, so it’s easy to ignore the business casual pants beneath a tunic or another loosely period-inspired top. If you’d like something more breezy or in character, harem pants are available in a variety of colors and patterns. Just be sure you’ve measured yourself and checked the reviews on the seller.

Tunics can be a little harder to find, but there’s an array of vendors to choose from once you know where to look:

• Verillas offers good quality clothing for a decent price—we’ve had a rare issue here or there, but it’s a great start.

• Epic Armoury offers some great items, many of which can be ordered through Gamer’s XP for a discount with your Bloodroot Requiem ticket 

• Amazon is cheap, and the quality reflects that. If you find something here, expect to replace it sooner than you’d think.

• HolyClothing offers high-quality garb in a wide variety of colors. Most importantly, they all have pockets! Sadly, the price is higher and it takes several weeks at least to ship. 

You can wear sneakers (the plainer the better) , but, if you’re like me, you’ll get envious looking at everyone else’s boots. I got myself a pair of wide-calf Lane Bryant boots, added supportive insoles, and haven’t looked at my sneakers since. You don’t have to purchase $500 boots from Sons of Sandlar to fit in the theme and be comfortable. 

The most underrated item on your costume will be your belt. You can get a leather belt just about anywhere, but it will be your best friend when you want to add accessories and flavor. Leather belts can be found just about everywhere for all price points. I got mine from a leather crafter at the Avalon Festival for $25, an insane and uncommon price for the quality.

Lastly, socks. Oh, you think you packed enough? You didn’t. Pack more. You don’t know suffering until you’ve stepped in a puddle without any dry socks to change into.

Upgrading

Alright, you have an outfit. It's basic but it works. You can LARP now! But everyone else has such flair to their kits. Pieces that fit their characters perfectly. How can you reach that level? The answer, dear baby larpers, is layers and accessories.

Upgrades, people. Upgrades.

A red scarf. A fur mantle. A fancy coat. A wicker hat decked out in flowers. The best way to upgrade your kit is to do so slowly with one costume piece at a time. Each piece goes over the basic kit, transforming the entire look into a complete character. 

Accessories are similar. Take your time to find pieces that fit the character. Doing so makes each piece more meaningful and reduces the burden of the cost. The divination witch may find a leather holder for her tea set (the belt coming in handy again!). The healer finds a case to carry his bandages and tonics. The pirate finds a skull ring to adorn her fingers. Each of these pieces makes a more 3-dimensional character. 

Where can unique items be found? LARPers are fond of thrifting, consignment, and antique shops. Etsy and renaissance festivals are also sources for hand-crafted goods you usually won’t find elsewhere, though look out for mass-produced goods being sold amongst the genuine deal. Personally, my favorite way of getting character pieces is by making them myself. After a year and a half of LARP, I’ve dipped into my toes into leather working, dyeing, wire wrapping, and sewing. A world of options opens up when you can make your own garb.

Above & Beyond

At this point, we have a character, basic garb, and accessories. What more can anyone do to express themselves? This is where players begin decorating their cabins or their workspace in the tavern. The possibilities are endless. For ideas, talk to other players, check out event pictures, or come to the game and look around. The creativity will begin to flow. 

Start Simple—but Start!

Dressing for LARP doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating. When looking at a Dragonkin warrior in his heavy armor and elaborate horns, it may seem like that level of costuming is impossible to attain. Yet, I assure you, as someone who was just as scared to jump in over a year ago, that’s not what you need to get into LARP! ! Start with the basics then work your way up.

Special Thanks to Elliott, David, and Frank for your input, guidance, and all the crazy ideas. I can't wait to see where we are at in a year <3