Renaissance Fair: Persuading Your Husband to Dress Up in Period Costume

Unless your husband also shares your interest in the Renaissance period, you may find that it is a bit of a struggle trying to convince him to dress in period costume as you make plans to attend your next Renaissance fair.

Let Him Pick His Own Costume

Some wives mistakenly believe that if they pick a man's Renaissance costume for their husbands that they are really doing them a favour. But this takes away their freedom of choice and can make it even harder for a man to accept a costume that he finds too over the top to wear. If you pick out a jewel encrusted costume that Henry VIII wore in his heyday, that does not mean to say that your husband will like it and want to be seen wearing it. Just consider the fact that if you have to remind your husband to wear his wedding ring, you can hardly expect him to agree to wear a costume that is covered in jewels.

Instead, as you search online or in shops for the perfect costumes, let him pick out a costume that he feels more comfortable with. If he prefers the idea of wearing simple peasant garb rather than an elaborate court costume that Sir Walter Raleigh or Sir Francis Drake would have worn, do not berate him about his choice of costume.

Hose, Not Tights!

Many men dislike the idea of baring their legs and wearing what looks a lot like tights. But rather than add to your husband's concerns, try to reason with him about how men of the Renaissance period wore hose as part of their attire. It would not look right to have the rest of the outfit sorted out but then have your husband wearing jeans and trainers underneath his tunic and shirt. Reassure him that other men who will be dressed up at the Renaissance fair will also be wearing hose with their costume. If this does not allay your husband's fears, look for knee high, flat bottomed boots that were common during parts of the Renaissance period. This can help to ease your husband's embarrassment of wearing "tights" as his legs will be mostly concealed from view by the boots.