/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

>>8964808
It obvously doesn't matter so much for LARP and authenticity in the SCA is what you make it; but if you are serious about portraying an A/S then I'd steer clear of this tunic. It's just not historically accurate at all.

The biggest problem are the sleeves. They are far too loose and billowy. In the A/S period sleeves were almost universally close-fitting and tight to arm, going slightly longer than the hand and the material pushed back to create the rippling effect on the lower arm seen in the artwork.

The shape of the kneck is a later fashion, becoming popular in the 11thC possibly as a result of Norman influence. If that's your deal it's fine, but anything earlier and it's a bit anachronistic.

It's made from cotton, which obviously was not the case historically.The usual set-up was to have the tunic made from wool and wear a undertunic/shirt of linen beneath it. The shirt would usually either be undyed or bleached white depending on your status.

It also just doesn't seem to hang right, although that may be because the belt (which is also wonky as others have said) is loose instead of being used to ruck the tunic upto the knee.

If you just want a vaguely historically inspired costume then you could do a lot worse, but if you really want to be an authentic Saxon it just is not right.

A really good book is "Dress in Anglo-Saxon England" by G.R. Owen-Crocker which covers the 5th-11thC.

As for belts, Winchester style fittings are the iconic English fashion. This style runs from the start of the 10thC- early 12thC. The buckle would normally be a simple D made from either copper or iron if you can get it.

http://www.marchand-medieval.com/medieval/lang-en/ssaxon-strap-end-belt/811-saxon-belt-strap-end.html

Check out the Regia Anglorum website. The hallowed Authenticity Regs are gold-dust. Regia knows it's shit.
They've just added a photo gallery to showcase kit and costume through the ages they cover.

http://regia.org/members/aophotos0.php