Princess Juliet
Tudor costumes and medieval clothing are popular year round but Halloween is one of the most favorite holidays for wearing this style. On this day you can take any character, creature or idea and live it out for one day. It should be no surprise that popular culture often determines the type of costumes that are available and most wanted during the Halloween season. One such popular cable tv series, The Tudors, has indeed inspired many to dress the part of a royal figure or someone who lived during the Tudor dynasty. Of course Princess costumes have always been popular for little girls, and not just Disney Princesses, but fairy tale medieval princesses as well.
Renaissance Clothing
Anne Boleyn Costume
Historically speaking, Henry VIII lived a very fascinating life. A life filled with love, betrayal and power. It’s the stuff that makes for good TV. There are many things that Henry VIII was known for such as removing the papal authority from the Church of England, but what many historians and history buffs find fascinating is his marriage to six women during his lifetime. In fact it was a woman that led Henry VIII to remove the power of the Roman Catholic Church. He was already married to another woman, Catherine of Aragon, and desired the witty, independent Anne Boleyn to be his new wife. Anne Boleyn seems to be a popular choice for the ladies and if you choose to you can buy pre-made Halloween costumes for her look.
Of course since it’s Hollywood and made for TV audiences, not everything in the show is historically accurate; but it is still very enjoyable according to millions of viewers. The show has received many rewards for its cast and storyline, as well as the costumes. In 2008 The Tudors received an Emmy for Best Costume Design.
Sir Gallant Knight!
If this is a look that you want to achieve for the upcoming Halloween season, keep one word in mind – elaborate. The royals and other important figures did not skimp when it came to fashion. The more ornate and elaborate a person’s clothes were, the more wealth and status he or she was believed to have. I guess it would be accurate to say the style was flashy. Beautiful, but flashy nonetheless.
Dark Knight Costume
The extremely wealthy wore clothes made from cloth of gold and silver. The use of furs, silks, wool, taffeta and satin was commonplace. Embroidery was also heavily used and often times used on clothes to show family loyalty. Some embroidery on clothes would sometimes contain a verse or tale a story. Jewelry was also used in excess, particularly pendants – even more so if the pendant was a gift from the King. Rubies, emeralds, pearls, diamonds – just about every precious stone and metal was highly accepted and expected by the higher classes of society.
Medieval Clothing
The men and women dressed in several layers of clothing. Obviously though the women used more layers than the men, but the men’s fashion was just as sharp and extravagant as the ladies. For men Tudor costumes a shirt, doublet (jacket), knee length pants tied with ribbons or snapped with buttons and a cloak will have one wearing a costume fit for a King.
Swashbuckling Pirate
Some other fun and interesting options are to dress as the Pirates of those times, or even the peasant folk. The Court Jester was a popular figure at Court and allows you to truly play the fool at Halloween, or at your favorite Renaissance Fair.
Warrior King
And not to forget the children there are tons of adorable costumes such as a little princess costumes, child’s queen costume and a valiant knight not to mention the infamous Robin Hood!
The entire family can be authentically outfitted in Tudor costumes of the Renaissance time period this year, which would make for some fabulous photos for the memory books!
