Inspired by the show Vikings, some truly bad ass costumes I’ve seen at Texas Renaissance Festival and on Pinterest, and wanting to wear a costume in the freezing winds of the Orkney Islands, I began researching Viking costumes with a smidgen of historical accuracy. I made three viking dresses, embellished two sets of tunics, and assembled/made quite a few accessories for myself, my husband, my friends, and my mother to wear in Orkney and at Texas Renaissance Festival. Since I made so many items and took a ton of pictures, I’ve had to break it up into five separate blog posts. This post focuses on the jewelry, belts, shoes, shawls/wraps/capes, hats and arm bracers, and everything else that completed these costumes.
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Under dresses, apron dresses, and tunics are a great start…but there were so many additional items needed to be made, modified, and purchased to complete the look (and wear in cold climates). Us ladies, and our guys, had to really layer it on to look right and be comfortable. I broke up the accessories below into two categories: ladies and men (but of course they can be interchangeable by functional piece). I took liberties with an overall non-period specific look for all of us.
For the Ladies
Knowing we’d be freezing our butts off in Scotland in September, we layered our dresses over silk long underwear and yoga pants. I also wore a long sleeve shirt under my dress (and I think Katy did too). Looking fierce is fine and all, but we’re from Texas and not used to the cold. Katy and I also wore regular (modern) boots with thick wool socks. I know this isn’t anywhere close to historically accurate, but since we were wearing long dresses, we were completely okay with it. She and I both wore long length leather belts that we buckled and wrapped. My belt is a custom belt made by a friend in the Outlander/Highland Inspired Costume Facebook group that I’m in and includes “Sassenach” engraved in the leather. You probably can’t see the inscription in the pictures, but it’s there. If you’re wanting a custom belt rather than off the rack on Amazon, you can find the listing and the leather crafter here. Kristen is brilliant. My brooches are from Etsy and Amazon (LANGHONG Legendry Nordic Vikings Amulet Brooch).
I had almost as much fun with the jewelry than I had with the sewing. By viking standards, we’d be very rich, because we’re all wearing a lot of fun pieces! I strung up beads (including some beard beads found on Etsy) between the two viking brooches, as well as a chain of my aunt’s handmade chainmaille. My aunt also made the pearl and chainmaille necklace, bracelet, and ring that my mother and I are wearing in many of these pictures. My friend Jenni made a Llanite pendant for my leather cord necklace (bringing a little bit of Texas with me, if you’re familiar with Llanite). And I made earrings with beads I had purchased from the Stonehenge gift shop back in 2015. Yes, we went overboard, but we sure did have fun with it!
For the Men
Our guys layered long underwear under their clothing as well. They both wore store bought pants/trousers, and they covered their calves with wraps made from military wool blankets, and pinned in place with penannular brooches found on Etsy. If they were cold, they didn’t complain! My husband (yellow wrap) purchased his pants, belt bag, belt, and shoes from Medieval Collectibles. Chris is wearing a belt I found on Amazon that I intentionally scuffed up (Men’s Full Grain Leather Casual Jean Belt 1-1/2″ (38mm) Brass Buckle (Brown, 42)). For your reference, I have a 30″ waist and ordered a 42″ belt. Both of their brooches, and the ones my mother is wearing, are from Amazon (Medieval Viking Greiftier Brooch Pin).
With scrap fabric from my first Outlander costume, I made a couple hats inspired by Pinterest. I added yarn trim to the base and added a strip of faux fur to make it extra ridiculous. My husband wore his hat and I think Chris didn’t want to lose his in the wind, so he may wear it to Texas Renaissance Festival another time.
Perusing through Pinterest, I learned that a simple outer garment worn by the vikings was a long rectangular piece of fabric for warmth, with the opening on the side of their sword hand. So I pulled out more scrap pieces of wool crepe from another Outlander costume and stitched them together to make a wrap for my husband. I stitched yarn trim on the free seams rather sloppily (purposely) and really like that part of a Claire costume made it to Scotland.
I had enough time to make arm cuffs for the guys, so I used an arm cuff pattern in a viking bundle that I found on Amazon (BUTTERICK PATTERNS B5371 Wrist Bracers, Corset, Belt And Pouches). Had I more time, I would’ve made pouches for Katy and I.
The rest of our costumes pieces, including our dresses and tunics, are below. We wore these ensembles in Orkney during our British Isles cruise in September. Also included is my mother’s under dress and apron dress, worn at Texas Renaissance Festival last month.
Costuming Vikings: The Dresses
Next…Costuming Vikings: The Cape
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I love how you got your family involved – they clearly support your passion! So fun to see all of your handiwork and details.
Thanks Keri Ann! Mom was especially proud. 🙂
Loving this!
I don’t have an eye for historical accuracy but you guys look great! You obviously had a great time.
It’s so great when you can use pieces again.
Looking forward to reading more.
Thank you Tors! Viking “inspired” works for me. LOL