The Armour Archive

I have been thinking this over for a few weeks and I was wondering if I am a real nut case. We had an afternoon/dinner event and a lady showed up in a green cotton/tapestry tudor dress with copper rivits on each of the cross laced holes on the back of her dress. I felt like telling her everything that was wrong with it. There was also a lady there that was wearing a dress that looked like she had gotten it at the local bead store. I was perfectly fine with her dress. She had spent the last week (two nights staying up till 3am) working on her kids' cloths for this event. Is it because I knew that she hasen't had time to work on garb for herself? Is it because I don't know this person in the green dress? Is it because I am completly nuts?

You know, they say if you have to ask the question, the answer is almost always yes.

Yes, you're completely nuts. Now, what was the question?

I recommend giving a class at the next appropriate event.

Thanks. I was hoping that someone would tell me that I am not nutty. Well I was expecting to do research and teach, but not quite so soon. I don't feel qualified.

Of course you are not nuts m'lady. You are perfectly sane, as we all are. Ok, not a good example.

But if you are a nut then I would love to be a squirl.

Pad

seyc wrote: I was perfectly fine with her dress. She had spent the last week (two nights staying up till 3am) working on her kids' cloths for this event.

I think its a fine lesson in not judging. You don't know anything about the other lady. This could be her first event. She might have a really sick relative at home. She might have gotten bad advice. Or she might just be more interested in other aspects of the organization than costuming. Or hundreds of other possibilities.

Leading by example and teaching is a very good idea. Good for you.

Maybe it's the fact that the green dress was *almost* right, while the other was just all wrong.

I find that I have a harder time holding back the criticisms on things that are off by just a little bit than I do ignoring things that are just totally wrong. For some reason, I can ignore the poly-cotton T-tunic worn with sweat pants or jeans, but I tend to focus in on the non-spiral lacing or inappropriate trim on an otherwise acceptable cotehardie.

A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing!

Gwyneth

edited to fix my spelling

Same here.

Why go through all the trouble of making/getting authentic clothes to take stupid shortcuts on small details? You notice these things more because the person doing them obviously should know better. You don't notice deviations when there is no efforts towards authenticity.

It is the essence of the "right or not at all" attitude adopted by so many groups.

Hugo

The thing that bothers me the most is people who spent a lot of time, effort and money, getting it wrong. I am not too bothered by the person who makes something simple that is not quite right, or by the person whose first effort is not right. I am bothered by people who spent a lot of time getting it wrong. Especially, when it is usually no harder to get it right.

No, I do not think you are nuts for thinking it, just be careful about acting on it.

I guess you could consider this a lesson in lowered expectations, but I find I am happy (appeased at least) if people simply make an effort.
And I am always less critical of something someone made themselves. After all, anyone with sufficient money can simply hand off the responsibility of assuring authenticity to his clothier and still insure that he looks good. Whereas a first-time garb-maker is up against every sort of obstacle...period authenticity, appropriate fabrics, finding and following the right pattern, and understanding the methods of basic construction of the garment...all of which they might fudge simply out of simple expediency, or lack of experience with what will surely be the outcome if they take shortcuts. I have used rivets in the construction of certain pieces of garb when I could not find period fasteners....or simply lacked the money. And I still do not know how to sew button holes. I always make my buttons bigger than they should be to cover up the awful button holes I make.

I have to agree with Red Dragon. I'm most affected by the folks who, with all the advantages of advice, example, and capability, make it wrong.

Example - the gentleman who proudly wore an Elizabethan doublet which laced up the front, sides and back like a Renfaire bodice, and had velvet panels alternating with leather panels tooled with Celtic knotwork. I overheard him boasting that it took him two years to find a craftsman to undertake the commission, and cost nearly $400. (And he wore it with straight trousers tucked into his Frye boots.) *shudder*

One of the finest compliments I've ever been paid was when a relative newcomer, showing off the pair of chausses which he'd made after my example, said, "Your enthusiasm makes authenticity fun."

No - you're are completely sane , like the rest of us. It's the rest of the world that's nuts! Take care - THEY are out to get us. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there's no-one out to get you. *Twitch*
I know who you are......You're Merlin the happy pig!! **Cackles maniacaly, skips off into distance, falls down hole.
(faintly) "See I told you!"

Im glad you held your tounge, from my perspective its very rude to just go up to someone and start tearing into their gear, that exact behavior drives people away from reinactment, and it earns the authenticly minded a bad rep for being a@*holes
If someone asks me for an oppinion im happy to offer one, tempered with both the pos and neg aspects. critism is easier to swallow if it served with a compliment as well.
The person could have been in borrowed items, they could be brand new to the hobby and dont realy have a clue to authenticity, and if they are assaulted with a harsh critique they may simply move on to a diff hobby.
Often people critique others openly in an attempt to impress people with thier knowledge, and it end up being rather unimpressive due to how rude it comes of.
Im not saying any of the above is an example of your behavior, only how you may come across to others.