Wearing Clothing Comfortably

People are always telling me, "I could never wear something like that, its just too uncomfortable." With all due respect, I have to disagree with their assumptions. Please take some time and consider these thoughts to make your experience wearing this clothing more comfortable.

• Get help from a knowledgeable person to dress you in complex clothing. Yes, there are times in our lives when for special occasions we wear uncomfortable clothing. It was true in the sixteenth century and it is today. There are not many of us who run around in strapless, poofy ball gowns on a daily basis. Many extreme fashions you find in some portraits and written accounts were put on with assistance of others (grooms, ladies, maids, etc), but not everyone could afford to be followed all the time and have multiple other people assisting them. It is my understanding that at the English and French courts, and probably several others. Ladies would assist each other, if they were sharing quarters and depending on rank, or they would have a single servant assisting them. What is the lesson I am getting at here? Make friends with another person who enjoys wearing similar styles in clothing as you do and help each other. If they also wear the clothing on a regular basis they will understand how it laces together, how the garments should feel, and how the finished ensemble should look.
• Have your clothing made for you- not "off the rack" if you can help it. Making your own clothing, or having it made to fit your exact dimensions will make it much more comfortable to wear. A pair of bodies (forerunner of the corset) which is too long under the arm will hurt all day long. Hose made for someone else will fall down or sag oddly all day long. It may take longer, or cost more money, but having the clothes fit your unique body will make you much happier. Don't forget, standard clothing sizes didn't really become popular until the second half of the 19th century.
• Please wear the correct undergarments! A Victorian corset does not belong under 16th century clothing. These time periods are very different and you will find that if you mix time periods like this that you will be in pain by the end of the day. Go the extra mile and lace your hose to your doublet and get a pair of bodies. Don't skip layers or under garment pieces either, unless you are positive of what you are doing. I live in Arizona at the moment and us rarely wear one of the under kirtles I should because of the heat, but the purpose of that garment is to keep me warm and add fullness to my skirts. My compromise? I use other practices such as lining my skirts and using bands of fabric around the hem (guards) to add fullness, without adding extra heat and weight. Another compromise I have made is that i will always wear foundation or shaping garments required for the outfit. Cartage pleated skirts get very heavy and can cause back problems if not properly supported. I will always wear skirts like this with appropriate foundations (a heavy petticoat, farthingale, bumrolls, etc).
• Practice! Practice! Practice! You will always feel clumsy and foolish in clothing from any period until you are used to wearing it. My best solution is to wear it around the house and get used to being comfortable wearing it where you are comfortable. Start with your undergarments, the add your over garments. The weight of the clothing can take some getting used to. Don't be discouraged if some modern buildings were not meant to accommodate your period clothing (ex: farthingale). There were wider doors back then. Just decide on the most graceful way you can to correct the problem. Once that has been achieved, wear it our and show the world how wonderful your clothing is. Walk, dance, curtsy, bow, jump, turn left and right. If you aren't sure it looks right, grab a mirror and try again. The only way to get better is practice. (Ladies: remember how you learned to wear heels--walking back in forth in your rooms-- its the same idea here).