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I often dress in garments of historical style from time to time, as a member of the SCA, though there is little in the time period we cover that is of any especial interest to me, save perhaps the Tudor. Most of my SCA wardrobe consists of much simpler clothing, however, for the sake of comfort and for packing as lightly as I can when the camping season is upon us. Personally, I rather relish the Georgian fashions of the 18th century. Long coats, smallclothes, periwigs, and tricorner hats hold a special sort of magic for me, though I must also confess a weakness for the earlier fashions toward the end of the 17th century as preceeded them. I often wear my justaucorps and tricorner hat when the weather is only just barely fair, and an overcoat is still necessary and a hat is still comfortable. However, my tolerance of lace is most often a little Puritancial and I cannot brook any such lace as appears too feminine in construction!

I find a fair number of the Asian historical outfits rather interesting, and I am currently involved in a project to recreate an entire Heian-era Japanese household. We have progressed a bit past the mere planning stages and at least a suitably dignified color pallette has been chosen for me. I had a few concerns early on.

But for slightly more modern looks, I must say I prefer the very late Victorian to Edwardian fashions. I finally found a suitable source for double Albert watch chains, and I think I'll indulge when finances permit, as I have three pocket watches that need better chains than they came with. Then, at last, I can be free of that abominable wristwatch of mine that does such dreadful things to my skin (or is it the other way around...)! I also wear my Victorian silver cufflinks whenever I have an excuse to and I have an admitted enthusiasm for wing collars with bow ties. But, the manner in which a gentleman arrays himself on a daily basis has gone into such decline, and I can't be very satisfied with the popular choices at present. Thus, these days, I am something of a recalcitrant and recidivistic antiquarian in my manner of dress, whenever the situation permits: wing collars, cufflinks and all! Such a combination does little to endear me to contemporaries who often have rather damning things to say about me on a personal level, but their opinions mean little to me and the effect is not without its admirers.

However, I am forced to confess that some of the women's styles of the Victorian era look a trifle punishing, which makes me rather glad they're so safely out of my range of possibilities! On the right form, they are indeed most becoming, but I would greatly dislike a lady to put herself to too much pain and inconvenience for the sake of vanity. Life is far too short to torture oneself so, and comes with more than its share of native pain that no more need be added to the store. To my mind, fashions got a little silly in the 1920's for both genders amongst the more rebellious and jazz-crazed lot, but thankfully ranged a little closer to sanity in the '30's. Still, no fads and fashions are long-lasting enough to warrant serious debate or forceful objection (save in the cases of those glaringly age-inappropriate outfits one sees on otherwise innocent little girls these days!), and nothing is sillier in adult or adolescent modes of dress now than things have been in the past at one point or another, and much depends on the tastes and tolerances of the wearer. There are certain exceptions, but that's a more suitable topic for another thread. Stubbornly and in utter defiance of modern standards, I still wear a hat when the situation warrants, though my summer straw one may be due for replacement this coming season, as it was rather seriously irrigated last summer and is otherwise showing signs of an encroaching seediness.

I realize I have revealed some of my more cherished eccentricities here, but I suppose I might be able to beg a bit of indulgence from my fellow history-lovers!

I like swishy clothes. Kimono, ao dai, trench coats, dusters, the whole shebang.

FURISODE FTW

Too bad I can't wear them, tho'... emo

hippies = D

I don't know. Some skirts are just more comfortable and versitile than pants.

Though I guess I'm not one to be talking, my favorite women's fashion period is Victorian. Give me a tight corset (I have back problems from too much slouching and shoulder problems from... well), enough fabric to cloth me from neck to toe and a bustle any day (and don't forget the shoes, and those wonderful underclothes!) over today's style anyday!

As for men's fashion, I like Elizabethan best. Shortly followed by whatever style Saint-Just wore during the French Revolution (or Robespierre and those stripes and glasses).

Trench coats are the worst things to have, they slow you down and they make you trip alot.

But you'll never get wet and you'll be warm as hell in the Ardenes (Spelling?)!