COSTUME - Saint Maximilian Landsknecht Reenactment Guild

he first thing anyone notices about our guild or really any faire guild is how they look. While this can include the weapons or the encampment - what sticks out the most is how the members are dressed. Making our garb as period and as accurate as we can is essentially to creating the illusion that the patron has stepped back in time.

It is our intent to look as much like historical landsknechts and kampfrau from 1536 as possible (our acceptable range for documentation is 1520-1545). All of our costuming design is based off of primary sources (woodcuts mostly) - although we do allow secondary sources for techniques to achieve these ends. We endeavor to look like the "everyday" soldiers and Kampfrau. "I plundered it" is not an acceptable excuse for wearing something above your rank. These guidelines are not a treaties on how all early period garb is done. It is limited to a very set time period, rank, and locale and there are many theatrical and weather considerations in the mix. They are also NOT the final answer to all garb questions for landsknechts. We, and other historical groups, continue to research and find new methods of recreating the lifestyle of the landsknechts. Also, the guidelines below are subject to change and interpretation. If there is something that you really want to do - AND YOU CAN BACK IT UP with primary source documentation - you may seek approval from the costume coordinator. If changes to the guidelines are made that affect you you wil be given ample time to make changes.

If this is your first costume - keep it basic. Most of the woodcuts are designed from a very simple set of doublet and hosen for the men and a simple dress for the women. It is the slashing that provides the dramatic flair associated with landsknecht clothing. If you want a set of garb that varies from the basic - expect to make a basic set first. Even 'basic' landskneckt garb can be wonderfully outlandish compared to anything in the time.

     Disclaimer!
Please do not attempt to make a full set of garb from these guidelines alone. Communication with the costume director is absolutely necessary and required during the construction of your garb. It is the costume directors job to not only see that these guidelines are followed but that the look of the guild is as the guild and the Hafrath have decided. They also (along with many others) do continued research and help people with garb construction questions. These guidelines are a loose plan for your garb and you may be instructed to do something somewhat different by the costume director. That being said - see below for the guidelines.

     General Guidelines, Fabrics, and Accessories

     Male Guidelines

     Female Guidelines