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03-29-2016, 06:04 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-29-2016, 07:13 PM by Sir Wulf.)
My son-in-law has become interested in recreation and has recruited some of his friends. They want to assemble kits from the same region and era, but not necessarily representing the same culture. After discussing their preferences, I think that Byzantine-era Italy and the Langobard (Lombard) culture would give them scope to do what they want while still allowing costumes comfortable in our local climate (Arizona: hot and dry).
I would greatly appreciate any suggestions that you guys may have about good source material or texts that would illuminate that period.
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If you mean comfortable costumes as ones designed for hot weather as we think of them today (light material, short sleeves), then I have to disappoint you. Generally, regardless of time and space, people used woolen outer tunics with linen undertunics even around the Mediterranean. It is working though.
What is the era they want to do?
Mark - Legio Leonum Valentiniani
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I'd go linen or a light wool myself for practicality. It's historically accurate even if wool is a better choice. I have a light wool tunic for my 1st century kit and it stands up find in the humidity of South Carolina.
Cotton tunics have been found in Egypt, but Cotton was a rich man's clothes and wool was still better.
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03-31-2016, 08:41 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-31-2016, 08:56 PM by Sir Wulf.)
They're still trying to decide what eras most interest them. I've tried to steer them toward late 6th Century (contemporay with the initial establishment of the Lombard kingdom in Italy). Unfortunately, I'm not happy with the quality of the few information sources I've found.
In southern Arizona, we do love our linen. Good quality, lightweight woolens are not easy to come by and tend to be more expensive than they are in other parts of the country. Despite that, I've worn plenty of wool over the years. As most of you guys know, it's much more comfortable if you wear a linen or cotton undertunic.