Everyday LOTR Clothes

Everyday Lord of the Rings Wardrobe: Epic and Wearable

I don't want to have a 'special' wardrobe of beautiful garb & reproductions that fill my closet, which I will only take out for photo-shoots, and then spend my life wearing PJ pants and T-shirts because those are comfortable and I can nurse in them.
I want to make clothes that are---

Comfortable enough that I will want to wear it (not just in my vain moods that hit once a week) 

Practical enough (ie easy nursing access) that I won't have the baby screaming at me while I fuss with wiggling out of it every time she wants to eat 12x a day.
Epic enough that I look a little like Eowyn or something...because it makes me happy.

1. Practical (for living in, and nursing in)
2. Quick (can get dressed in under 5 minutes)
3. Comfortable (so on reg days (most days) will WANT to wear it. Not sacrificing comfort for beauty. Because being honest....I NEVER do....
4. Secure(don't have to always be retucking) to nurse and re-fix even under a nursing cover in public
5. Historic/Epic inspired (LOTR, Medieval)
6. Easy to care for (throw them in the washing machine, on gentle)

Note on Historical Accuracy: I love how historical clothes are cut—it saves fabric. Often the more accurate, the prettier they are. However, if its cheaper or simpler or more practical for me to make it another way (on machine, using cotton instead of wool, zipper for nursing access instead of a ton of hooks and eyes, or adding a waistband to regency dresses, etc.) I'll do it that way. Hence I aim to make "Historic Inspired" clothes, not actual re-enactor level stuff.

In other words, stuff I can actually wear to more places than Ring/Costume/Dragon/etc Con. 

Because it seems like such a rum pity to spend so much time making something beautiful, and only get to wear it 4x in your life (not counting photoshoots), and have it hang in your closet while you have to wear jeans and t shirts and modern stylish clothes you don't really love.

I want to make things, inspired enough by LOTR dresses that I feel epic, but without sleeves trailing into the stove or the toilet while I'm swishing diapers. And out of something that I can wash the baby spit up out of (and the mud and blood from arrow-wounds and adventures...)

Yeah. So. 

Epic and Wearable.

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List will be updated as links soon.

Lord of the Rings Cloaks 

Quilted Leather Bracers

Toddler Elven Dresses (fully washable)

 

Gondor Ranger Baby Carrier (Mei Tai Style)

Medievaloid-Maternity Dress

Lord of the Rings for Everyday

Because every day should be epic,,,,,

Elven Dresses for Everyday

The elven dresses from the LOTR movies were so beautiful---probably the most "princess" dresses ever felt to me. They were stately and and just beautiful.

Although, I  imagine elven maidens probably wore something a little less dragging on the floor. They climbed trees and sang silly songs, and danced as light as linden leaves across the grass. No trains or trailing sleeves.

So we'll edit them a bit....

I. Arwen (Empire Waist, long A line skirt, wide [embroidered yoked or cowl] neck, removable tippetted half sleeves, removable wb or long belt)---can be adjusted to be maternity

• Cranberry Gown
• Bloodred Gown
• Requiem Gown
• Bridge Gown
• Angel & Rose Gown Combo
• Cranberry gown with WHITE sleeves

Eowyn Everyday

II. Eowyn (Shoulder Princess seamed, half/full circle skirt [w/ or w/o split overskirt], half sleeves [tippetted or laced], wide yoked embroidered neck w/ v inserts or wide v neck)

• ‘White Wool’ Gown
• Funeral/Hall Gown
• Green Gown
• Shieldmaiden!!!
• Coronation Gown
• Blue Starry Mantle

And because it gets way hotter in Phoenix than Gondor....

Epic Echoes Sundresses

III. Medievaloid, Tolkien Inspired Sundresses

III. Tolkien Inspired Bridesmaid Dress

 Medievaloid (Tolkien Inspired Sundresses) (Shoulder princess seamed/darted, cap sleevs [reg or French], half circle skirt, notched wide embroidered yoke)

• ‘White Wool’ dress
• Cranberry  (Hobby Lobby Claret cotton) & Gold Trim
• Deep Green & Gold Trim
• Olive Green & Brown Trim
• Tan & Olive Green Trim
• Arwen Cranberry Gown
• Shieldmaiden Sundress w/ flutter sleeves

LOTR Jumpers (Shoulder Princess Seamed Jumpers)

I can't help myself. 

As a home-schooled alum....I just need those denim jumpers. But less denim. And more Middle Earth...

IV. LOTR Jumpers

• Arwen Bloodred Gown Jumper w/ removable tippetted half sleeved under-shirt chemise (I love this dress)
• Eowyn shieldmaiden dress, reinterpreted again...
• Eowyn Refugee Jumper w/ removable rolled half sleeved under-shirt chemise

 Eowyn Refugee Jumper type 1 (Medieval Kirtle Style),

Medieval Kirtle Variation....

Throw in some historical authenticity....but you need cold temperatures to do this....

Medieval Kirtle Style Jumpers (Medieval Kirtle Style Sleeveless Jumpers to be worn with Medieval Under Support, Optional embroidered wide neck facing. To be worn with chemise-like half-shirts underneath, or removable fake tippetted half sleeves)
Edit: I'm just too lazy to bother with ALL that lacing every time I get dressed....If I make this again, I'm going to insert a lapped zipper in the side seam, and then only have the lacing in the front go over my bust for nursing. Plus then I don't have to worry about the entire dress coming unlaced when I'm just trying to nurse (not that it would...I'm just paranoid...)

Red w/ Tan border & embroidered neck facing

Gray Brown

Burnt Orange (self colored embroidered neck facing?)

Coats and Cotehardies  

More applicable if I didn't live in the desert. If I ever move somewhere where it snows again, I'm making a lot of these. And Princess Leia's Hoth outfit....

Cotehardie Medieval Kirtle Style w/ front button closure

• wool Burnt Orange w/ dark brown trim w/ gold embroidery, inspired by Eowyn’s Travel Coat
• olive green wool w/ gold embroidery
• wool blend dark blue stretch w/ gold embroidery (rich tippetted embroidered arm bands) must be worn with medieval undersupport. Inspired by Eowyn funeral/Hall gown
• Cream cotton w/ gold&silver embroidery, inspired by white wool gown

VII. Ranger, second from left.

Rangers!

Because, nothing really says epic like dressing like the Dunedain, in the wilds of Arnor, fighting off unnamed evils, while looking like a medieval homeless vagrant....the best part is, the MORE you stain and wear out these clothes, the MORE AUTHENTIC it is. So this is the best outfits to take the kids camping in!

(Half-Sleeve tunic, Belt, Pants, to be worn with fitted long sleeve in wintertime. Worn with Belt and Cloak optional)

Olive Tunic w/ Brown Trim

Tan Tunic w/ Olive Trim

Tan Tunic w/ Brown Trim

Cream Tunic w/ Burnt Orange Trim

Brown Tunic w/ Olive Trim

Brown Pants

Tan Pants

Green Pants

DWARVES!!!

Probably the coolest women of Middle Earth. Stubborn, romantic, fierce, stubborn, motherly, secretive, stubborn, and strong.

VIII. Dwarven/Saxon/Viking

Dwarven (Saxon Dress-Long Tunic w/ Apron Dress. Medallion Pins w/ beaded chain across. Belt w/ hanging pouches. Cloak & Boots optional.  

Saxon Dress-Long Tunic (embroidered neck, long sleeved, just above ankle length)

Middle Class Apron Dress (stained apple green stuff?)

Cool Belt w/ hanging pouches

IX. Dwarven Adventure

Dwarven Adventure Outfit (Knee Length Tunic w/ pants and sleeveless  semi-fitted 4 panel overtunic. Belt w/ hanging pouches.  Bracers and x-back scabbard for axe and pick. Cloak & Boots 

Head Kercheif

Adventure Knee Length Long Sleeve Tunic

Olive Green or Brown Medium Weight  Overtunic

Bracers

X-back scabbard

Pants

Bliauts

Early Medieval seems to fit the world of Middle Earth. I think this is probably closer to what Tolkien had in mind....

X. Bliaut

Eowyn (Book) Bliaut-Style Saxon Tunic Dress, A line with minimal bust shaping, pull on over head. (should accommodate up to 6 month baby belly)
Bliaut Style Tunic Pull-over Dress
closefitting long sleeved underdress/shirt
Bliaut Style Belt for non-pregnant times

Princess Leia and Mara Jade

• A really cool silver belt....
• ANH White dress---if it were a Space Western [mandarin collar, puffy skirt, long puffed sleeves, gunslinger belt]
• ANH White dress---if it were the 13th century kirtle [lean into the cool silver belt, the ear bun-braids]
• Ceremonial Sundress
• Hoth commander snow outfit
• Mara Jade's Emperor's hand + Hood
• Mara Jade Skywalker [babycarrier on the back]
• Shada D'ukal

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for personal reference...
Hairstyles:

• Pretty, 
• not easy for kids to pull, 
• Quick & under 5 minutes, 10 minutes absolute maximum. 
• Comfortable. 
• Less pins the better. No hairspray. 

Not so fancy I have it in a list, and then do my hair in a little knot every day...

Half ups (Day 1 or 2 from wash day)

1. Side twists with pins/combs
2. Side twists with a circlet (or elven crown)
3. Side twists with an elven braid at the back. 
4. Princess Leia Endor variation (braided headband)

Updos with volume (Day 2 or 3 from wash day) 

Try to do the crown volume trick (hair elastics. Also do the main updo with the rest of the hair, pin the crown hair on later)

1. Tamina Braid A. side twists, 4 stranded braid. Heavy pancaking.
2. Classic 1940s. 3 sections w/ sidepart. Sides bobby-pin puffs. Center back bun. (Or can do 3 wiggly buns)
3. Double flipped, 2 separate ponytails. [fluff volume of top one] Turn into low loose bun, or a pancaked braid. 
4. Parted French braid, bunned or folded French. Parted French Fishtail Updo
5. Rope braid bun (with pearl-pins), with the volume trick for crown.
6. Emma  (Shell bun with bottom half of hair, braid from top half wound around it) or Braided Nautilus.
7. (Princess Leia Ceremonial variation)Top third high shell bun, middle 1/3 hanging braid, lowest 1/3 wrapping braid. 
8. Twist L side, low horizontal french braid, fold under. Reserved R side hair, twist and pin under (the thing I did for the sisters listserve)
9. Messy bun updo thing.  It breaks up the hair into 4 root points, dividing pull, and allowing fluffing/volume. Another variation of it. And another.  Her big thing is using hair elastics and ponytails instead of pins. And folding bits in different directions.
10. More good options for the same lady. No pins, and the pony-tailed root to fluff.

Braids (Day 3 and 4 from wash day)

1. Heidi Braids/German Braids/Dwarven Braids/(Princess Leia at Hoth) Crown Braid 
2. Parted French [can turn to updo with bun, or folded French W/ barette] Parted French Fishtail
3. Sidepart semi-crown braid with hanging braid [can updo as Grecian]
4. Midpart semi-crown braid with hanging braid (Shada D'ukal Action)
5. Single Braid with sidetwists & circlet (use faux french trick), or paper beaded headband
6. Tamina Braid B (sideparted, french rope on both sides)
7. (Princess Leia Bespin variations i & ii & iii)Midpart semi-crown braid (Braids no. 3) shell bun with hanging braid loops (double, doubled within, wrap and single loop) 
8. (Princess Leia Rebel Assualt)Midpart semi-crown braid (Braids no. 3) with 2 braids in oval bun 
9. Grecian Basic (Sidepart semi crown with braided bun)
10. Midpart semi-crown braid with shell bun wrapped in braid or braided nautilus.

Updoes with no volume (Day 4 or 5 from wash day)

1. Top Knot w/ Hair stick
2. (Princess Leia Classic)2 shell buns, just above ears. 
3. Nautilus, braided or unbraided. Hair Stick. On top of head, or regular. 
1. Infinity Bun
2. Shell bun

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Princess Leia

1. (Princess Leia Classic)2 shell buns, just above ears. 
2. (Princess Leia Ceremonial variation)Top third high shell bun, middle 1/3 hanging braid, lowest 1/3 wrapping braid. 
3. (Princess Leia at Hoth) Crown Braid 
4. (Princess Leia Bespin variations i & ii & iii)Midpart semi-crown braid (Braids no. 3) shell bun with hanging braid loops (double, doubled within, wrap and single loop) 
5. (Princess Leia Rebel Assualt)Midpart semi-crown braid (Braids no. 3) with 2 braids in oval bun 

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Things I used to want to make....

XI. Shirtwaist (A. Collared Short Sleeved  B. Collared Long Sleeved C. Simple French Cap Sleeves D. Modcloth Short Puffed Sleeve)

Pink D

Blue Floral (Hobby Lobby) C

Tan C
Grey-Green C or A

XII. Separates Tops: A. Arwen Linen Shirt B. Peplum French Cap Sleeve Blouse C. Long Sleeved Collared Blouse D. Long Puff Sleeved Romantic Blouse (Mandarin Collar)

Arwen Tan Linen Shirt

Tan Peplum Top

XIII. Separates Bottoms: A. Half Circle Skirt B. Tulip Skirt Calf Length C. Pencil Midi Skirt D. Pants (Half or Regular)

Tan (poly cotton) Half Circle Skirt

Tan (poly cotton) Tulip Skirt

Tan (poly cotton) Pencil Midi Skirt

Tan (poly cotton sheet) half circle skirt

Dyed Brown Canvas Half Circle Skirt

Dyed Orange Brown Canvas Half Circle Skirt

Dyed Green Canvas Half Circle Skirt