Costume Guide

kostyme guide

For guests at our events, costumes are optional. However, we do require them for vendors, performers, scholarship winners and board members. Whether you’re required to wear a costume at one of our events, or you want to wear one just for fun, we have the info and resources here to help you get started. Enjoy!

Men's 1800's 
Regional  attire

Basic components of 1800’s Scandinavian clothing are Scandinavian style vest, dark colored pants, a white collared long sleeve shirt, and close toed shoes.

Common component details: vest fabric  colored red, navy blue, forest green, or black with a straight bottom hem, black knickers (knee length pants) with long, white socks or long black pants without visible socks.

Short sleeve shirts and/or white work apron are acceptable for vendors cooking in a food booth.

Additional details are brooch, trim, knicker garters and tassels, hat with tassel or cap, buckles on shoes and neck scarf.

Examples of ideal costuming below.

Women's  1800's 
Regional  Attire

Basic components of 1800’s Scandinavian clothing are Scandivian styled bodice with long skirt, or full length Scandinavian style dress. An apron. A long sleeve, white collared blouse. Closed toed shoes with stockings or long socks.

Common component details: bodice/skirt/dress fabric colored red, navy blue, forest green, or black, solid on all components, or vertically striped piece paired with a solid color. The dress or skirt should be gathered or pleated at the waist (not ruffled or tiered). Aprons should be around two inches shorter than dress hem. Tights, nylons, or knee socks are a great option for performers, but are not necessary for food booth workers. Black dress shoes are the best option, though booth workers can wear black casual footwear without branding.

Additional details are brooch, pouch or basket for purse, hair ribbons or flower wreath, cap, and shawl.

Men's  Viking 
Attire  Guide

Basic components are a long sleeve tunic, leather belt, billowy trousers secured around the calf with wrappings of fur or linen, and leather turnshoes.

Common component details: Tunic variations are earth toned colors, off-white, or tan. Linen tunics are an excellent choice. These did not usually have buttons, laces or closures, though often had a v-neck style with decorative trim around the neckline. The Turnshoes are most similar to plain leather moccasin style shoes.

Additional accessories suggested, but not required are: long cloak, wrapped leather strips in place of a belt, leather pouch, round shield, pewter/silver jewelry, blunted, mock show weapons (please do not bring actual weapons on Festival grounds)

Women's  
Viking  Attire

Basic components are long sleeve tunic style shirt. Apron or smock dress. Twin brooches (pewter or silver colored) to connect dress with straps. Leather turnshoes.

Common component details: Tunic, worn under dress, off white or earth tones and made from plant fibers like linen, which is great for our hot August summers! It does not have button or laces, but will sometimes have a slight v-neck shape. The dress, apron or smock style, should be a matching earth tone color, though doesn’t need to be the same color. The Turnshoes are most similar to plain leather moccasin style shoes.

Additional accessories, but are not required:
Long cloak, fur collar, wooden, glass, or stone beads – multiple strings were usually worn, as either a necklace or strung between brooches. Leather belt or leather strap belts. Small waist pouch attached to the belt. Hair can be worn in braids, or under a hat or headscarf.

Check out the examples below for guidance

Check out the Pinterest page below for guidance

Examples

Minimum   Requirements

In all our events and activities, we’re celebrating a specific moment in history — nineteenth-century Scandinavian communities — and we do our best to represent this period as authentically as we can. We have three basic costume types. Please choose the one that work best for you.

If you’re inspired to build a costume that’s historically accurate to our period, but that varies from these basic minimum standards, please do! You’ll be within our guidelines as long as you look to nineteenth-century Scandinavian examples for guidance as you make decisions about your costume.

PLEASE AVOID:

  • Mixing elements from one costume type with that of another
  • Jeans, light-colored pants, shorts
  • Skirts that fall above the calf, ruffled skirts
  • Tank tops, knit shirts (including T-shirts), clothing with words or images
  • Bare chests, bare feet
  • Flip-flops, open-toed sandals, light-colored tennis shoes

Want   more   info  ?

If you’re looking for inspiration or sewing patterns, try searching the keywords “Bunad,” “Danish festival costume,” and “Nordic Style Olde Country Costumes.”

Reference material is available at the Junction City Library; there are also some excellent books at the Eugene Library. Our Facebook page has some resources for you, too.

To acquire costumes or costume pieces, see the Buy, Sell, Trade Facebook group. During Festival, the Christian Church booth offers hats, vests and aprons for sale.

Need help? Ask! We’re happy to brainstorm, problem-solve with you, and point you to useful resources.