Medieval costumes, costumes which mimic clothing worn during the Middle Ages, are increasingly popular among older boys, some of whom continue expressing their interest in medieval history by participating in re-enactments of medieval battles and other historical plays even into adulthood. Usually, medieval costumes worn by boys are based on European clothing of the era, but there is also quite a bit of interest in feudal Asian costumes, from the universal samurai costume to more obscure costumes that are chosen by boys who may have seen them at re-enactments or even on video games based on Asian historical warfare.
Indeed, boys usually choose medieval costumes that are related to warfare – an infantryman’s or officer’s costume from medieval England, or an ancient Chinese warrior costume, either authentic or as they see it according to their imagination. Most such costumes are therefore custom-made, and while boys are not apt to want to help their mothers sew a costume, they usually know exactly what they are looking for because a boy who wears medieval costumes almost by definition has a great deal of interest in making sure that the costume is either fully accurate (according to true historical illustrations or those found in comics and video games) or that it conforms fully with his own imagination. Therefore, they will either want to have you purchase their costumes, or they will take charge of the creation process even if they will never hold a needle or thread because it is considered “a girl’s job” and therefore anathema to your budding knight of King Arthur’s Court.
Certainly, purchasing medieval costumes, many of which include leather and other expensive materials, is an expensive proposition, especially for a growing boy who enjoys dressing up in more than one role from his favorite period of history. However, anything from his old clothing and shoes to your discarded handbags can become part of medieval costumes that you make according to the directions that he may well claim were handed down from the darkest of the dark ages but in reality are found online or are copied from his favorite comic book or video game.
Use of tape, spray paint or model paint, and other easy to obtain material to customize his costume may actually interest your son, so that he may only ask you to handle the sewing and cutting once he goes through piles of everything from his old schoolbags to your discarded furniture to find the materials he wants to use to recreate the sartorial world of the knight or king of his fantasies. Even medieval shoes can easily be made from old sneakers or winter boots, and extra leather, fabric or vinyl to form the typical points can be taken from just about any discarded bag, worn upholstery. If armor is part of your son’s medieval fantasy, it can be made from just about anything including heavy plastic bottles that your son can cut himself and paint to form a shield or body armor. Only you and he know that those bottles had actually once contained bleach, laundry detergent, fruit punch and other liquids, potable and otherwise, that most certainly did not exist during the medieval period in any part of the world – and neither did plastic exist then, but once painted with metallic or drab arts and crafts or model paint, the plebeian plastic punch jug will indeed be transformed into the exclusive armor of a noble warrior.
Medieval costumes allow your son to combine his fertile imagination with his interest in the history which shaped our present world. Allowing him to design and participate in the making of those costumes is an enjoyable learning experience that you share with your son as he amazes you with his knowledge of the clothing worn in 11th century Europe or Asia.