Building your LARP wardrobe: 7 tips from experienced players
Just starting out in the world of LARP? Or would you like to get into it... but it's a bit intimidating?
Playing a character for a weekend. Setting off on an adventure. It sounds super cool, but it takes some prep. And among the things you need to prep is putting together a costume.
"Ok, but where do I start? What do I need? Do I need a ton of stuff?"
Great questions! 😉
To answer them, I reached out to a few real LARP enthusiasts to share my tips, but also theirs.
The pros
Let me introduce you to Ludovic, Florence, Annie, and Alexandre, with whom I chatted about their journey in LARP, what costumes they have, and their secrets.
Ludovic has been doing LARP for 13 years now. More the type to work magic than swing a sword, you might run into him at Royaume or at Ascension.
Florence has been part of the LARP world since 2018. She loves bard and artist-type characters. You'll probably run into her at Ascension, where she's part of the animation team.
Annie spends her time at Bicolline. She's been going for close to 8 years now, pretty much always with her druid, Elga Sa'ya.
Alexandre started LARPing in 2002. After taking a few years off, he's picking the hobby back up with his 2 young nieces, at Bélé Junior.
They've all got a unique journey, and each of them has great tips for you.
Here are our pro LARP tips
Prioritize the basics
When it comes to a LARP wardrobe, we all agree in recommending you start with basic, fairly simple pieces. And that's for a few different reasons.
First of all, because you're just starting out. It's kind of like anything else: I'd never recommend going "luxury" for a hobby you're just getting into. It's always better to start small and upgrade once you know what you want.
Alexandre points out that, if it's the first time you're playing your character, you might not know yet whether you'll actually enjoy playing them.
"You know, if you tell yourself, 'I'm gonna buy myself a nice mage robe'… and then you get there and realize, 'playing a mage is dead boring, I want to play a barbarian'... you're stuck with a blue velvet robe. What are you gonna do with that?"
- Alexandre
Ludovic also adds that "in LARP life, your character can die. And you never know when…". It'd be a real shame if you never got to wear your beautiful, super fancy robe again just because it's too tied to your character who died.
Basic pieces might have a bit less flair, but you'll be able to reuse them much more easily for other characters.
So, before you get carried away, we all suggest going with simpler stuff. 🤓
LARP shops actually offer a lot of fairly generic pieces. So it's pretty easy to start with basics and build your costume up gradually from there.
Florence also recommends building your costume in layers. Several simple pieces worn together can be more interesting than one single super fancy piece.
"In LARP, the more you've got, the better. The more layers and thicknesses you have, the more credible your costume looks."
- Florence
I have several patterns that are perfect for LARP costumes. My patterns are intentionally kept fairly simple so you can mix and match them together, or with other pieces, and create all kinds of styles.
2. Accessories are everything
Basic pieces are cool, but if that's all you wear, it can end up looking a little sad… To give your character more style, you're going to need accessories.
First off, because accessories have a practical function. You can cinch your tunic with a belt, carry all kinds of useful items in a pouch, protect yourself from the weather with a scarf, etc.
Then, accessories are also what give your character a more unique personality. Jewelry, patches, brooches — all sorts of little details like that bring your character to life.
"What you're trying to embody is a character who lives in a complex, complete world. The more pieces you've got on you, the more you look like someone who actually lives in that world."
- Florence
So basic pieces are your foundation. Then, accessories personalize your costume.
"Start with a simple toga or tunic, on top of which you can 'build' and add pieces, charms, belts, scarves… accessories that give it a soul."
- Ludovic
"My base kit is just a backdrop. But once I put my accessories on, Elga is there. You feel the vibe right away."
- Annie
3. Don't underestimate thrift stores
Thrift stores can really be a great source of finds. And it's totally fine if your stuff is used… it's almost better, actually. On top of being cheaper than new pieces, it'll give your costume more character. Remember, your character has a history, even if it's the first time you're playing them. A worn old leather pouch or a faded — even patched — tunic will really add a nice flavor to your outfit.
Florence points out that "perfectly clean pieces aren't all that believable anyway…". So, might as well buy stuff that's lived a little.
The budget-friendly and eco-friendly combo is always a win.
| Psst! If you want to know how to thrift-shop for your LARP costume, I've actually got a full article on it, with two costumes built from A to Z! |
4. Learn to sew
Ok, I might be a bit biased on this one… but I really do recommend having, at minimum, some basic sewing knowledge.
You don't have to become a total sewing pro, but knowing the basics really helps a lot. It lets you adjust your pieces, personalize them, transform them, repair them.
If you find pieces at thrift stores, there's a very good chance those pieces will need a bit of love to make them LARP friendly.
I mentioned earlier that store-bought clothes tend to be pretty generic. It's super easy to give them a bit more flavor if you know how to sew a little (by adding decorative trim, for example).
And the day you want to switch characters, your sewing skills will be super handy for transforming that tunic everyone recognizes as your old character's. You'll be able to alter the sleeves, shorten it, etc.
And that's not even counting the fact that, depending on the kind of player you are, LARP can be an extreme sport. You'll be running through the woods, fighting... it's more than likely you'll end up damaging some of your costume pieces.
If you want a rich, complete, and durable LARP wardrobe, sewing is really a practical skill to have.
"If you feel like trying it, make your own pieces. It's so much fun. It lets you personalize your costume way more."
- Ludovic
| If you want to get into sewing and you're looking for a sewing machine to start with, I've got an article to help with your research. |
By the way, my patterns are simple enough for casual, once-in-a-while sewists. And they're really customizable. I'm sure you'll find things that'll help you build a beautiful LARP wardrobe.
5. Comfort above all
"Once you're in-game, you don't want to just be thinking about your clothes. You want your clothes to feel like part of you."
- Annie
Exactly — you want to be comfortable during the event and not spend your whole weekend thinking about how you're freezing, how much your feet hurt, or the heatstroke you're giving yourself because you didn't think about how hot it'd get…
It's hot in the summer. In the fall, the nights get really cold. Sometimes it rains, and not just a little. Make sure you're ready to deal with all of that.
Obviously you don't want to show up in white sneakers and your Harvard hoodie at a LARP event — that'll seriously break the immersion. But a good cloak, a hat that fits your character, and understated, comfortable enough shoes to survive a weekend in the woods will save your life.
"I've done LARP events in sandals. I don't recommend that to anyone!"
- Alex
"My feet often hurt by the end of the weekend because I'm too vain. I want my boots to look good!"
- Florence
Don't be like Flo and Alex — find yourself some comfortable shoes. 🤓
Psst! In my LARP pattern collection, I've got capes (to keep you warm), hats (to protect you from the sun), and gaiters (to add some style to your boots). Go check it out!
6. Get informed about the LARP event
Take the time to learn about the style of the event you want to attend. There are several things you might want to know before you dive into figuring out your costume.
Rules and expectations vary a lot from one LARP event to another. Some places are very strict about look, while others (those that accept kids, for instance) are a bit more relaxed.
LARP has evolved a lot in Quebec over the past few years. If your experience with live-action events — or what you've heard about them — is from several years ago, you might be surprised. We're not really in the era of duct-tape weapons anymore.
Alexandre suggests looking at photos from the organization's past events. It's a good way to get a sense of the environment and the vibe.
"What's accepted and acceptable? Am I going overboard for nothing? Or am I going to get turned away because it doesn't qualify? It's important to adapt."
Also think about learning about the type of terrain. Some sites are really developed, others are super rustic… Some are tucked deep in the woods, while others are set up somewhere more open — almost desert-like in some spots. Apparently Bicolline has an actual microclimate, and the temperature drops drastically at night. All of that can influence your costume.
Annie insists: "for Bicolline, you need to be geared up for the cold."
7. Find your style
Not everyone has the same approach to LARP costuming. Find your own style as a player. Remember, just because someone tells you that you absolutely need a certain costume piece doesn't mean you have to run out and get it right away.
It's totally fine to be more minimalist and go with a really simple outfit. Or, on the flip side, maybe what really excites you is having a costume that's a real showstopper (in which case, I'd still recommend building it up gradually, for the obvious reasons I mentioned earlier).
Depending on what kind of player you are, maybe you'll stick with your character for years (like Annie). Or maybe you'll prefer switching characters often and creating tons of different costumes and styles (like Florence). Either way, your LARP wardrobe will probably look pretty different.
Ludovic and Florence have a lot of costume pieces. They like the mix-and-match style and having options.
Ludovic likes drawing inspiration from historical styles. "I tend to lean toward realism even when I'm in a fantasy setting."
Florence, who works as an animator at LARP events, gets the chance to switch characters more often. "I like variety. I like building different costumes."
Annie has stuck with the same character for years, so she has a much smaller wardrobe… but she owns the same tunic in multiple copies (because why not! If you love it and it really suits your character…). "I shrunk my wardrobe so I wouldn't clutter myself, physically and mentally. I'm really one of those people who keeps a very minimalist wardrobe."
Alexandre, on the other hand, is more the simple, low-key type. He prefers to throw together costumes with whatever's on hand. "I've never really been someone who went all out with my costumes. That wasn't my focus. I tended to do the minimum to get the job done."
Think about what matters to you! You can love the idea of showing off… but it's also totally fine to keep it really simple — as long as you're having fun during
the event.
My little closing questions
Your favorite LARP piece?
Florence: A corset I made myself. It's easy to put on, it's comfortable, it's pretty, it goes with almost anything.
What kind of accessories do you wear to create your Elga look?
Annie: I've got a lot of necklaces. I wear 3 belts (at the same time). I've got pouches (pouches for everything — cards, dice...). On top of that, I've got leather cords hanging off me, little bells attached to my dress. And my big musical instrument, made out of dried figs.
If you had to keep only 3 pieces, what would you keep?
Ludovic: My harem pants because there are so many ways to style them. My toga, on top of which I can "build" and add pieces. My famous Viking tunic that I made with your pattern (🥰).
The piece of clothing you've worn the most?
Alex: A green tunic. It's the first piece I ever bought, almost all of my characters have worn it, including the one I'm still playing with my nieces.
A huge thank you to Florence, Ludovic, Annie, and Alexandre for the interviews and all their great tips.
I hope this inspires you and helps you build a LARP wardrobe that's practical, comfortable, and that feels like you (and like your characters too!)
And if you want to stay in the loop on new releases, promos, and new articles to help with your creative projects, join the Harbour!
In the meantime,
Happy sewing! Happy crafting! 🤓✂🐙