Dwarven Costuming Guide
The Dwarven Fashion
Although much of this book is written from an “in character” perspective, most of this chapter is written from a player and staff perspective. Dwarven costuming is more than just beards and axes. The Dwarves of Mythic Adventures have very distinct looks that deviate from your traditional brown leather and dark, ironclad Dwarves of other fantasy realms. This chapter will help define what cultures and styles we draw our looks from, talk a bit more in depth about the costuming requirements, and give further suggestions to costuming and discuss the cultural and caste fashions of the Dwarven folk.
Dwarves can live for centuries and their clothing should try to keep pace with them. As a people, they value quality that would allow their clothing to be sturdy and last for a long time. While their clothing is not always fancier than many of the other races, who value fashion for fashion's sake, dwarven clothing would be better, made of premium materials and accented with heirloom jewelry or personal embroidery embellishments. These accents are a point of pride and show the Dwarves’ lust for the finer things in life that endure through the ages.
Dwarves dress themselves in lasting materials like leather, silks, metals, and high quality threads. These materials are accented with designs and adornments to show that these objects are of great value. They use metallic and jewel toned silks, furs to outline their leathers, gems to make their metals pop, and their clothes are quite often adorned with thread of finely spun metal.
Commoner vs Nobility Styles
The clothing of Dwarven commoners are just as colorful as their nobility with emphasis placed on quality. The commoners adorn themselves with what few heirlooms they have and embellish their sturdy clothing with typical dwarven accents cut into the leather or threads stitched into their clothing, however it is not as excessive as the nobility.
Commoners, make sure your clothes are not plain and simple. Embroider or trim your shirts, tunics and pants, wear a few glittering jewels, brooches and rings to set you apart, add fur to your ensemble. Commoners would have pieces of less valuable material (say, wood or stone rather than precious metals or gems), but they have spent as much time or more into the details and crafting of those items. For instance, a noble dwarf might have a trim with gems and metallic thread, but a commoner would have a trim with a more intricate embroidered design. Accessories go a long way towards making your costuming scream Dwarf.
Nobility: look at the commoner’s requirements for costuming, and go beyond those basic requirements; take further steps to wrap yourselves in gems, metal and higher quality items. Nobles walk a fine line between rich and excessively gaudy. As such, playing a member of the nobility means higher costuming requirements then your commoner counter parts. The Dwarven Nobility walk up to the line of ostentatious and take a confident single step over.
Clan Colors
Each Dwarven Clan has its own colors, however, that does not mean that you can only wear those colors. If a piece of costuming comes in your Clan's colors, then by all means choose that option! However, this does not mean that you cannot wear a shirt, tunic, etc only comes in colors that are not specifically associated with your Clan.
Embroidery and Clan Symbols
There are a number of patterns out there that very much work within the concepts of Dwarven art styles, think Art Deco and Greek, blocky and sharp angles instead of curves. If you have any embroidery done, that would be the best route to go. Each Clan also has a symbol, this can easily be added into designs for sewing as well.
The Rule of Three
The rule of three is a costuming suggestion given to the Dwarven Marshals, and it means to choose three accent pieces that you will wear at all times when portraying your character. Those three items should reflect your character’s personality, past and spirit. Regardless if you are dressed for war, for formal court, or just a walk through town — these three items will always shout who you are to others. This is a good concept to start with, especially if you are a newer player.
The Catalog
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bGTo6zGJ6S4Znn2xm5tQKKOA-eNm0ogPXWN2TQPvDj0/edit
It is unrealistic for us to even attempt to make a full catalog of the ever expanding market of cos players, craftsmen and costuming items made available for purchase. Instead, we have made this link to allow us to present a listing of items, costuming implements and examples of what the Dwarven Marshal staff approves of for Dwarven costuming.
Costuming
As stated above, the Dwarven clothing is always done in bright colors, jewel, and metal tones. Try to avoid using simple brown leathers, or just black and white colors, if you can help it. If you must use browns, blacks, and whites, or they are clan colors, try to use them as base layers so that your brighter colors can sit upon them. Avoid rounded edges when you can in order to maintain blocky and angled looks. These stylistic choices are a reflection of Dwarven art in society, which uses angles, blocky symbols, and oftentimes symmetrical geometric shapes.
Noble players should try to aim for fabric which is not a solid shade of color, something that uses patterns and more intricate designs in its coloration, embroidery or wide trims can be added to such fabrics to achieve this effect as well.
Whenever you need some real life examples of what we would consider Dwarven in style, we would suggest looking into:
- Art Deco: Dwarven styles are Art Deco, meaning no curves and all straight lines and angles. Stay away from Art Nouveau at all costs!
Ukrainian Styles: Vyshyvanka of the Ukraine (shirts done in geometric embroidery designs).
- Greek Styles: Greek patterns are often symmetrical and geometric, often found in pottery and in many trim patterns.
- Nordic Styles: Viking or Norse simple clothing such as the apron dress or the Keyhole neckline tunic, or geometric patterns found in Hmong textiles that would make an interesting trim for clothing.
- Quilting Styles: For those who are crafters, the trapunto quilting technique that was used on the leather trim for the Dwarves’ costumes in some fantasy movies would add a nice flare.
Clothing Tip: Since we will be running around in the woods, be aware of the presence of fleas and ticks. We recommend using flea and tick spray, but test a small area on your clothing to make sure it’s not going to stain and ruin your garb, and make sure you aren't allergic to it.
Clothing
When developing your costuming, or adding to it, beyond simply finding something in a bright color of your clan you should figure out when your character would wear it, and if it complements his profession as well. For example, a smith at work may prefer a shirt with short or no sleeves, but when socializing may prefer longer sleeves to show off his Clan’s colors.
Dwarves tend to love fur, and will use it to accentuate their looks. In the heat of Florida this can get very steamy, so be sure to not layer it too thickly. Stone Dwarves use fur much more liberally in their costuming than their Shadow Dwarf cousins (see below for more information). Fur can be done with animal pelts, and some fake furs like stoles can really help the costuming jump out.
Lower body costuming is perhaps best where to start. When looking at pants, there have been two frames of thought: pants for combat and pants for everything else. Combat pants oftentimes are a bit more sturdy, and they tend to be simple black to blend in with the rest of the costuming (this is one of the rare instances I will recommend basic black or brown in the clothing choices). Spandex or other close-fitting materials have been used. However, if you can find brighter colors for combat pants, I would recommend those, as they make the rest of the costuming pop.
When wearing pants for social situations, we have recommended harem pants, fishermen’s pants, slacks, and other loose styles done in brighter patterns. Skirts also follow this trend in coloration, with styles chosen for mobility such as split skirts and apron dresses. Most Dwarven women tend to wear pants for war. For a more traditional look, both men and women can go to a kilt. Oftentimes, for more formal affairs, kilts are seen as stylish within Dwarven culture.
Dwarven men and women prefer boots, often steel capped or reinforced with leather caps. This is done to better protect the Dwarves while smithing and walking into stones. This preference for boots remains, even when dressed in finery. If you cannot find period appropriate boots for your liking, there are some modifications that can be made to make modern boots look more square toed and capped.
Dwarves prefer wider belts, with a body to diamond look to their buckles (assuming they have buckles), and a selection of pouches or frogs to hold things. Dwarves often like keeping a multitude of options on their belts.
As for clothing the upper body, this will be the part of the costume that tends to stand out the most, so make sure to find brighter colored tops. This goes for shirts, tunics, vests, and blouses. Dwarves will make sure they are of more sturdy cloth, but with the heat of Florida you will want to make sure the outfit is not too heavy. Linen is breathable and ideal for warm temperatures. For the more vibrant colors, linen and rayon blends retain a sharper color pallet. If you are having issues finding the colorations you desire, ask the Dwarven Marshals, and we can help put you in touch with a number of folk who are handy with a needle and thread to craft something for you.
Gloves may be something to consider. With the combat we have going on within the game simple hand protection is a good idea. This can be anything from a pair of welding gloves, to wool fingerless gloves, to form fitting leather.
Finally, hats and cloaks are not needed, but sometimes the weather will demand some protection from the elements. Cloaks with hoods and bright colors work well, and scotch guarding your outer layers in case of rain is always a plus. Hats that are fur-lined or made of leather, ear muffs, head bands (often with their clan symbols upon them), or even a miner’s metal helm would all be appropriate. Some Dwarves of noble birth will often wear crowns appropriate for their stations.
It should be noted that if you are a commoner you are only expected to have a set or two of clothing (most events last for three days in a row, so you may not wish to wear the same thing for three days in a row). Those expecting to play as nobles are making a more dedicated step forward and should have plans to have a few sets of clothes.
Jewelry
Dwarves love their jewelry for it allows them to glitter and shine. When looking for jewelry, you will of course wish to aim for jewels or metals that compliment your Clan’s colors. The more angled, the better for the Dwarven aesthetic. Dwarves do sometimes make exceptions with jewelry if they find a more specially crafted item. It is not unheard-of for a Dwarf to wear something of Elven or Farsi design if it catches their eye and it is of good craftsmanship.
The primary piece of jewelry one will wish to wear in their costuming will be that of beard jewelry, as it not only shines, but it also holds braids and helps to separate strands of the beard itself. Next will be more typical styles of jewelry with rings, bracelets, brooches, pins, and earrings being the most prominent. Amulets are also a thing, but less typical, as the beard tends to hide them.
Beards
Since the beginning of time, Dwarves have held a deep connection to their beards, as it sharpened their jaw lines, made them look more intimidating, helped them keep warm in the cold of the dark, spoke of their transition from childhood to adulthood, protected their mouths from sand and injury, and became a status symbol to them. The longer a Dwarf’s beard is, the less failure it would suggest has befallen a Dwarf’s life. To that end, Dwarves take excellent care of their beards to keep them healthy and strong.
A beard is the most important and iconic bit of costuming for a Dwarf. This is a requirement for costuming as a Dwarf, both male and female. We accept a number of fake beards in varying styles and makes. They may be attached with adhesives, elastic ties and/or clips. Given the amount of activities outdoors, you will wish to make sure that any fake beards are attached very securely. When selecting a fake beard, try to aim for something more realistic rather than something lacking quality.
For those that can grow beards we have some options. The Marshal staff has chosen to allow anyone capable of growing a beard to use their own facial hair in place of a fake beard. However, the beard may not be cut or trimmed between events until it reaches at least 4 inches (10 cm) in length. The beard can be grown longer, but that is the minimum length we would like beards to reach.
Beard Decorating
Dwarves will put jewelry into their beards without fail, to do otherwise would be like walking around nude to a Dwarf. The jewelry can range from simple metal bands to jewel encrusted rings heavy with weight. Some weave fine chains of precious metal into their beards, or hang less conventional items to attract attention to their beards and show off their wealth.
The Southern Dwarves have adopted a style introduced to them by the Farseni, who use metal shavings of gold to dust their eyelids, and dusted their beards to make them glitter and shine. It's a sign of extreme wealth, although the Gnomes have perfected a shiny material that is not made of precious metals with which to dust one’s beard for those who do not have such wealth to throw about. The typical materials for beard dusting are precious metals, glitter (Gnome product), and, for the pragmatic who ambush from the dark, soot or charcoal.
For those with fake beards, you can secure such beads and rings in alternative ways (sewing, pre-braiding, glues and the like).
Styles
Dwarves will braid their beards, so long as the beard has enough length to do so. Some don't use any braids for war, wishing to not give their foes something to grab into in the midst of battle, while others with longer beards will make battle braids, so they do not catch in their armor. More often, when there is a feast, a celebration, or some courtly function Dwarves will dress their beards in much more elaborate weaves festooned with metal and jewels. Beard beads and rings can be used with braiding to secure them, although wedging the decorations on a strand of hair works well too.
Not all Dwarves will wear their beards with complex braids, but instead choose to keep them plain with only light metal adorning them. This is what society expects of Dwarven beards, as an absolute minimum.
Some Dwarves will use wax or oils to shape their beards and their mustaches into styles that stand out, such as mustaches and beards with shockingly straight points and the like.
Dwarves do accept some styles of beards that involve shaving portions of their faces. However, one must be careful as such styles are seen, at best, as risque, and taking this shaving too far will lead to such trendy Dwarves finding that they have offended their own people by suggesting that they are somehow better than their Ancestors. As such, it is best to ask the Racial Marshal if the style they wish to propose is acceptable or not.
A taboo of the Dwarves is a wild and unkempt beard. No Dwarf would willingly present their beard to others as unordered, nor would they present themselves with no metal in their beard mussed and uncombed wild mess of a beard would suggest disease, sickness, or madness, since even the honorless Clanless wear their beards with pride.
The Half Dwarves
Half Dwarves may have a beard of any length, although those who interact most commonly with Dwarven society will grow their beards out to lengths that all Dwarves find acceptable.
Armor
One of the more important bits of costuming for Mythic, if you plan on partaking in combat, is the armor for your character. Dwarves will make use of leathers, chain, and plate, and often mix them for maximum efficiency. Oftentimes, even Dwarves who do not partake in combat will wear armor in some sense, as it is very culturally appropriate to do so.
A note on armor, for Mythic and for Florida: we will be playing in the cooler parts of the year, though that sometimes doesn’t mean too much. This will be a balance of the style you wish to portray and your ability to survive in the heat. When wearing armor, you will still need to wear layers to protect yourself from the armor; often heavier armor requires more padding, whereas lighter armor will be more breathable. For further armor recommendations, please see the catalog above or ask one of the Dwarven Marshals.
Leather armor is very commonly used by Dwarves, although those who wish to stand in the front lines often use leather armor as a base and coat it further in metal. Leather will typically be dyed in the brighter colors that the Dwarves prefer, and leathers studded in metal or colored in jewel tones are much preferred.
Chain is rarely found in angled links, as rounded links are the typical chainmail style, although such chain mail does exist. However, it is sometimes impractical for Dwarves to use only angled items, and Dwarves will wear chainmail with round links with little issue. This will be shirts, head coverings, and even beard protection.
Plate armor is not uncommon, and typically will be painted with runes, clan symbols, or military insignias. Once more, not every style of armor needs hard angles, however, most Dwarven armor has a very particular look that you will recognize when you see it. The gamibisons or leathers that one should wear under the plate to protect one’s skin from the metal is easy to find in darker colors and often makes a good base.
Dwarven styles shields will have their typical angles present, though in a pinch Dwarves will make use of any shield if needed.
Weapons
Dwarven weapons follow their aesthetic values and are angled when possible. However, in the world of foam weapons, perfectly angled weapons are rare. Try to make use of weapons that are safe and easy for yourself to use, and choose the things that are appropriate to Dwarven style as well as you can manage it. Before you purchase anything, make sure that it is a weapon that is safe for use in the game. That last part is important- the weapon needs to meet the safety checks to make sure it will not injure anyone at game. Before any purchase, please check with the Marshal staff.
Dwarven Proficient Weapons
Dwarves are very proficient with axes, hammers and crossbows that are traditional to their culture. All of these weapons exist in LARP safe forms.
Non-Dwarven Proficient Weapons
Some Dwarves, however, may wish to master something a bit more exotic, and sometimes set themselves apart from their brethren. Some will take up polearms or knives for their practicality, and some may even turn to swords. Just understand that such weapons do not benefit from the traditional training of the Dwarves, but it is not unheard-of to go down this road.
Body Art
Dwarves will often mark themselves to either honor their ancestors, to instill power (runes) or wisdom, or to intimidate their enemies.
Some Dwarves use scarification to count those they have slain personally in combat; their marks will cover their arms, chest, shoulders, and eventually the whole of their bodies should they live through interesting enough times. Many Dwarves wear scars received from beasts that nearly took their lives in order to demonstrate their tenacity, and they will boast proudly of the tales. Although scarification was used by a number of the Dwarves prior to the Shadow Dwarves, this particular group took the tradition to new heights. See below for further information on Shadow Dwarf scarification.
Tattooing among the Dwarves is not uncommon, and can be done with the traditional black ink, but some Dwarves prefer brighter colorations to be added into their skins. These can be as simple as their own personal crafting marks, clan symbols, guild markings, or military units they served in. Dwarves will traditionally tattoo their heads and faces, arms, chests, and backs, so that they can be displayed proudly.
Another long-lived tradition among the Dwarves is applying war paints. The paints are done in the colors of their clans, simple blacks (coal or soot), or blood red (often the blood of their foes). Some will go further to make intricate designs, using multiple colors of paints or complex patterns. Some will have runes written into the paints, using clan words, aspirations, insults, or intimidating phrases. Given that the Dwarves often fight in the darkness of the Deep Realms, glow-in-the-dark pigments are used as well (harvested from the fungi that thrive in the darkness).
Shadow Dwarf Fashions
Although Dwarves tend to share many traits, the Shadow and Stone Dwarves are visually distinct beyond their physical characteristics.
First and foremost, the Shadow Dwarves’ skin color no longer matches the colorations of the Stone Dwarves; this change occurred after their enslavement during their time in the Dark Depths. Their skin tones range from ashen blue, slate gray, dark mahogany. These striking colors stand out starkly to identify them as one of their races.
The Shadow Dwarves were once hunters, and much of that culture remains with them. Often from special hunts, or kills that were truly challenging, they will take a bit of bone of their kill and gild it in metal to be worn as jewelry. It is a display of their prowess as a hunter, and often times has runes or designs scrimshawed into the bone.
Shadow Dwarves also tend to wear the sharper arrowhead-styled scale mail more often than their Stone Dwarf cousins. Given the larger reptiles that the Shadow Dwarves hunt, they will collect and dip their scales in metal or else have metal pressed into the shapes of scales.
However, one of the more striking features of the Shadow Dwarves is their scarification. They will etch stories into their flesh, often telling the stories of their ancestors on their arms, an important part of their histories on their backs and chests, with their legs carrying words of power and aspirations, and their faces telling their own personal stories. This tradition is what allowed the Shadow Dwarves to survive and escape their horrid past. In modern times, this rigid placement of scars isn't always followed, with some using designs or mixing tattoos among their scars. Most, however, will wear some scar upon their flesh to honor their ancestors.
Stone Dwarf Fashions
Stone Dwarves will also tend to some fashions that the Shadow Dwarves will not always follow.
Stone Dwarves often come from much colder environments, and will wear more fur in their styles to keep warm. This can be fur added into the lining of coats, the outside of hats, mantels, or extra padding for belts and the like.
When the Stone Dwarves use scale mail they tend to use hexagon- and octagon-shaped scales, oftentimes with more etchings or engravings marked upon them. They will sew or rivet such metal shapes into their basic clothes, or use them to further enhance their leather armor.
Lastly, Stone Dwarves prefer wide belts, often times with several straps upon them. However, these wide belts are a classical look that the Dwarves favor, as they see it as an added form of armor to help make their figures look all that more fortified.
Southern Stone Dwarf Styles
Although not commonly seen in the Northern Duchies, the Southern Stone Dwarves of the Realm of the Horn do travel northward. Southern Dwarves are not so much a separate race from the Stone Dwarves (like the Shadow Dwarves) so much as they simply have different cultural flair. This culture has been heavily influenced by their trade partners, the Shahnazarian.
In terms of fashion, they redesigned Shahnazarian style into their own as a result of close proximity. This means that they do accept those strange shapes such as curves and often prefer slippers to boots. They will wear sashes, rather than belts. They may prefer Head wraps over fur lined caps or helms. The Dwarves of the Kingdom of the Horn typically wear bright, more delicate makeup, using golds and silvers. They will powder their beards, and often dye them as well in very bright colors. Their clothing will be long and draped silken fabrics, loaded with jewels, beads, metal stampings, their fingers and wrists festooned with shiny jewelry. Further, they tend to wear light armor, such as chain and brigantine, eschewing the heavier armors. Their axes are elegant curved blades, ignoring the more traditional looks of angles.
They have also decided to take everything as an art instead of as a craft, and they are the most talented of artisans. This ranges from battle to even everyday speech. For more information on Shahnazarian style, please reference this Pinterest page. https://www.pinterest.com/angelcatlittle/shahnazar/.&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1645318631334950&usg=AOvVaw3uhfdqVtRCwHAXvx8Tc2lT