Costume Guide
Our game is set on a remote Scottish island in 1953. The setting has a huge influence on the clothing that our characters would wear. These women live far away from cities, and so modern fashion may be a distant dream for most of them! When we think about the 1950s, we often bring to mind glamorous models or movie stars: these are not the characters portrayed in this game!
Below are some things to consider when planning your costume for this game: practicality vs fashion! More information can be found within the Design Documents for each game run- these are emailed out to participants.
We have also included some information on our jewellery meta-technique. This is also discussed further in the game style section.
Practicality
Most of our characters live on small holdings or work as part of the fishing industry. Their clothes would reflect the need for protection from the weather. Thick jumpers, warm coats, housecoats. Wool, tweed and cotton are common fabrics that wear and wash well. Some of our characters might wear men's clothing to face the hard January weather. By contrast, a few of our Wise Women do not perform manual labour on a daily basis and so do not require such hard wearing clothing.
Fashion
A character who has a modern outlook and opportunity to shop on the mainland might follow the latest trends. This would include full calf-length skirts and dresses, with softer lines and a move away from the more strongly angular tailoring of the 1940s. The waist is nipped in or cinched with a thin belt. Fabrics are colourful and patterned, plaids and tartans are popular. However, a character who cares not a thing for all this frippery might dress in men’s trousers, wellies and a tweed jacket!
Costume to Avoid
Whilst there are lots of options, there are some things that we would like you to avoid:
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Dresses or skirts that rise above the knee
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Showing cleavage
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Obviously synthetic materials like lycra, polyester or ‘fleece’ fabric. Neon colours
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Stereotypical 1950s American looks: poodle skirts, leather jackets, rockabilly styles, Hollywood glamour, Mods & Rockers
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Stereotypical Scottish looks: highland dress
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Heavy eye make-up, nail varnish or super fashionable hair (unless your character is from the city or a particularly rebellious type!)
Jewellery
The only mandatory aspect of costume in our games is the meta-technique associated with the use of jewellery. All participants are free to wear any jewellery that they deem appropriate, with the exception of necklaces and brooches. These are reserved as an off-game indication of a character’s status; in-game they are not to be remarked upon.
Social Status
This is a reflection of a character’s standing in the wider society of Gearrannan and the Isle of Lewis, and is generally connected to their husband’s profession. Our high status characters include the wife of a boat-owner, an electrician, and a Minister. Low status characters include most of our younger Wise Women, who have not yet gained significant standing in the community. In this game the social status of a character is denoted by the number of strands of beads in their necklace: high status characters having 3 strands, 2 for middle status, and 1 strand for low status characters.
Talent Status
This relates to perceived strength or affinity for the Talent and also the length of time a particular character has been active in the Wise Women community. Our high status Wise Women are leaders in the group, those who have been active for many years, or those who show a particularly strong link to the power of the ocean. Low status characters include those who have rejected the Talent, been cast out of the Wise Women community, as well as those who have only recently discovered that they possess the Talent, or have been absent for many years. In this game the Talent status of a characters is shown by the material used in the brooch she wears: high status characters have gem or diamond brooches, middle status have pearl brooches, and low status have marcasite.
* The Newcomers automatically have a low social and Talent status because they are unknown. This is not necessarily a reflection of their true wealth or strength of Talent.
High social status (3 beads strands)
High Talent status (gem stone brooch)
Middle social status (2 bead strands)
Middle Talent status (pearl brooch)
Low social status (1 bead strand)
Low Talent status (marcasite brooch)
We can provide necklaces and brooches for all of our characters. Of course participants can bring their own jewellery if they prefer.