Reflect Heat. Light colors will absorb less heat from the sun than dark colors, and may be more comfortable in hot weather.
Natural Fibers. Natural fibers such as cotton, silk, and linen have several advantages over synthetics. They breathe better, and therefore won't feel as hot. There's also safety to consider. If you're likely to be dancing near a fire, natural fibers are much safer in the event a spark flies in your direction. Polyester and other synthetics can be very dangerous around fire.
Washable Fabrics. Historical re-enactment events typically occur outdoors under dusty conditions. Consider fabrics such as cotton that hold up well under washing and beware of fragile design details that might not survive your laundry equipment.
Color. I haven't researched what colors of dyes may have actually existed during the Medieval and Renaissance eras, so I can't advise you on that. But one consideration is to choose colors that will be easy to see in your dance environment. For example, at SCA events, people often enjoy dancing around the campfires at night. Costumes in red, orange, and black would be difficult to see in such lighting, so you might consider colors that would be more visible by firelight.
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The copyright of the article Costumes for SCA and Renaissance Faires - Page 4 in Middle Eastern Dance is owned by Julie Elliot. Permission to republish Costumes for SCA and Renaissance Faires - Page 4 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
