Larp garb

As LARP is a form of thematic theater, you usually need special clothing that fits the theme (setting) of the game. The fewer modern items (such as shirts, sports shoes, and jeans) visible in the gaming area, the more intense your gaming experience will be.

A lot of merchants and organizers, along with invested and experienced players, can offer helpful advice for choosing the right garments. Some events also spell out guidelines with clear dress codes, allowing newer players to arrange their clothing accordingly. This is also a great way to get in touch with like-minded people.

What do you need to consider when choosing your LARP garments?

Depending on the type of the event, the location where it takes place, and the season, your clothing will need to meet a number of different requirements.

LARP events can be held at a variety of places—remote meadows, deep forests, sailing ships or castles, for instance—during the summer as well as the winter, so you’ll need to prepare for the weather and climate as well as for varying circumstances. A tried and proven method to achieve this is the Onion Principle, according to which you wear layers of tunics as necessary and top these off with a flap coat or a cloak during the winter. You might also want to consider headwear, as it protects you from heat, rain, and sunstroke.

You also need to consider whether you want to participate in skirmishes or battles, because, should the event take place over a couple of days, you’ll certainly want to change your sweaty tunic once in a while. If it rains during the event, then you’ll probably want to change while your soaked clothes dry next to the campfire.

LARP garments should be comfortable

Because the first thing you’ll notice about LARP characters are their garments, it is worth paying some extra attention to the process of choosing the right LARP outfit. One deciding factor, though, is comfort—after all, you’ll be wearing these clothes over an entire weekend. Immersed in the events of the game, you can easily spend sixteen hours or more running around, fighting, climbing, or participating in some other activity, so your clothing should not restrict or encumber you in such a way that it detracts from your experience.

It is also advisable to pack an extra set of clothing or a comfortable alternative to your street clothes in order to be able to take a time out from your character without disrupting the game, while enjoying your lunch or a night at the campfire.