costume guide

The Whirls of Pontar is a costume LARP, requiring participants to prepare costumes that fit the world of The Witcher as visualized in the game series by CD PROJEKT RED. Below, we present a handful of ideas for preparing costumes for different groups, so that one glance at a character is enough to determine who they are and which group they belong to.

General tips 

The basic rules for creating a costume are as follows:

• The costume should be comfortable and provide thermal comfort regardless of the weather (we can expect heat, rain, and nighttime chill, so it is a good idea to wear natural fabrics and layers: from a dress/tunic, through an outer layer, to a coat.

• Be inspired by fantasy films/series, games from The Witcher series, and Sapkowski's books. The appearance of the characters should be based on fashion from the first half of the 16th century, from the late Middle Ages to the Renaissance.

• Age elements of your outfits or entire styles [see video] to give the impression that they have a history and are not brand new.

• Look for second-hand items – they are often cheaper and will get a new lease of life.

• Protect your shoes from moisture with a waterproofing agent.

• Pamiętaj, że strój ma odpowiadać charakterowi i pozycji postaci, która go nosi.  

Clothes that give the impression of being fairly new, maintained in relative cleanliness and freshness, strong colors, contrasts, fashionable cuts and abundant ornamentation are the domain of the wealthier characters.

The costumes of the poorer natives, are tattered and faded from the sun. They may not lack subtle ornamentation, and the materials attest to a relatively prosperous life in the village, but one looks in vain for vivid colors, modern cuts or fashionable accessories. 

The world outside indulges in small pleasures. Fancy headgear, generous collars, liquor flasks clipped to belts, snuff boxes, toys, instruments or bags of dice are accessories often seen in Continental people.

We allow the use of non-climatic health-related items and devices, and eyeglasses, but suggest the use of contact lenses. 

How to prepare an outfit from scratch, where to get the elements?

The base of the outfit

The base is the starting point for creating an outfit and choosing accessories, the foundation of how a given character looks. Start by putting together a sensible base so that you can later expand the concept of the character's appearance with additional elements.

What do you need?

• (preferably linen) shirt or tunic - more than one set, because the LARP lasts several days

• outer dress / pants and outer covering

• headgear, matching the character

• thematic and comfortable (!) footwear and socks

• accessories such as jewelry, a leather belt, a pouch, a bag or a purse for small items

• other accessories, depending on the character (e.g., work tools, safe weapons, armor, a fan).

Where to get it?

To make a good impression, your costume doesn't have to be expensive, but it will require more time and work.  How to get started?

• Start with your own wardrobe – maybe there are some leather boots at the bottom, a linen tablecloth that could be used as underwear, or an embroidered shirt bought as a souvenir from a trip ;)

• Check who in your circle could lend you items of clothing or accessories (maybe you have friends in a theater group or a folk band?)

• Browse offers on social media sales groups, check out manufacturers' websites and places like Vinded or Etsy.

• Visit second-hand clothing stores - they're a great place to find simple linen trousers or shirts, leather shoes and woolen scarves.

• Alter what you find (either by yourself or with the help of a seamstress), hiding modern elements, aging the fabric, and adding layers.

• Order from your favorite artisan.

Why is it worth the effort?

The appearance of the characters is one of the elements that make up the world we will be playing in. The more thoughtful, refined, and consistent with the character's personality, function, and history the costume is, the easier it is to feel like you really are the person you are playing. The more details, nuances, and distinctive features the costume has, the more recognizable and memorable the character becomes.  Being able to recognize a character's role at a glance affects the dynamics of your relationship with them and the entire game.

It's worth putting effort into making your costume, because you can use it at other LARPs with a similar theme :) (or resell it).

Group Visual Identification

In May, you will receive our suggestions aimed at organizing how characters belonging to specific groups should look. We want characters associated with a given theme not to look identical, even if they occupy a similar niche in the world. Our goal is for each group to be visually distinct at first glance, in a way that leaves no doubt about who is who.