Sometimes it can be difficult to come up with other ways to style a piece of clothing, especially when a garment is associated with a specific time period or population group, such as the Middle Ages or the Vikings. In this blog, we're going to showcase three different looks, all of which have the same Viking dress as their foundation: the Lagertha dress in natural-red.
Look 1 - Viking
Since this dress is originally a Viking dress, we don't want to ignore that styling option. Therefore, our first look with the Lagertha dress is indeed a Viking outfit.
An important aspect of a Viking outfit is layering. The Vikings lived in a cold climate, so layers were essential to staying warm. Additionally, it was common to wear a simple linen dress directly on the skin, so that the woolen or more luxurious "overdress" didn't need to be washed as often. For this look, we've chosen a cream-colored underdress to not detract from the rest of the outfit.
Medieval dress Freya, natural: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/medieval-dress-freya-natural.html
We have more options for underdress in our category Viking dresses & hangerocs.
Over the underdress, our Viking lady wears the Lagertha dress. This dress is also cream-colored but features beautiful red accents along the neckline, sleeves, and hem.
Viking dress Lagertha, natural-red: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/viking-dress-lagertha-natural-red.html
This dress is available in various colors.
The next layer that was customary in a women's Viking outfit is the hangerock. While the underdress protected the overdress from sweat, the hangerock protected the dress from dirt from the outside. It also served as an additional layer for warmth. The hangerock is a fun way to add a splash of color to a Viking look. Therefore, we've given our Viking a cheerful-colored hangerock. After all, the Vikings were fond of color.
Viking hangeroc Tinna, yellow: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/viking-hangeroc-tinna-yellow.html
In our category Viking dresses & hangerocs you can find other options.
To complete the foundation of this ensemble, we've given our Viking a brown pair of ankle boots. These boots were characteristic of the period.
Viking shoes Jorvik with rubber sole, brown: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/viking-shoes-jorvik-with-rubber-sole-brown.html
In the Viking era, the straps of the hangerock were fastened with brooches. These brooches served both as practical items and as decorative pieces. They not only secured the hangerock but also allowed small everyday items to be hung from them, ensuring Viking women always had their belongings close at hand. The brooches were often embellished, and bead chains were also hung between them. We've given our Viking lady an extensive set of items and jewelry.
Dorrestad turtle brooch: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/turtle-brooch-dorestad.html
Necklace Birka: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/necklace-birka.html
Viking jewelry divider Öland: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/viking-jewelry-divider-oeland.html
Bronze Viking comb Ringerike style: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/bronze-viking-comb-ringerike-style.html
Viking bone needle case: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/viking-bone-needle-case.html
Viking key Klyne Mose, bronze: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/viking-key-klyne-mose-bronze.html
Viking jewelry hook, double: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/viking-jewelry-hook-double-98851848.html
Viking necklace, bronze: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/viking-necklace-bronze.html
You can find alternatives in the category Turtle brooches, category Combs, surgery & careand category Sewing & textile.
Belts were also an important component of Viking attire, for both men and women. You could hang various items from your belt, such as pouches and weapons. In this look, our Viking wears a brown leather belt with beautiful belt fittings. Attached to the belt, she carries a practical pouch that is also nicely decorated.
Viking belt Ringerike style: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/viking-belt-ringerike-style.html
Birka bag: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/birka-bag.html
Look for more belts in our category Viking belts.
Look 2 - Dwarf
The second look we've created with the Lagertha dress is not historical but a fantasy look, namely a dwarf costume.
The foundation, of course, is once again the Lagertha dress. We've used the beautiful embroidery of the dress as inspiration to assemble a dwarf costume.
Viking dress Lagertha, natural-red: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/viking-dress-lagertha-natural-red.html
This dress is available in various colors.
Just like with Viking outfits, it's fun and important to work with layers for a dwarf costume. Dwarves live deep in the mountains, so they also inhabit a rather cold environment. In this case, we've had our dwarf wear a skirt over the dress. This immediately creates a very different image from the traditional Viking styling.
Skirt Anna, Brown: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/skirt-anna-brown.html
In our category Medieval skirts you can find more options.
For the shoes, we've kept it quite simple. Sturdy shoes are logical for a race like the dwarves, and they don't need to be very luxurious or elegant.
Viking shoes Jorvik with rubber sole, black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/viking-shoes-jorvik-with-rubber-sole-black.html
Dwarves are often tough and rugged characters, even the women. To give the look this rugged appearance, our dwarf wears a wide leather belt. This belt features coarse details and gives a bit of the feeling of leather armor.
Broad waist belt, black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/broad-waist-belt-black.html
Look in our category Fantasy belts for other options.
As the next layer, and to further emphasize the rugged and cold feeling, we've given our dwarf a fur collar. Fur works wonderfully in a dwarf costume and can be applied in various ways, such as a collar, a fur trim along a garment, or in smaller accessories.
Fur collar Alaska: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/fur-collar-alaska.html
On the forearms, our dwarf wears leather arm guards. These help to enhance the ruggedness of the outfit and complement the wide belt we've given our dwarf.
Leather vambraces Warrior, black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/leather-vambraces-warrior-black-pair.html
We have more vambraces in our category Leather arm & leg armor.
To keep our dwarf comfortably warm, we've added a red cap to the outfit. This also allows us to bring back the red from the dress once again.
Dwarves are known as smiths, not only for weapons but also for jewelry. As a small nod to this aspect of the dwarf race, we've placed a brooch on the cap.
Birka hat herringbone motif, red: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/birka-hat-herringbone-motif-red.html
Germanic/Roman fibula Pannonia, silvered: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/germanic-roman-fibula-pannonia-silvered.html
On the belt, we've hung a couple of accessories for our dwarf. One of the accessories is a leather pouch. These types of pouches are often used as money pouches. They're a practical item to add to an outfit and also help further dress up a look. These accessories may seem simple, but they can really bring a character to life.
Soft leather pouch: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/soft-leather-pouch.html
Another accessory for the belt is a weapon holder. Even a dwarf woman carries a weapon, and she needs somewhere to put it when she's not using it. The weapon we've given our dwarf is an engraved axe.
Re-enanctment axe holder, black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/re-enactment-axe-holder.html
Viking axe, type M, engraved: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/viking-axe-type-m-engraved.html
A festival-appropriate option could be:
LARP hand axe: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/larp-hand-axe.html
As a final accessory, our dwarf wears a beautiful torque. This is once again a nice reference to the forging skills of the dwarf race.
Viking torque Sweden, silvered: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/viking-torque-sweden-silvered.html
For mmore torques you can look in our category Torques.
Look 3 - Druid
The final look of this blog is a druid look. Druids can be both historical and fantasy, which makes them very enjoyable to style. You can effectively incorporate elements from both categories.
Just like in the first two looks, the Lagertha dress is once again the foundation of this outfit. We've used the light base of the dress to create a light costume with a pagan atmosphere.
Viking dress Lagertha, natural-red: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/viking-dress-lagertha-natural-red.html
This dress is available in various colors.
In this druid look, we've used the same shoes as in the Viking outfit. These shoes are neutral and work perfectly in many different looks.
Viking shoes Jorvik with rubber sole, brown: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/viking-shoes-jorvik-with-rubber-sole-brown.html
In this ensemble, we've given our druid two belts. One is a woven belt in the same color as the dress. The texture of this belt fits very well with a druid or pagan-inspired look. The second belt is a thin leather belt. With this belt, we can add a subtle extra color accent, and leather belts are better suited for hanging further accessories.
Waist band Colet, cream: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/waist-band-colet-cream.html
Celtic belt Fionn, light brown: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/celtic-belt-fionn-light-brown.html
In our category Viking belts you can find other options.
On the leather belt, we've hung two accessories. A leather belt pouch, where our druid can store small, magical items. And a small druid knife. Druids often perform rituals that require herbs and plants. The druid knife can be used to gather small plants or to cut them for use.
Brown bag 18x14x6cm: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/brown-bag-18-x-14-x-6-cm.html
For more bags, you can look in our category Roman, Viking, Medieval bags.
Celtic druid knife: https://celticwebmerchant.co.uk/celtic-druid-knife.html
A festival-appropriate alternative could be:
LARP skinner knife with holder, brown: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/larp-skinner-knife-with-holder-brown.html
Our druid also carries a larger bag with her, in the form of a cotton shoulder bag. In this, she can store her gathered herbs and such.
Textile shoulder bag, cream: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/textile-shoulder-bag-cream.html
This bag is available in various colors.
In addition to her knife, our druid also carries a sickle. With the sickle, she can harvest larger plants and herbs that she needs for her rituals.
Hand forged sickle: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/hand-forged-sickle.html
A druid spends a lot of time outdoors. She's always on the lookout for ingredients for her rituals and draws strength and inspiration from nature. To stay warm and protected from the weather, our druid wears a wool cloak with a hood. This cloak features elegant embroideries that are perfect for a look like this.
Embroidered cloak Damia, cream: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/embroidered-cloak-damia-cream.html
In our category Clothing & accessories you can find other cloaks.
The final component of this druid look is a wooden walking stick. Our druid walks a lot and not always on the most easily accessible paths. A walking stick helps her navigate the wilderness safely. Also, a staff is often seen as a status symbol or tool for a spiritual leader like a druid.
Walkingstick Völva staff: https://www.celticwebmerchant.co.uk/walking-stick-volva-staff.html
If you would rather use a staff instead of a walking stick, you can look in our category LARP staffs, spears & halberds.