September is drawing near, marking the end of the two months I have spent being immersed in Medieval fantasy. I feel like you can spend a whole year dedicating yourself to fantasy music, games, movies, shows, books, crafts, and activities and not run out of things to experience for at least a year, probably more!

Two months doesn’t seem quite long enough, but at the same time I am ready for something different. I will definitely circle back to the topic and still be having fun with aspects for medieval fantasy even if it isn’t a central theme here on the blog!

For this last themed post, I wanted to end it with something super fun. In June, I posted a mermaid lookbook and playlist and I’ve been itching to do another one.

Welcome to my Medieval Fantasy “Choose Your Character” lookbook! I took inspiration from video games to come up with outfits, strengths, weaknesses, and songs. I used what I already had in my closet to complete these outfits, so while they are loosely based on the middle ages, I still hope to give off the impression of something just short of ancient, and close to magical.

What are you waiting for? Choose Your Character!

𝔐𝔦𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔢𝔩

Character Strength: Stealth

Character Weakness: Physical strength

Extra Trait: Premonition

The Medieval Minstrel preforms songs of life, legends, truth, and tale. She is an excellent eavesdropper, for anything can be turned into the next big hit that will land her a permanent residency in a castle, preforming for nobles. She has quite the library of knowledge relating to political and local ongoings and always has the latest news update.

Though she believes all of her knowledge comes from the mouths of others, she always has a burning feeling that something will happen, and soon. Her dreams seem to replicate themselves in reality, far in advance. She knows a castle residency will keep her safe, but what musical inspiration can come from monotony? She knows there will be a big shift, and she is uneased at not knowing how quickly it will happen. She has been dreaming about it in glimpses of immense heat and impossibly large feathers for months. The Minstrel has the instinct to cross the river, is it really wise to question “Why”?

We have many instruments, but in my haste to take photos before rain started to pour down I couldn’t find a single one. I had to use a wooden dowel to imitate a flute. Just pretend, okay?

Bardcore Song: Summertime Sadness Cover

Something about this summer makes her feel like it’s the last time she’ll see everything as it always has been…

Modern song: Sparrow by Simon and Garfunkle

This song seems like a good Minstrel- sung story, and I have a soft spot for Sparrows as well as a love for Simon & Garfunkle.

I loved creating this outfit. A Minstrel wasn’t even in my list of potential characters when I was brainstorming this post, but when I put on each piece of clothing the story came together.

My headpiece came from a stall at the Renaissance Festival in Muskogee, Oklahoma. It is absolutely beautiful, and completely handmade. The beads take on an amber hue, but reflect colors in direct light. I imagine it was gifted to the Minstrel, flirting the gift into her hands after a castle performance.

The chain itself is made so that hair will never be caught in-between the links. The top is a recent thrift, and the brand is Free People. I also thrifted the skirt, I’m not sure what the brand is.

The bracelet/arm cuff is also from the renaissance fair of a different year, from my mom. Because of the time period I was inspired by, I went with very minimal makeup. All I am wearing is some eyeshadow and blush at the tops of my cheeks, to try and give off the sunned look of singing on a stage during daylight.

Even though I feel like a naked mole rat without eyeliner, I really like how these photos turned out. They were all done by me, with my phone and tripod. I edited the photos using the VSCO app, and no AI was used in any of the photos in this post.

𝔚𝔦𝔷𝔞𝔯𝔡

Character strength: Memory

Character weakness: Usually in the right place at the wrong time.

Extra Trait: Extra storage

The next character on our list is the Wizard. This was the inspiration for the entire post, and why? Because I sewed that wizard hat myself! I saw a few Halloween videos of a girl wearing one, and I went down a rabbithole.

Within the week, I had drug out all of my fabric and started scrapping *cough* quilting together fabric. Using measurements from a tutorial, I cut and completed the hat within 2 days. I am not a pro-seamstress, this hat is far from perfect and the brim is not even symmetrical all the way around, but it is my Autumn treasure. It works great as a sun hat, as well.

Bardcore song: Day N Nite- Medieval Bardcore Version

Wizards are casting spells day n nite, going on quests that take days n nites, and relying on themselves to know the routes, passages, connections, puzzles, regardless of if they have accumulated an entourage during the quest has got to be isolating. You have to have an amazing memory in order to be a good wizard.

Modern song: Anything but Ordinary by Avril Lavigne

To go with the fish eye photo inspiration, I had to go with an Avril song. The Wizard pushes the limits of a proper Lady daily, I mean look what she did with her skirt! She is anything but ordinary, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

One thing I found really funny about setting up my tripod and taking photos for each of these characters is the personality shifts I went through. Without meaning to, I started to embody the character I had dressed up as.

For the wizard, she is the granddaughter of a highly powerful wizard who raised her from childhood. She has a rebellious streak and often gets into trouble whether she steps into it willingly or not. She has a hard time saying no to any side quest and has tomboy qualities.

For some reason, this outfit made me want to recreate funny pop culture pictures.

As I already mentioned, I made the hat myself. The tank top is from Walmart, the flowy pants are from Earthbound. I stole the shawl from my mom many years ago and I’m not sure what the brand is.

For accessories, I have a stack of necklaces, a mix of a newer one I bought myself from Who-Knows-Where, a piece from my grandma, and a necklace that is actually a glasses chain from Dollar Tree circa 2015. The bracelets’ origins are of a similar vein. Glasses are from the optometrist 😛.

Around my waist I threw on a bandana, a faux fur racoon tail, and for my trinket and spell bag I used a caramel Crown bag that’s a few years old now, lol. The color went with my hat and it’s a good size, you can’t expect a wizard to not settle down at a tavern every once in a while.

Here’s a real photo of the Wizard’s powers so that you never doubt them:

They may be willing to walk long journeys, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t get winded when it’s hot outside. What did you think the staff’s real use was?

𝔎𝔫𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱

Strength: Physical power

Weakness: Predisposed to violence depending on location’s loyalties

Extra Trait: Endurance

While on the outside strangers see the marks of strength, discipline, and unhesitating loyalty to the King, this Knight is also introspective and quietly follows the beat of his own drum. Though trained to work as a one minded team, he stands out from his peers because he is always alone at his own table.

At each encampment, he will venture into nearby villages, with or without permission. He may have a friendly face, but the crest he wears upon his chest is impression enough for some to blame him for the wrongdoings of the King. Does he explore just out of boredom to instigate the locals, or is he in search of something? What were his true intentions when he swore into knighthood?

I am not the only person in my family who is a fantasy lover. While drafting character ideas, I knew I had just the right person with a perfect outfit for one of the most popular Medieval archetypes: Knight!

The last time we were at the Muskogee Renaissance Festival, we had gone on the very last day of the season. It was great, there were less people, and some vendors were giving out trinkets. I was given a necklace and earring set which was such a surprise, and my brother went off to do something only a true Middle Age villager could do: Barter and trade.

I don’t remember what he had brought to trade, but he walked into the same shop that I had gotten my headdress from and walked out with a chainmail shirt, hood, and chest plate.

It was a hot summer day when we took these photos, so we just went with the chainmail instead of the full ensemble. Under the piece de resistance, is my brother’s daily uniform: a plain t-shirt with no graphic, jeans, and tennis shoes.

Bardcore song: Boulevard of Broken Dreams- Medieval Style Instrumental

It isn’t safe to walk the village streets alone, but what harm can come of a Knight?

Modern song: Sympathy by Too Close To Touch

Who is that, running up?

Seems to be a female knight, but she’s acting kind of strange. I know knights can be cocky, but she’s kind of a show off with only her hood.

Wait, she’s a faker! Take that hood back!

She’s fast as a fox, he didn’t even have time to draw his sword. Now the Knight is out like a light.

Wearing black, with a left hook like that, it has to be the-!

ℜ𝔬𝔤𝔲𝔢

Strength: Agility

Weakness: Impulsive

Extra Trait: High situational awareness, you can’t catch them off guard

Where did she even come from? No one knows. Her reputation is by word of mouth, because she is never seen in the same village twice. Each time she leaves, storage barns are left unlocked, precious jewels are missing, and there is always a tale or two of a dark and mysterious woman getting caught up in tavern brawls and leaving without a scratch or bruise.

Once it is pieced together that the missing belongings and the brief visit of the woman coincide, word travels of the the Rogue. The only issue is, even if the next town over anticipates the sneaky arrival, they never catch her. The Rogue is a master of disguise, though she never hides her face. How is that so? She has to run out of villages in the kingdom to loot and scoot eventually, what will she do then?

Bardcore song: Where The Hood At- Medieval Bardcore Version

I wonder if the owner of that chainmail hood is wondering where in the world it disappeared to, or if the owner’s head was included in the loot. Do we really want to know the answer? I doubt the Rouge will give an honest answer, anyway!

Modern song: The Final Episode (Let’s Change the Channel) by Asking Alexandria

There’s something off about the Rogue, I don’t know if they’re exactly sane. Something hard-core suits them very well.

This was a last minute outfit, because I figured if I was going out to take pictures of my bother, I may as well use it to my advantage. The corset top is another recent thrift, I got it at the same time as the Free People shirt for my Minstrel outfit. The fold over leggings are from Walmart, and the sandals I just threw on to get out the door haha!

I went without a lot of jewelry in order to stay as silent as stealthy as possible, and rubbed on some dark gray eyeshadow. Oh, what is she doing now?!

𝔖𝔱𝔞𝔯𝔱 𝔊𝔞𝔪𝔢?

Four characters, each with a mysterious mission. Each has a trade off of strength and weakness. Will their paths cross, or will each character experience their own story in the first rumblings of disaster? That is up for you to decide.

Who will you choose?

If you made it to the end, thank you so much for reading. This was such a fun post to write, probably one of my favorites of this year so far!