Muggle World - Wizard Robes

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 117638


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Juli <jlnbtr at y...> wrote:

>  
> Juli now: 
> ...edited...
> 
> ... it just doesn't feel right, just like wearing jeans under the 
> robes. Besides, I don't think the robes are anything like a
> judge's, in GoF Fleur says she won't be able to fit in her gown, which
>  means they aren't so wide as to make you feel like a nun, they must 
> have some shape.
> 
> Juli - wondering why she's thought so much about wizard clothes

bboyminn:

We discussed wizard robes and period costumes in the past, but it's
been a long time, so here is a suggestion - search Google for
'medieval wizard robes' and you will come across an amazing number of
links (10,000 actually). Like links to- 

Simplicity Sewing Patters - sew your own.
http://www.simplicity.com/index.cfm?cat=4&type=19&sec=0&id=59&startrow=1
 
Simplicity example - Adult Wizard Robes
http://www.simplicity.com/design.cfm?designId=10706&design=9753

Simplicity example - Adult Medieval Robe
http://www.simplicity.com/design.cfm?designId=10419&design=5925

Medieval Weapons Arts - Monk's Robe
http://www.mwart.com/xq/ASP/pid.1127/cat.139/qx/product.htm

Order Of Merlin - Harry Potter Costumes
http://www.orderofmerlin.com/generic3.html

I think the Adult robes in the books are very closee to the classic
fairytale wizard robes and close to the adult wizard robes in the movie. 

However, I think it's reasonable for the kid's school wizard robes to
have been modified and somewhat modernized over time. So, while they
do resemble classic wizard robes, they are really just an
over/outer-robe similar to but not quite as modern as those seen in
the movie.

I suspect that clothing worn in the implied era was made of many
layers because it was very difficult to heat castles and other
medieval buildings. Consequently, it would have been reasonable for
the outer wizard's robe that we see to conceal a lighter underrobe,
which concealed some type of underclothing or tights. 

I guess my point is that modern wizard kids and the official school
robes would have been more of an outer covering for the sake of
tradition and the underclothing would have been somewhat normal by
modern standards.

Difficult to say with any real degree of accuracy. This being fiction,
and fiction being moldable to the author's will and the reader's
fancy, I can certainly see JKR intending the robes to be a very
simplified versions of the fancy robes wizards are seen to wear in
fantasy books and artwork with those magical themes. Since wizards are
fiction, wizard robes are mostly based on fantasy with just a trace of
reality thrown in. 

Other good themes to persue in Google searches would be things like 
'costumes wizard robes' or 'Medieval wizard costumes' or 'fantasy
costumes', etc.... 

http://www.authenticwardrobe.com/Wizards_Witches/wizards_witches.html

http://www.silvermane.com/MR/MR-8312.html

Garb World - Monks Robes
http://www.garbtheworld.com/pgs/robes.shtml

I think a somewhat more simplified version of these monks robes would
be close to what JKR intended the Howarts robes to look like. 

Just a few fun link for those who are interested.

Steve/bboyminn (was bboy_mn)