Midsummer Fantasy Ren Faire 2024

Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Festival, 2024

Is the Knight held captive by the Fae or are they working together?

The last weekend in June was the first weekend of the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Festival. I decided that since my birthday was to fall on a Monday this year, I might as well start celebrating it the weekend before. So the first thing I did was to attend my favorite small local renaissance faire. This Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Festival is so small it will seem rather underwhelming to folks who have visited a town that is an all year round Renaissance Faire.  BUT, it's my favorite because I love to see my favorite acts like The Harlot Queens, Foxy and the Bard, and Shakespeare Approves!, which may not play at other local festivals. I also run into people I know approximately every 20 minutes on average. It's nice to catch up with local folks who I might just see this one time a year, that aren't specifically involved in EGL fashion or other fashion groups. 

We attended this faire two weekends in a row last year, and you can see what I wore for summer fashion in my "What do You Wear to a Renaissance Faire?" post. This year I knew going in that it would be hot, possibly muggy. I had certainly acquired a few more EGL pieces as well as a real renaissance faire dress that comes with detachable sleeves that I got at the fall faire last year. I even learned how to wear the corset Pahl got me last year for my birthday at our first weekend at the Midsummer Faire. What would I wear this time?

Front and Back styling of Gothic EGL set from Alice Girl

I decided that I was going to go as a gothic fairy. I already wore part of this outfit for the Cherry Blossom Festival this year, and now that it was warm enough to wear less layers, I could showcase another version of this outfit. This piece comes from the Chinese indie brand Alice Girl and is referred to as the Gothic Blood Rose Skirt and Corset. This time I am also wearing the matching bolero instead of a warm fluffy cardigan.

I kept my hair almost the same with the the rose and crystal headbands, but instead of leaving my hair down, I put it up in a high ponytail and braid. I stuck the fascinator that had been placed at the waist of the skirt before in the upper part of my ponytail for visual balance. I also incorporated additional colors of silver and black. The day was threatening rain and there was mud in some areas of the field, so I could not wear my precious EGL shoes for the occasion!  Instead I wore black boots that matched the black and silver waist pouch that I wore to hold money, ID, and keys. I repeated the silver in my bright silver tights paired with silver fairy wings and silver fairy ear cuffs.

I also kept the Ribbon Hem on the bottom of the skirt, which is another separate piece to this this outfit. I had to ditch the matching flowing trailing this time, as it was practically dragging on the ground because I received no additional height from these boots compared to my platform shoes I wore with it last time. I also didn't wear the matching choker this time either. Basically if you wear the bolero you can't wear the choker. I don't make the rules, but it felt like the neck bow brooch of the bolero and the rose and beaded detailing of the choker were competing too much with each other. 

​Believe it or not, there are still additional accessories for this outfit that I purchased at the same that I haven't worn with it yet. It's a very versatile outfit and you can buy all the pieces separately, so if you like the bolero and the flowing trail for something else in your wardrobe, but don't want the skirt and corset because it's too gothic, then you have that option. 

I can't forget to mention these beautiful embroidered black and pearl wrist cuffs my friend Amy gave me for Christmas. They bring the black closer to my head if I hold them near my face!

Up until now, you might have been wondering why it is referred to as a Gothic style when it is light pink. If you look closely, there are bat wings at the middle of the bodice after the intercrossing ribbons and the lace is actually pink crosses. The textural pattern on the bodice and skirt is a thick sort of rose brocade. All of these elements tend to land in the Gothic style category more frequently than not. This outfit also fits into the subcategory of Ero style because of its corset like bodice, slightly exposed shoulders, and shorter length skirt. 

Photo credit to Kit Catlett

Photo credit to Kit Catlett

You can see all of the details I mentioned much better in the professional photos that my friend Kit Catlett took at the faire. It just worked out that I was standing in front of a tapestry with branches that seemed to be sprouting out of my shoulders while matching the red details in my outfit. The wand prop is actually a wand that Pahl made for me. He said it was supposed to go with a fairy outfit. Sadly, it broke on the way home in my bag. Apparently the wood was "not that good" to begin with. 

For some reason, it looks better if I point the wand up, but I would never actually use it like that...

Did we defeat the trolls or are we in for trouble...you decide

I am not afraid of you!

All in all I had a wonderful time wearing this outfit again. It only took me 10 minutes to put on as opposed to the first time where it took about 40 minutes of figuring out how to assemble it  with all the layers and accessories. I also enjoyed meeting friends at the faire. It was an excellent start to my birthday weekend!!