Re-enactment / historical question

[Salvianus]

As a living historian myself, I would highly recommend this article on authenticity & documentation: http://www.re-enactmentevents.com/re-enact/Proposal.php[/B][/COLOR][/FONT]

I like that article a lot, Alan Gutchess summarises the research approach to living history very effectively. I particularly like his advice to minimize the effect of any speculation you have to make.

For me, re-enactment is about giving as acccurate a portrayal as current research allows, with room for reasoned inference and variety in interpretation: thats part of the fun for me, but plenty of folk prefer to focus on craft or weapon skills, or just immersion in the campfire life without spending all their time in the library, so just go for a simpler, low status impression and there's not much to argue with.

So my advice is to aim to achieve the humblest outfit - a simple tunic (a big poofy shirt down to kilt length might do it ) and a plain brown thin leather belt with a D buckle. If you aren't happy with the belt hoik the tunic up to overhang and obscure it. If you want a mantle, I'd avoid a proper tartan plaid, but you might be able to drape a rough weave plain or simple check blanket over your shoulder, cutting off any modern zig zag machine stitching and maybe pin it on the right shoulder or so it goes in a loop under the opposite armpit with a thin stick sharpened to make a big thorn shape. With some rough string and a bit of care folding it that can replace a bag/pocket. Shoes are always the hardest, but you might be able to pick up something basic enough: to me they look a bit like leather slippers - low with flat external soles. I've done an event in bare feet, but only the once...

You might find William E. Wilson's page on the subject useful:
http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~wew/celt-clothing/

Have a good time