Anne Boleyn was a beautiful and witty woman of the 16th century. She attracted the attention of King Henry VIII as a young lady of Queen Katherine's court and he ended up falling madly in love and divorcing his wife to marry her. Anne failed to produce a male heir for King Henry VIII and fell from favor. She was beheaded three years after becoming Queen of England on charges of Witchcraft and Adultery. During her life, Anne lived vicariously and boldly. In the English court, she attracted not only the King but many other lovers as well; this was due to her intelligence, sophistication, sense of humor, and originality. Her life story is fascinating and you might enjoy learning more about her. Here are some suggestions for dressing up as Anne Boleyn.
Steps
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Wear a long dress lined with braid and beads in the manner shown in the image here, or the one above. If you purchase a plain black dress from a thrift store, you will be able to enhance it using ribbon, beads and other craft accessories - if you are no good at sewing, try gluing these on. And if you cannot find a dress that is long-flowing, opt for a long skirt and top combination.
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Do your hair in the style of Anne Boleyn. As seen in the photo, Anne is frequently depicted with her hair pulled back under a french hood like the picture above, or under a cap.
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Wear the ruffled collar. If wished, add a ruffled collar as shown in the image above. This may be difficult to replicate; ask at your local costume hire store for assistance. Or, you can also wear the necklace that is a trademark of Anne Boleyn. It was a necklace with a "B" and 3 pearls hanging from the B. You can find it on any shopping site.
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Don't be afraid to be original: During Anne's time, it was considered beautiful for women to have pale skin and blonde hair. Anne's dark hair and coloring stood out tremendously in the English court, yet instead of being ashamed of her difference she truly owned it. Try to show this style in the way you wear your Anne Boleyn look.
Tips
- Try reading about Anne Boleyn or watching the series The Tudors.\*
- and also try to be confident and coy, that will really sell the costume
- Try wearing lace sleeves to cover up your alleged 6th finger ;)
Warnings
- Make sure to wear finer fabrics like fur and velvet, or at least faux-fur/velvet, but make sure you don't wear anything too glitzy or silky.
- Do not wear a ruffled collar if trying to be Anne because that is the wrong time period.