Where to begin? New Kit in the working..

[Sir Jason Simonds]

So I am thinking about doing Late 14th Century. Who wants to help me put a kit together??

I will need to get pretty much everything from top to bottom.
As far as clothing items, I think I am capable of making most of them myself just need patterns.

I am trying to keep my budget to around $1000.00

And Go!

[Sir Wolf]

soft kit (clothing) or armour or all together?

[Sir Jason Simonds]

All of it.

Right now I have tall boots for regular Ren Faire attire, but not shoes for armor.
I will need all forms of clothing, top to bottom.
Also need armor pieces from top to bottom.

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

[Sir Brian]

Well you said on Saturday that you'd probably make your own arming clothes right? That will save you quite a bit there and it is where you want to start. A decent riveted flat ring habergeon would probably be next. Legs are going to be a challenge on that budget though. 

[Ian]

For the sake of full disclosure, you've picked a terrible time period for the budget you've selected, assuming you're interested in a knightly or even man-at-arms kit.  A full harness of 14th century plate armor and appropriate soft kit cannot be had for less than $1,000 combined unless you really just want costume pieces.

[Sir Jason Simonds]

Well that is just a starting budget. Looking at starting my kit, $1000.00 is what I have available now to get going.

[Ian]

Well that is just a starting budget. Looking at starting my kit, $1000.00 is what I have available now to get going.

Ah, well then I would advise starting from the skin outward, and beginning with a soft kit, and then arming garments, and then armor.

If you aren't afraid to sew, The Medieval Tailor's Assistant is a good resource for learning how to pattern, and has example garments broken out by time period.

Run a search on http://manuscriptminiatures.com/ and familiarize yourself with the typical fashions of the late 14th century, and if you want to make it nice an accurate, try to narrow down your preferences by geographic location and to within a decade or two.

For armor, do the same on http://effigiesandbrasses.com/.

Once you've got a good handle on the visual aesthetic of the late 14th century, then you can start some sewing projects or purchases depending on what you decide.

[Sir Jason Simonds]

Yeah that is the plan. I am planning on making as much as possible as far as garments are concerned. Definitely need to get some more research done.

[Sir William]

Oh boy, are you in for it Jason! 

At least you're approaching it w/a plan in mind...I think I'll cry if I ever sit down to tabulate just how much I've spent on weapons and armor since I started.  Really cry.  lol

[Sir Jason Simonds]

Yeah, I don't think I have enough time to complete my kit by start of MD Faire but I'm gonna give it a go.

First I need to get busy on the Soft side of the kit, and start locating the rest to begin purchases.

Please feel free to leave links for items that you think will suit me for late 14th century.

[Sir Jason Simonds]

Looking at this helm as an option.

http://www.amazon.com/Szco-Supplies-Brass-Crusader-Helmet/dp/B007XP1ECS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398894256&sr=8-1&keywords=crusader+helm

[Ian]

That helmet is very much out of date by the late 14th century.

The late 14th century helmets would include bascinets of different styles, (open faced, houndskull or klappvisor depending on wealth and geographic location), or chapel de fer (kettle hats).. but great helms aren't really a battlefield helmet in the late 14th.

[Aiden of Oreland]

That helmet is very much out of date by the late 14th century.

The late 14th century helmets would include bascinets of different styles, (open faced, houndskull or klappvisor depending on wealth and geographic location), or chapel de fer (kettle hats).. but great helms aren't really a battlefield helmet in the late 14th.

Except for the Pembridge that was used until 1450's, but even then, after that point it became less of a battlefield helmet and more of a tournament helm. Usually warn with a open face bascinet or secret helm. It looks something like this Jason:  http://clang.adkinssoftware.com/hist%20helm/pembridge%2001.html

[Ian]

The pembridge helm is very different helm than the one linked.  Late 14th century Great Helms seems to have much more rounded features than their boxy predecessors.  What may seem like small stylistic differences can mean the difference of 50 or 100 years or more.  Even then, by this time as Aiden mentioned, the great helm was largely relegated to the tourney field.  It would eventually morph in to the Frogmouth helms of the mid 15th century.

What I would suggest is if you like a particular helmet, or style of armor that you decide you want to base your kit around, then do just that.  For example, if you love that style of helmet, than maybe a 13th century kit is what you're really after.  Don't try to force armor in to an arbitrary time period if you're interested in historical accuracy.  Just shift the time period to match the style of armor you're interested in.

[Aiden of Oreland]

The pembridge helm is very different helm than the one linked.  Late 14th century Great Helms seems to have much more rounded features than their boxy predecessors.  What may seem like small stylistic differences can mean the difference of 50 or 100 years or more.  Even then, by this time as Aiden mentioned, the great helm was largely relegated to the tourney field.  It would eventually morph in to the Frogmouth helms of the mid 15th century.

I know it is a different helmet and different style, but it was to follow the category of a great helm, not that particular style.

Let me ask you this Jason. Why do you want to do a 14th century? For the armor? Favorite period of study? Are you interested in authenticity? Also what country are you going for?

Is this what you are going for? It's rather broad and not specific, but just to try and help narrow it down.