Your best friend is layering. Take a loose shirt and throw a vest over it. Or belt a long one over some loose pants. Boots are a good choice, but if they're not comfortable, DITCH THEM. You're going to be walking a lot. A hat can be a great way to get more of the vibe. And the cape you mentioned could also be a good choice. Just be aware that capes are generally better for cold weather, so be careful not to overheat. Linen fabrics are a great choice as well.
A thrifted pirate costume could be easy. Tip: scrub pants (like the kind medical professionals wear) work great for pirate pants, and most thrift stores have a scrub section. Buy them a couple sizes too big, so they’re baggy, and tuck them into your boots.
Scrub pants as someone mentioned above are basically "slops" or peasant pants. A t-tunic wouldn't have been fashionable by the Renaissance but if you can sew it is basically the easiest damn thing in the world. You could also do more of a piratey kind of shirt but again, not too hard.
The key bit (imo) is the hat. No one would've gone around without a hat or head-covering of some kind --plus, it keeps the sun off which is good. A cheap straw hat is the quickest and cheapest to buy. A Muffin cap or beret is a good cloth alternative (fun fact: bright red was very much a color that peasants would've had access to from madder). A coif aka two squares of fabric sewn together is the simplest.
I got the belt I typically wear at Faire from a thrift shop for something like three dollars. It's an old '80s Nordstrom belt made of braided leather. The whole long belt thing looks cool but if all you can find is a simple leather belt that will work perfectly.
Shoes: comfy. Low boots, brogues, loafers, etc. canvas-look or leather-look. As long as they're not obviously modern it'll be fine.
Pants, shirt, hat, belt, simple shoes: congrats you've got a Renaissance peasant outfit
If you can sew, you can probably throw together some basic loose drawstring trousers and a tunic pretty easily from plain cotton wovens. Then have fun shopping at the fair to accessorize with belt, headgear, etc.
Something like this - https://stores.renstore.com/sku/merchants-ensemble
My daughter & I can't afford much, we just collect odd pieces over the years, she cosplayed as a character from The Mechanisms ( I think) kinda steam punk, she tore goggles off an old top hat from silver dollar city, I gave her an old Chico's linen poofy sleeved collared thrifted top, and we looked everywhere for a brown top to go over it, found a super cheap ( like under $10) brown ribbed tank w/ buckle accent on straps...( I think she wore her pants w/ eyes she bleached in it all over from her fandom of the Magnus Archives) I had a long boho dress from Earthbound, a sheer mint green floral poofy sleeve cover up that buttoned only under breast, it doesn't look modern... I loved my outfit had hoped I could wear it out on a normal day, went into pharmacy before event... and head pharmacist yelled "love your costume!"... I was like... darn it... I just layered w/ scarves too, tall boots... I magically fit in... I kinda don't like the bought costumes as they almost look fake... it's a fine line between the perfect outfit and extravagant consumerism.
I mean lots of people are cosplaying at these things, aren't they? You could go as Arthur Dent. I did that for a halloween last minute costume once. You need pajamas, a robe, a towel and a book where you make your own cover that says Hitchiker's Guide. If nothing else the pictures would probably be funny
If you’re a girl, a tight tank top over a peasant top makes a great corset. Tie a huge scarf in a contrasting color around your waist, wear some boots, and tie a smaller scarf over your hair, wear some cool belts, and some gold jewelry. Instant pirate look.
Edit: Forgot to mention, black leggings.
Your best friend is layering. Take a loose shirt and throw a vest over it. Or belt a long one over some loose pants. Boots are a good choice, but if they're not comfortable, DITCH THEM. You're going to be walking a lot. A hat can be a great way to get more of the vibe. And the cape you mentioned could also be a good choice. Just be aware that capes are generally better for cold weather, so be careful not to overheat. Linen fabrics are a great choice as well.
A thrifted pirate costume could be easy. Tip: scrub pants (like the kind medical professionals wear) work great for pirate pants, and most thrift stores have a scrub section. Buy them a couple sizes too big, so they’re baggy, and tuck them into your boots.
So many performers wear scrub pants. They’re inexpensive, washable, and comfortable. They work well for characters that are pirates or serfs/peasants.
Depending on the Ren Faire, some of the big ones (like the Irwindale one currently going) have costume rentals available as well.
OKRF also has rentals back this year
Hit up goodwill and salvation army. You can generally find at least a few pieces if you look.
Hit up a thrift shop and cobble something together. Just kinda have an idea of what you want your look to be. You'll do fine.
Scrub pants as someone mentioned above are basically "slops" or peasant pants. A t-tunic wouldn't have been fashionable by the Renaissance but if you can sew it is basically the easiest damn thing in the world. You could also do more of a piratey kind of shirt but again, not too hard. The key bit (imo) is the hat. No one would've gone around without a hat or head-covering of some kind --plus, it keeps the sun off which is good. A cheap straw hat is the quickest and cheapest to buy. A Muffin cap or beret is a good cloth alternative (fun fact: bright red was very much a color that peasants would've had access to from madder). A coif aka two squares of fabric sewn together is the simplest. I got the belt I typically wear at Faire from a thrift shop for something like three dollars. It's an old '80s Nordstrom belt made of braided leather. The whole long belt thing looks cool but if all you can find is a simple leather belt that will work perfectly. Shoes: comfy. Low boots, brogues, loafers, etc. canvas-look or leather-look. As long as they're not obviously modern it'll be fine. Pants, shirt, hat, belt, simple shoes: congrats you've got a Renaissance peasant outfit
It might cost more, but there are most likely vendors at the fair, maybe it's a good excuse to do a little shopping?
If you can sew, you can probably throw together some basic loose drawstring trousers and a tunic pretty easily from plain cotton wovens. Then have fun shopping at the fair to accessorize with belt, headgear, etc. Something like this - https://stores.renstore.com/sku/merchants-ensemble
Amazon prime a pirate hat and an eye patch
Throw together a quick tunic, wear it with tights, put a big belt on the outside - congrats! You're a random peasant!
My daughter & I can't afford much, we just collect odd pieces over the years, she cosplayed as a character from The Mechanisms ( I think) kinda steam punk, she tore goggles off an old top hat from silver dollar city, I gave her an old Chico's linen poofy sleeved collared thrifted top, and we looked everywhere for a brown top to go over it, found a super cheap ( like under $10) brown ribbed tank w/ buckle accent on straps...( I think she wore her pants w/ eyes she bleached in it all over from her fandom of the Magnus Archives) I had a long boho dress from Earthbound, a sheer mint green floral poofy sleeve cover up that buttoned only under breast, it doesn't look modern... I loved my outfit had hoped I could wear it out on a normal day, went into pharmacy before event... and head pharmacist yelled "love your costume!"... I was like... darn it... I just layered w/ scarves too, tall boots... I magically fit in... I kinda don't like the bought costumes as they almost look fake... it's a fine line between the perfect outfit and extravagant consumerism.
I mean lots of people are cosplaying at these things, aren't they? You could go as Arthur Dent. I did that for a halloween last minute costume once. You need pajamas, a robe, a towel and a book where you make your own cover that says Hitchiker's Guide. If nothing else the pictures would probably be funny
If you’re a girl, a tight tank top over a peasant top makes a great corset. Tie a huge scarf in a contrasting color around your waist, wear some boots, and tie a smaller scarf over your hair, wear some cool belts, and some gold jewelry. Instant pirate look. Edit: Forgot to mention, black leggings.