How to embrace your inner Middle-earth for UK's first hobbits festival

Want to dress like a hobbit? Then you ought to be thinking waistcoats, walking sticks and dresses - but you might draw the line at going barefoot.

Hundreds of people will be dressing like the Middle-earth characters as they attend the UK's first hobbit festival

The five-day Brandywine Festival, at Weston Park on the Shropshire-Staffordshire border, invites its guests to dress up and act like the little folk throughout.

To help with the immersion, the event, which starts on Wednesday, sets out how they should behave, to make sure they stay in character.

Tolkien-fans can take accuracy of their universe very seriously, so it helps to know the rules.

Kyle Pedley, from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, is a self-described hobbit super fan: "I've been involved in Lord of the Rings for over 20 years now, so I've got all sorts of costumes."

He will be attending the festival at Weston Park on 12th September: "More than ever, when you look at the world and everything that's going on in it at the moment, I think it's just a bit of escapism."

Becoming a hobbit was attractive, he said, because "it's a calling back to a simpler time and you kind of immerse into this world which is very jubilant, it's very celebratory".

"It's very positive, it's very simple and it's a much calmer pace of life."

So what is his advice for people wanting to become hobbits?

He said the fantasy characters were "very pastoral" in their appearance, so suggested "natural tones, natural materials - obviously no plastics or anything like that".

But there is some room for variety: "If you really dig into the detail, it kind of depends on what kind of family you're from and which part of the Shire you're on, because there's obviously more affluent families."

Wealthier hobbits might wear "richer velvet waistcoats and over-jackets and little bits of finery" he explained.

Waistcoats, jackets, walking sticks and maybe some kind of satchel or bag also make it into the typical hobbit costume, he said, with women usually wearing dresses.

Three-quarter length trousers are "one of the trademarks for the men" - but another hobbit trademark, their feet, can be more problematic.

In The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien explains they walk around barefoot, "because their feet grow naturally leathery soles".

But Pedley said, while a lot of people dressed as the characters will go barefoot at festivals, it can be a problem on rough ground or long walks and some wear shoes or even prosthetic feet.

So what are the rules for the event at Weston Park?

The Brandywine Festival has published detailed guidance and suggests male hobbits wear cotton or linen shirts with three-quarter length trousers.

Waistcoats, jackets and coats are also suggested, along with braces.

Female hobbits also have a clothing guide and the festival suggests wool, cotton or linen dresses, worn over undershirts and petticoats and optional bodices and jackets.

Tolkien wrote that hobbits "dress in bright colours, chiefly green and yellow" and the festival says they wore clothing which in "bright, cheerful colors, which reflect their generally happy and contented disposition".

The important thing is that all modern clothing, patterns, logos and materials are not allowed.

The festival also gives detailed advice on accessories, including hats, bags and jewellery.

Men are also asked to avoid facial hair and women area asked to keep makeup "simple and natural-looking".

But when it comes to shoes - or not wearing them - the festival concedes that might not be practical for human beings walking around a campsite with bare feet it.

While modern footwear is not allowed, a spokesperson said "simple leather flat shoes, slippers without adornment, or possibly shorter boots" are acceptable.

However, there is more to being a hobbit than having the correct clothes - you have to get into the character too.

The Brandywine Festival says: "Hobbits are merry folk, who eat and drink heartily."

They are "a rustic folk" and also a "good-natured people who like a life of peace and quiet".

Many hobbits, like Bilbo Baggins, the main character from The Hobbit, are also naturally cautious.

Visitors to Brandywine are even encouraged adopt an old-English style of speech to sound like the hobbits from the books.

For people wanting to become hobbits for events like this, Pedley's advice is not to hold back and to fully embrace the setting.

"Most people, they're pretty dedicated to be honest, come rain or shine they're usually going all out," he said.

"Go along with an idea of what you want to do and what you want your character to be, but don't over think it."

Taking part did not need be expensive, he added and reassured first-timers they would be "in a group of very like-minded people".

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.