Heretical Costume ideas

• One of those irksome beltpacks could serve as a bustle.
• Two irksome beltpacks on the hips (one on each, of course) could be 18th century panniers for a child.
• "Rip! Zip! Pop!" (as related to me by Katlyn: one of the women who plays a noble at faire has a court gown where the stomacher is held on with velcro, and the bodice zips up the front. Sounds really easy to get into, and wonderfully onomatopia-ish to get out of!)
• A tube with several hula hoops in it (hopefully WITHOUT the beads!), one above the other (in heraldic terms: in pale) would probably work nicely in a French farthingdale; just put the casings on the inside, so the ridges won't be seen.
• Wide white elastic as a base for wrist ruffs is pretty-much invisible, and means that you don't have to close them each time you put them on.
• Velcro or snaps would work well on a closed-neck ruff.
• A zipper in the front of a frogged doublet (with a suitable flap covering it, of course) would make the gapping problem go away.
• A broomstick skirt (with all of the crinkles washed out) pinned to leggings makes nice slops in a hurry, if they aren't going to be looked at closely.
• To create one of those round blade-thingies from Xena, an Aerobie, painted up nicely would work.
• For those unable/disinclined to make/purchase/otherwise acquire an Edwardian corset, a tight sports bra and funny posture (roll your hips back) should fake the look fairly well.