Elizabethan Costuming by Carolyn Schultz. Authentic Everyday Dress of the Renaissance by Christopher Weiditz. Vecellio's Renaissance Costume Book by Cesare, Vecellio. The 13th, 14th and 15th Centuries by Mary G. Houston.
Colors Use earthtones, browns, greens, golds, rusts, and variations there-of.
Do not use flourescents, bright reds, blacks, pastels, or bright or modern looking colors. Purple is reserved for the Queen herself and pure white is an upperclass color. Purple was extracted from crushed snails and crimson from crushed beetles. Different textured fabrics will give you the look of functional clothing and not a costume. Don't even think about using prints, velour, sheers, gingham, seersucker, etc.