Recommended Research Sites
Online Costumers
- Ninya Mikhaila
- this is where I go to feel hopelessly inadequate.
- Lynn McMaster's Costume Pages
- Sometimes, the best way to learn is to see the work other's have done. She
does some of the best...
- Isabella's
Frocks - If you're ever looking for a good case of costume envy, this
is one of the best places to go.
- M'Lady's Wardrobe - Bess Chilver's
incredible wardrobe.
- Seamstrix - Bristol's
own Karen Berquist. I get to follow her around and drool on her gowns at faire,
but y'all can do the same online.
- Teddy's costume work,
gallery, and diaries.
- Melanie Schuessler
- This site has some incredible gallery photos of truly professional quality
costumes.
- Guy is a perfectly marvelous
fellow with one of the most stunningly *perfect* costumes I have ever seen.
He has a 'work in progress' diary of that costume, which took 1st place for
male noble at Bristol ('00), online.
- Realm of Venus -
Bella Lucia's site full of articles, portraits, and costumes.
- Oonagh's Own - A lovely site
showing a lot of non-english fashions, all extremely well done.
- Eva's Costume Page
- the work of a lovely swedish costumer. I don't normally like modern recreations
of medieval costumes, but Eva's are fantastic in their simplicity and grace.
Online Suppliers
(I'm only recommending three here, so you know they're good.)
- Fabrics.com -- The only online fabric store
I've personally used. They're absolutely excellent, and I highly recommend
them. Excellent prices, incredibly fast service, friendly owners -- basically,
they're da bomb.
- Denver Fabrics -- Denver fabrics
has been a total godsend when I've done work for clients (especially long
distance clients). Their selection is great, their customer service is *phenomonal*,
and their prices make me happy. Denver Fabrics has an incredible selection
of *everything* for the historical costumer -- silks, velvets, brocades, supplies
and sundries, resources to help, etc. They've recently added a whole section
of renaissance
notions - boning, coutil corset fabric (yeah, yeah, so that's technically
victorian), and all sorts of other goodies.
- CheepTrims -- This is the only online trim
shop I even think about ordering from. Their prices and selection are both
fabulous.
Books
Ok, I haven't gotten around to making my list of books yet.
Until I do, please use the links on
The Costumer's Manifesto Booklist -- it's a fabulously complete, well organized
list, and you'll be helping to support Tara's hard work maintaining her site
through her Amazon.com affiliation.
Errata
Your friendly neighborhood sempstress can usually, during the
bristol season, be found in the Friends
of the Faire garden - I'm a proud member and official hench. (No, not wench...
Hench!)
