Echoppe medievale is a store based in France specialized in the historical medieval recreation. From garments to accessories and even decoration and music, you'll find all you need to set up your own party inspired in the Middle Ages even books of calligraphy and other backdrop utilities including the drinks (for example hypocras!) for your party and event the ambient medieval music!. All you may need to read about for your medieval wedding or renaissance fair event and to get ideas from but also to discover some exclusive findings. You can browse their website in french but also in English and Spanish.

Gowns, weapons, headpieces, tuniques, robes and other props for your medieval feast

Above: Example of medieval hats. Medieval burlet and cale

It includes also a selection of medieval, celtic and elven  jewelry like this headpiece

It has also a nice selection of garments both for ladies and men. Dresses, shirts, vests, tunics... I really liked this one for the guys in my band ! :) looks great with some leather bracelets!

Above: True historical medieval shirt lacing in the collar and button in the wrist flax colour cotton unbleached

Lots of lovely items for Renaissance fair lovers!!

Always searching for new ideas Merimask is a  self taught leather mask maker from USA. You can watch a big gallery of her  masks at the crafter Deviant Art gallery where you can contact her to commission a mask and get a custom made done, or you can browse her Merimask etsy store to see the items  ready to ship (in case that you can´t wait!). She´s worked for theater works in Japan (and in fact many of her models seems to be nourished by japanese folklore and even anime) and also for Ralph Lauren and Circus du Soleil.

This is my favorite :) (along with the wolves :). I like the dragons too!! Difficult to choose! I'd love to commission a viking design white wolf for my videoclip... or maybe get the barn owl... arg!! By the way this barn owl is a nice addition to those ones attempting to dress like Jareth, refresh your memory reading our article about  Jareth, the Goblin King) of along a wintery hood and snow landscape. Nice barn owl masks are a rare find!
The masks are  hand carved from one piece of 8oz leather, hand shaped, and painted with Liquitex acrylics

Don´t worry if you see an item is sold... if it was ever done, she can custom made it to you.

Some example of dragons, there are some very ambitious "chinese dragon" and asian motifs.

Above: Skull dragon mask 

Above: Chinese dragon mask in black and silver.

But there is more... Ancient Egypt deities, animals, accessories...

There´s a limited  number of each model being done, but really there are no two items are alike. Each is a signed, dated (in some cases, numbered) piece.

For Steampunk lovers here you have as example a custom pair of masks done for a wedding

You can also network and be up to date with her latest news at her facebook page

You can read more about it in this wikipedia entry about the ruff  so you can read the basic definition and get to know what we´re talking about.

One really interesting point to start with is to visit the website Elizabethan costume, because it will offer you most of the backdrop and articles you need to make sure you get to known in an accurate way how an elizabethan dress is done and that include of course the ruffs linking to several articles. In this article you can see old portraits so you can see the evolution of the ruff from 1530 to 1590 from modest to big standing structures rebatos or suportasses. The website includes also several tutorials and tips to contruct your own elizabethan ruff
They even have a calculator for the measurements needed

In The Renaissance tailor you will find a tutorial and also the story of this collars, with some tips and trips about how to make them in different styles.

 In this website you can learn how to starch a ruff so it holds its shape

In farthingales you can see how to build the structure of a wired ruff like the one below. This one is really great tutorial cos it shows you step by step and though the result looks modest, it can be then customisable  

This another tutorial where you can see tips and trips in the making of a standing ruff made by Yosa (that we previously covered in her own  Silks and Velvets article  using an alternative method with velcro for making the supporting structure. Very interesting, and very gorgeous result and pictures with golden lace.

Lazy to try it yourself? It's really a challenge even for the skilled seamstress but you can purchase some already made standing ruff in the etsy store  "Costume Renaissance". One gorgeous example of their items below:

Other options is to use your imagination to make other sorts of ruffs that are not elizabethan for your fantasy garments... This is my first try using a feather cocke tream and wire and same fake branches to make a "feather standing ruff" for a dryad dress

In this other website Very Seamstress you can find some of the finest elizabethan whisks and supportasses

lizabethan whisks are frequently seen in portraits of Queen Elizabeth I and consist of a wired frame covered with sheer fabric. The whisk frame typically appears to surround her shoulders and sometimes her head in an almost-haloed effect.

Very seamstress sells also suportasses like this one:

In ebay you can find a little store called liliasluxurycostumes that sell already made ruffs and also wrist ruffs and even ruffs for your pets (cats and dogs)  they look so royal!! LOL

Above: cat with elizabethan ruff from liliasluxurycostumes. Somehow very Gibli!

Another inexpensive simple ruff at calicoannie.net for just 35$

You can see also some other example of feather ruffs in etsy like this one from antiseptic fashion

Now matter how it's done or what materials are used, the standing ruff always will add an aristocratic air and distinction to your garment. And they always look so... so... WICKED!

Dollflesh.etsy.com is where you'll find most of Louise Black corsets  and also many accessories and jewelry items. They also keep the LouiseBlack etsy store as partner site.

The corsets are almost one of a kind, with a very limited production, elegant yet somehow decadent. One of the  of the signatures of her corsets is the lace trimmed cameo featuring images, and the chose can´t´be more decadent eerie and disturbing,  being the highlight the "skeleton" ones :) that create this curious optical effect (LADIES Halloween is almost there, and this one is a success-guarantee!!)

Above: one of the most popular designs: silk Victorian Steampunk anatomical skeleton cameo corset

There are similar versions with Edgar Allan Poe portrait or a disturbing red heart (for a TellTale Heart Tribute), with Marie Antoinette motif  and many others... all equally eerie

Above: Telltale Heart corset and Marie Antoinette corset.

By the way regarding Marie Antoinette you can find other ideas and complements to go with this item  in our article about Marie Antoinette.

You can also get one custom sewn, I particularly would highlight the "Steampunk" one. But you´ll find them all vintage and strange... or even moody and romantic.

The corsets will pull in your waist a couple inches and give your mid-section a waspy, hour glass appearance. They are custom made to your measurements so it can take up to 10 weeks to be done.

It lists also some chokers and jewelry items in the same "mood" and vibe of her costumes like this lovely choker in a romantic rococo style

You can network with the designer at her twitter or facebook accounts.

They are building an official site (while they are still operating in etsy) that seems it will be located at dollflesh.com

 

Mojo Leather is a store that feature fine leather work to enhance your historical garment. It was founded in 2003 by crafter Nathaniel Gandy.  He is committed to custom leather crafting as both an art form and a skilled trade. The workshop is located in South Carolina, and Mojo Leather is proud to manufacture products that are made in the U.S.A. They sell NO imported or pre-assembled products. Mojo’s merchandise line includes belts, pouches, bracers, armor, sporrans and more! In fact they have a 100% money back return guarantee if you don't find what you buy up to your expectations but also guarantee by the accurate and fine job done that you will do, and if not read the comments from other happy customers.

Aside from the etsy store they also list auctions on Mojo Leather shop at  ebay

Scottish sporrans and kilt belts, bracers, pouches, bags, weapon accesories and more... All with the finest quality and handmade in their workshop

Tooled Tassel Sporran. This exquisite pouch is hand tooled with an intricate celtic dog and knot design (one of my favorites). Maybe because I love celtic dogs and I also love the  choice of colors of this one, it really highlights the pattern.

Oh look at the "elven" package.... I want this for my performing garments... snif!! love the shape and fae leave shape. Maybe it is cos I love greens and browns matching with the color of the forest.

The kit includes also an elven mug strap... all with the elegance of the leaves and green color. Snif... I do love it!
As we previously covered some articles about vikings here´s an example of bag fitting for those garments.

Viking norse leather bag 

Leather bracers
 

They also run an etsy store, in case you want to have a look to their listings there, though the gallery and catalog in the official site is rather much more succulent and  complete.

The Well dressed lady is a company that makes lovely historical garments at really affordable prices result of the work of the designer and seamstress Frankie Laporte, based in USA. Mostly custom made to your site they also have some ready to wear things. It includes some lovely historical garments from elizabethan, Boleyn, italian renaissance... but also quite affordable and ready for a wide range of budgets.

Above: Italian renaissance dress, one of my favorites, perfect for a Juliet dress or also similar to the ones in the movie "Ever After"

Aside from the official site where you can see a gallery they also run a "well dressed lady ebay store" where they add some listings and offers so you should not have to miss to bookmark it as well.

Above: Gold Elizabethan Renaissance Gown
Stunning damask gown in gold/bronze with burgundy accents. Complete ensemble: boned bodice, pleated overskirt (for which you may need a bumroll or hoop to highlight), forepanel, and tie-on sleeves.  The dress can be made in other colors but you need to request information about that matter.






  Embroidered taffeta overdress, this color is lovely for a Christmas spirit or Mrs Claus too, and can be ordered in other colors as well


You can find also some undergarments like  blouses and chemises to wear below the overdresses like this one in cotton muslin in ivory or white that you can request in custom length

All items are custom made to fit your size and the listings keep on changing. I'm also sure that the seller will welcome to commission any of the items that they've sold as most of the items are couture made only.

TPF faeriewear is a clothing  company based in UK that makes urban faerie wear

As the  TPF official site site is currently under construction most of the activity and latest models can be seen and purchased directly to Helen Robinson directly  by email of  from her Facebook of Myspace TPF networking sites. I recommend you to start by the Facebook one cos it includes an open gallery of models, her contact and also a happy customers gallery so you can make an idea of what you'll get. Most of the items are lovely for a informal daily fairy wear... I simply love the hoodies!. All garments look fitting for extremely vivid and happy people. And sure indeed they look like so!

She creates also some corsets which are made of fabrics that are not typical brocades but looking some more tribal or informal and still looking  like a stylizing corset due to the shape. With stars or ravens stamped and in sorts of bright colors.

This is a "pirate" inspired costume. Hat, corset and bustle

She also makes some coats and hoodies... I love the hoods, they're so cute and wearable... there are a wealth of colors and motifs but also in forest browns and greens and simple if you want them to match with other pixie wear you may have.

Oh and I simply love the furry ones... I'd love one in white!!

But we do not fish here... there are a lot of things more you can have a look at!

Above: Red and black ladybird Gown and big bustle (wings are creation of another crafter Silly pixie creations which we will cover in the future.You can find these big bustles in ragged ghostly whites (my favorites) and other stripped colors and lengths.

You can find also accessories like bags, pixie pointed pocket belts (cute and so useful to wear even over your jeans) and even mini top hats like this one

hmm somhoe is very Tim Burton's!

The twilight parlour is the home website of AZAC designs and Azrael´s accomplice designs where they list their corset works, underpinnings, bridal gowns, masquerade and cocktail and masquerade gowns... A delightful, strange, alluring  and beautiful collection of the highest quality to discover.  The company was founded and still run by the skilled and creative designerTracy Robertson, known as "Batty" in the underground fashion/subculture. The passion behind the designs is really obvious, nourishing from vintage, modern, historical, gothic and a wealth of influences. So here I go with some handpicks so you can make an idea of what i'm talking about!

 
Above: Fairytale princess dress: Though it can be obviously used as a wedding dress I like this dress cos it reminds me a bit to Sarah ball gown in "Labyrinth".

This is another of my favorites This gown is based  and inspired  their popular fairytale princess gown,but slightly adapted to reflect the styling of the White Queen gown from Mr. Burton's movie Alice In Wonderland.
She also has lovely some rococo and Marie Antoinette designs that we have mentioned in our article "Marie Antoinette and other rococo fantasies"

In the mood of some victorian/ghost/steampunk?

The Ghost Town Belle gown is a decadent journey into Victorian style and modern wear-ability.The gown is made of a delicious combination of high quality 100% silk dupioni, shiny lustrous satin, and gorgeous beaded lace. It can be ordered in different colors.

They have also an Azac etsy store  and also one in ebay where you can see some of their listings. Be ready for some gorgeous garments!!

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