Well, you may all know that I like fantasy costumes... in fact I keep a blog about fantasy costumes called YOUR FANTASY COSTUME :) I created a while back to bookmark all the fancy things I like (or would long or crave to buy for my performances hahah). Anyway, as I'm an illustrator I like to draw and design garments... the problem was that despite making some crafts like crowns and some easy customizations I really never had any skill for sewing... yes... not even a button or fixing a sock!! But last month my friend and designer Alassie (from El Costurero Real that we previously covered in your fantasy costume article "El Costurero Real: King Arthur´s legends") encouraged me and a couple of friends to make a garment for ourselves to attend to her faerie birthday party and for a couple of weeks, all girls gathered on a weekly workshop :) to learn to make our own garment for the party... So it was FUN and we were busy bees and it was so lovely to see that we were creating our own dresses... I felt very accomplished and I know it´s my first and maybe not so perfect (almost hand-made too) but I had never done anything before so I was really proud.
Silks and Velvets is a store with a collection of fantasy, bridal, corsets and wedding and pirate gowns. Designed and custom crafted by costume maker Yosa Addiss which handle all the work from the selection of fabrics till the final result. With 12 years online the shop has an extensive gallery of custom works, and you can also surf among the catalogue of romantic, victorian, pirates, renaissance and ever cyber-geisha style. Below you can see a few examples of the quality of the garments you may find there. Enjoy!
Vaisto is a half-Finnish, half-Russian team of professional textile madness, operating from Helsinki, Finland (why is it that I lately find so many cool things around Findland? Is it maybe I'm learning to play myself the kantele and jouhikko finnish instrument?. Featuring a collection of high quality pieces from costumes, dresses, bags and going even into jewelry with a touch of "tribal" and "psychodelic" and even infused with a tiny bit of hippy spirit and other influences like native American and even african VAISTO showcases a modest yet lovely and handmade unique designs.
LRP STORE is the Europe's largest online retail shop dedicated to the world of Costume, Props and Role-Play. From vampires and pirates to viking and medieval and LOTR AND D&D armor, weapons, accessories and more and also proposals of the matching items to make the most common characters you would like to portray if you're used to play live role play, or just for your freak fun self to party or impress with the right haloween prop. And a note from some of our followers that e-mailed me asking for more "stuff for guys and less girlish.."!! ok, ok! got it, here you have some fun! At your command! The really big highlight of the website are the armor (from pieces like rings and D shaped scales for your "make your own", bracers and also complete already to ship sets (leather, chainmail, roman...)
If you want to go for a custom made dress, here's a wonderful site that features the works of Andralys: Angelique Stock french costume maker and designer. From medieval to victorian and prerraphaelite (like out of a Waterhouse' painting) and even daring to feature some steampunk inspired models, it showcases some custom and one of a kind works and also post her sketches and ideas for her upcoming projects. You can order too bridal garments and just surf among the selected photographs that will expose the quality and versatility of this garments.
Above: leave cushions and blanket... tell me you don't want these on your bed... I DO they're lovely!!
Leafy creations is a lovely store based in Australia that find in the forests and leaves their source of inspiration to make a lovely collection of items inspired in the shape of the leaves. Not only clothing but also home wear like blankets and cushions that will make your room look like a fairy lair or could be also a great asset for theater or performing atrezzo and props . I'd really to love to grab a few at least ;-). Some of the items are customizable in color
Ravenswood leather is a wonderful site that features all sorts of costumes made of leather. Prices can look a bit high at the first sight, but we're talking about really fine quality. They also feature a section to teach you how to take care of the pieces you buy in the store. But it doesn't only feature the most amazing pirate (also ren and futuristic looking) coats for men (and women too) I've seen so far, there you can find all sorts of accesories from belts, to gauntlets, bracers and pirate hats to become a real pirate.They feature the pieces in several colors from plain and classic black to several shades of brown, green and even white.
Moresca is a New York based company specialized in fairy-tale, fantasy and renaissance costumes. I had the chance to see the wonderful bodices, garments, gowns and accesories when I attended as performer to the faeriecon last 2009. I fell in love with the seagull short bodice but I wasn't fast enough! people grabbed them in one day... as lovely as they were. I'll probably will be getting this one for a videoclip. I think it's heavenly adorable. It belongs to the MORESCA "seagull" collection, though I think of an "artic wolf" too and that's the way I want to characterize myself with it.
Tututopia is a shop based in UK that specicalizes in tutus, as simple as that. As you're about to find out, tutus are not only for ballerinas but also for anyone inclined to wear something really cute and magical.
Above: one of my favourite Imp and Pixie coat with asymetrical front Weather is getting colder and you may be looking for a pretty coat to feel warmer and comfortable. Imp and Pixie features a little but lovely collection of coats inspired in the forest magical creatures. They're very wearable and would do also with any jeans for your urban daily life.
