Womens Outfit - Ladies please help

[gmm213]

I am looking at buying my fiancee an outfit. She has never been to a Festival but has been to a few larping events before we met and enjoyed them. I want to surprise her with something. I am hoping an entire outfit not piecing it together.If i can piece something nice off the same site though I wouldn't mind that. I also don't want to spend more than $400ish for the entire thing until she decides she really likes going. I have always made my own outfits, or when I did buy I bought them at a festival. I wear a tunic, chain mail, hauberk, cloak. I want something to match my outfit. She is a very tiny girl, but I want something that accents her figure nicely. She is especially small in the chest so it makes it harder. She will not wear a gown but possibly a longer skirt and blouse and a corset. Other than this I could probably get her to wear just about anything with relative ease.

Making something isn't out of the question but I know she'll want nicer quality that what I can sew. A skirt probably isn't out of my skill but blouses and corsets are.

[FoxFire]

Check the sticky thread at the top of the board for trusted online merchants. Many of them carry all of the pieces of a basic women's ensemble, and some sell them together as sets. You should be able to get a set all from one merchant easily. Make sure to look for natural fibers do her garb will be comfortable.  Under 400 in easily do-able for a basic peasant wench look of chemise, bodice and skirt.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

If you're not going custom, which is more expensive, then you can get great, well-made garb from The Very Merry Seamstress.  Heather is a Forum member, and her clothing is beautiful, holds up really well (my cloak is 15 years old and still looks new), and you can get a full outfit in your price range.  Highly recommended!

[isabelladangelo]

If you can sew, a chemise is not out of your skill level at all.  It's nothing more than a 1 1/2 yard of fabric (rectangle) for the front and back, about a yard for each sleeve, and then two 8"x8" squares for the gussets.  Go to the sewing board where we have a couple of threads on simple sewing patterns available online. 

If she's not a girly girl, you might find, she'll be more comfortable in a more medieval style dress rather than a chemise, skirt, and stays.  (ie, Elizabethan style).



The entire package for the above dress, smock, sleeves, stockings, and coif is $270.  The awesome part of the package is that the sleeves, smock, and stockings can be used for a very wide variety of eras - so even if she doesn't like the dress, she can use everything else for other outfits.  There are quite a few illuminations from the late 15th c, showing women wearing this style with their skirts hiked up (by a belt) while they worked outside.   It was sort of a t-shirt and jeans at the start of the Renaissance. 

[Oswyn Fenecote]

I am in love with pendragon stuff. It's not exactly historically accurate, but It is well made, comfortable, and within your price range. Also with lots of options. It is a piece together kind of site, but its killer stuff.
Here is the link to the women's clothing section. I have several of their male items, and LOVE what they do!

http://www.pendragoncostumes.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=pendragon&Category_Code=tooled_bodices

[Oswyn Fenecote]

On another note, ladies can be quite picky with their clothes... I nkow you want to surprise her, but keep in mind she may like to choose it herself? I don't want to dissuade you from this AWESOME and SWEEt gift, but I don't want you to spend all of that money on something, and her not really enjoy it... But if you know her well enough, go for it! what a great surprise!

[max and kate]

the Frock shop makes real good quality and comfy women's clothing. 

[stonebiscuit]

I absolutely agree with Oswyn that she will probably want to select her own garb. My advice: buy her a gift certificate. Many merchants will do them. If you wish, you can make it part of a scavenger hunt that starts when she gets her tickets, goes to many pre-arranged festival activities (remember to tip well), and ends at the booth where she will be able to shop to her heart's content. I did that for my sister's birthday many times, and she always got a kick out of it. It's a fun and exciting way to see the festival, and what a great surprise at the end! Plus, it will give her some time to look around and see what other people are wearing.

[arbcoind]

Do you have her measurements?  Women's sizing varies widely.  Also she may wear a smaller size on top than on bottom and a one size fits all approach will not work.  I agree with Oswyn and stonebiscuit that she should select her own garb, mainly to get the sizing right.  I don't think you want to spend $ only to have to return the item(s).

Gina

[Prima]

I agree with the other ladies- let her pick it out!  So much fun to pick out new garb!  Maybe visit a faire with your merchant of choice and let her play dress up?

[gmm213]

Thats probably what Ill do. Maybe Ill suprise her with the actual tickets to a fest then. Or maybe Ill make her some maille. Shes always loving my hauberk