Faire Finery?

[jacilee]

I've never bought any garb before, but I'm ready to start. I've been looking around online, and it's pretty overwhelming for a first-timer.  I'm considering getting this ensemble from Faire Finery:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/150712571/renaissance-wench-or-maiden-reversible?ref=shop_home_active_13

Before I spend that much on garb, I wanted to know if anyone has purchased from Faire Finery before, and if so, what they thought about the quality, etc.  If you have any pictures wearing anything from there, I'd love to see them!  It's hard to get an idea of what something will actually look like when most of the pictures are on a mannequin.

Thanks!

[isabelladangelo]

I haven't bought from them but I do some things of concern.  First, the use of grommets.  Grommets have a tendency to pull at the fabric and rip out.   If they aren't put in correctly, they can also tear any cording used to lace up the bodice.  Of course, because they are way easier than hand sewing a ton of eyelets, most people use them.  Just make sure, via the pictures, that they are put in correctly.   Second, there is no such thing as a reversible bodice.  Any boning will conform to your figure after a few hours of wearing it.  Try wearing it the other way and it will either be painful or the boning may snap.  Not fun.   That she is using what looks like upholstery grade fabrics on both sides is my greatest concern.  Most upholstery fabrics are backed with a rubber backing or otherwise quite thick.  You don't want upholstery grade fabrics - drapery is okay.   Drapery doesn't have a backing and will breathe.   

Although this also uses metal grommets, it looks better made to me: https://www.etsy.com/listing/155840729/green-twill-elizabethan-renaissance?ref=related-1


Have you considered trying to sew yourself one?

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

I see her eBay  store is closed for the moment. I am not sure about her esty store.

[theChuck]

My fiancee and I ordered our pieces from her - specifically this doublet for me and a piece pretty close to this for my significant other. I don't have any pictures on this computer, sadly.

I'll vouch for her as a seller - worked with us to get the colors/materials we wanted. Quality is overall pretty good (though the grommets on my doublet are pulling a bit). I've worn the pieces for three years now and they've held up really well. We get lots of compliments and comments from people on them, and we're overall really happy. One downside: my fiancee's doublet is actually a little too big for her right now, but all sales are final, and she won't do alterations once it's made.

Isabella is sort of right on the materials. My doublet is drapery material; at least one of the materials on the dress is upholstery. Also, grommets are not historically accurate, so if that's a concern, keep that in mind. I don't know about the reversible stuff - ours aren't like that, I don't think.

So yeah, overall I'd say it's worth it. Maybe skip Etsy and contact her directly through her site, though. PM me if you want me to clarify anything.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

For the same amount of money, I'd go with The Very Merry Seamstress.  I will vouch for Heather.  Her work is excellent.  She made me a custom cape, and after 15 years, it still looks brand new, and I get compliments every time I wear it.

She does complete faire outfits for under $150,  the quality is excellent, and the fabrics are beautiful.  She stands by her work,and Heather is also a forum member.

[jacilee]

Thank you all so much for your advice! 

I'm glad to hear you had an overall good experience, theChuck.  I will look into the other stores that were mentioned as well.  I have time before i buy, I'm in the process of losing weight and have a little more to lose before I'm ready to take measurements.

Isabella, I have thought about making my own, but I am looking for a supportive boned bodice in that kind of shape.  I've never even sewed on a button, and I don't even know anyone with a sewing machine.  I thought maybe I could try to do it by hand and just try not to mess up, but I haven't found a good pattern yet either.  The ones I find seem to have weird seams or slightly different shapes, and I don't have the knowledge or skill to really modify them.  I was thinking after buying one I could look a little closer at how it's made and maybe try to make my next one.

[Raelyn Fey]

I bought the chemise used in that picture and love it. However, I used sunscreen at the faire and when I washed it, the muslin stained orange in places because I have hard water. (the sunscreen and hard water caused a 'rust' stain of some sort with the cotton) That's not her fault though. Just be aware of that! I'm buying a new chemise next year to replace it. I'm looking at her leather belts too. I wish I could afford a full outfit. It looks lovely.

[jacilee]

Oh good!  I'm glad to hear another good review, I just love that outfit so much! I know, all this renaissance stuff is pretty pricey, unfortunately I think I'm already addicted  .  Luckily I've got some time before I order, so I'm just saving a little at a time.  That's such a bummer about the sunscreen!  I have hard water too, thanks for the heads up.

[Rowan MacD]

  Lady Renee beat me too it-if you can afford the quality I would second Very Merry Seamstress. Their garb is well made clothing-not a 'costume'. 
  Buying garb is like most things-you get what you pay for.


  As Isabella said: Later on, if you start to make your own garb; you will want to make hand sewn eyelets for lacing.   I found out the hard way that grommets are not nearly as strong, good looking or as fabric friendly as a buttonhole type opening.
   I don't know of any of the cheaper garb vendors that do hand sewn eyelets, it's time consuming, and not nearly as easy as hammering in a metal ring.
 
     Another thing to think about- If the grommets are installed on a cheaper bodice you intend to wear tightly laced-I can guarantee that you will have a couple of them  start to tear out after a season or two.  Pain in the butt.  I have two Sophie's Stitches locklace bodices ($80.00 each) with the same issue sitting in my sewing basket right now. 

There are certain high end vendors who do produce corset strength bodices using machines set metal grommets-like Moresca and Damsel in this Dress, .  These vendors know what they are doing, and their garb is nearly indestructible- but they aren't cheap.  They are also not remotely HA, nor are they trying to be.
   

Note and edit: You are correct to be suspicious about garb that is only shown on mannequins.  If your local faire has a vendor that allows you to try on the garb-I would buy there first.
   You really have no idea looking at a picture how that item will look on you...unless you are a small chested, long waisted size 0. 
   It may be pretty in the picture, but if  that style is not flattering to your body shape, then you will be very disappointed.   

 

[Rowan MacD]

Although this also uses metal grommets, it looks better made to me: https://www.etsy.com/listing/155840729/green-twill-elizabethan-renaissance?ref=related-1

I am book marking this vendor for when I need another front lacing corset.  I wonder if she can include tabs on the bottom?

[Koshiba]

I've been wearing a bodice from Faire Finery since...2009 or 2010  believe. It's a fairly sturdy piece, very supportive, I haven't had any trouble with the grommets at all. That said, when I make a bodice I sandwich the boning between two layers of interlining, then cover it with lining on the inside and fashion fabric on the outside. She seems to use one layer of interlining and one of the fashion fabrics to contain the boning, and within the past year or so one of the pieces of boning has punched through the bottom and started punching through the top of the boning channel.

This photo is from last year I believe. I'm in Faire Finery on the left.

[Ms Trish]

I could be mistaken, but I thought the gal from Faire Finery was a member of this forum...

[jacilee]

 Koshiba, very cute!  It's a big help to see it on a real person. 

I've been doing a little more digging online and found some other photos and a lot of good reviews for Faire Finery.  Like i mentioned, I'll be waiting a bit longer before I order, but it's the look I'm going for and closer to my budget than a lot of the other options I've found, while still seeming to be relatively good quality.  Hearing about the wear and tear theChuck and Koshiba mentioned doesn't bother me too much since they've been wearing the clothes for a few years.

Rowen I agree with you about being able to try things on before buying them, I don't usually order clothes online for that reason, but with something like this the idea of it being custom made for my measurements makes me a little less hesitant.

Hopefully one day I'll be able to make my own, I'm amazed and inspired by all the gorgeous things I see in the sewing forum!

I really appreciate all the great advice!   

[Rowan MacD]

  I wish you luck!

  One last word of caution, and You can ask Lady Renee about her experiences with an online vendor of 'custom' work.   
  Just because someone asks for your measurements does not mean that the item will fit you perfectly, sometimes, not even closely.
 

[isabelladangelo]

Also, know what measurements to give.  I asked for someone's bust measurement before and she gave me her bra size....  I managed to make a placket for the back to help fix the issue but there was no way to fix it to make it fit her the way it should have. 

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

One lesson I learned quickly was have a fitting form in a pdf file that clients can print out to get the measurements I need when making bodices or doublets.  I make 2 muslins, one for the client and one for me. If I need to make alterations, I do that to my muslin before I cut out the other fabrics. Perfect fit or near to it.

[The Wee Wench]

Hello!  I think it's very wise to check with this community before ordering garb.  As the proprietress and seamstress of Faire Finery, I can't say that my way is better than anyone else's, but I can clarify a few things.

1.  I don't use upholstery fabrics with a rubber backing.  That's just silly, and would would make for quite an uncomfortable bodice.  I also rarely use drapery fabrics because they are usually very lightweight (not supportive) and often have a printed design rather than a woven design.  I DO use upholstery fabrics because they are sumptuous, usually heavy weight, are rather expensive and have a woven design rather than a printed design.
2.  I do use metal grommets but they are machine pressed and I use a punch to remove a tiny circle of fabric before applying the metal grommets.  Hand sewing eyelets is labor intensive and I would not be able to charge the reasonable rates I do if I did my grommets any other way.   
3.  In my standard reversible bodice, I use eight pieces of supportive boning, two along the front openings, four in the side seams, and two set in at an angle in the front sections.  These last two pieces are 1/2  inch coated steel boning which have been sewn into heavyweight bone casing, which is then sewn into one side of the upholstery weight fabrics.  The boning stitching is sometimes visible on this side, but I do it in a way that is unobtrusive.  There are four pieces of 1/4 inch coated steel boning sewn into the side seams.  In the front sections alongside the opening, there are two pieces of 1/2 inch boning sewn in beside the grommets.  If a very tight fit is requested, I use steel boning here.  If a medium or comfortable fit is requested, I use a super heavy weight (commercial grade) poly boning in these sections.  In my middle class and court gown bodices (which are not reversible), even more boning is used.  All bodices also contain a layer of heavy decor weight interfacing.
3. There is most certainly such a thing as a reversible bodice.    I've been making them for more than a decade and wear them myself when I attend faires as a patron.
4. As for getting the proper fit, I have a tried and true system for taking measurements which is fully illustrated on a real female body on my website.  I need five pieces of information in order to make a bodice that will fit you perfectly; and if you study my photos carefully, take the measurements accurately, you'll get a beautifully tailored bodice.
5. As for using a dress form to display my garb, it's a matter of practicality.  Every time I make a new ensemble, I can't hire a model to display it for me.  However, you can see that the models on my website look lovely in the garb I made especially for their bodies.
6.  My eBay store is closed because my business is booming on Etsy and my website.  When I need to stem the tide of sales, I close my eBay store.  Three online venues can be overwhelming during the busy season.

Honestly, I'm not trying to sell anyone on my services...I have plenty of work to keep me busy.  Buy from whomever you feel comfortable, but know that I'm always happy to answer questions directly, as are any reputable sellers.  Do your homework, check the seller's Etsy and eBay reviews if possible, and check with this or other Renaissance forums.  The best of luck to you!

[Rowan MacD]

  First, thank you for your clarification and feed back!
   From what you tell us, your products are certainly above the average quality for the price., and you have some glowing testimonials.
   May your business continue to thrive. Wish we had more like you!

  By way of explanation:  A few of use have had bad experiences with online vendors; thus the cautionary comments. 
   If you wish to review some of those stories, I believe some of them can be found here, and in a few other threads:

  http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php/topic,9744.0.html   

 
   Finding a good to excellent vendor is getting harder every day: particularly with the proliferation of Asian seamstresses generating tons of cheap knock offs, at impossibly low prices.  Someone using them for a first time purchase may (and have) be put off buying from anyone online again.
    I, personally have purchased a couple of items from online vendors that I have never worn, because they were so badly made, and looked even worse once they were actually tried on.  They were not returnable.
That particular vendor used manikins exclusively to display her goods, and requested 4 different measurements.  She swore the items were custom made; but somehow she was able to have them to me in under 2 weeks.   I was new to garbing and naive to think that all vendors are equal.
   My bad.  Never again.
 
  Our comments are less to discourage online shopping, than to encourage people to be more realistic about what they will get.   
  The seller will always display their wares in the best possible way-this is a given; and they would be foolish not to.  You do not generally see those wares shown in larger sizes, or on a live model.   What looks good on a size 2 mannikin with little to no curves may not look so good on someone with a less than perfect figure.     Thus I will encourage some folks to try before they buy, or at least get feedback (preferably pictures) of someone wearing the garb on a similar figure to their own.
   If they like a vendor they will come back for more garb, but there is a sector of vendors (described above) who rely on volume rather than return business.