Need shopping help

[Praetorian]

Ok we will be going to the faire Saturday mostly to find garb for my wife. We are photographing a wedding there next month and she needs to be "dressed". So, where are some locations to look for a dress or something for her. I am all set but she will be a blank canvas that is a little nervous and reluctant to dress the part at the fest. Budget will probably keep us around $200 to spend. Any ideas, suggestions on better places to look?

Thanks

[PurpleDragon]

The Frock Shoppe is the first place that comes to mind.  I picked up a skirt for my daughter for $48.00.

Boss Wench is another.. they have some fabulous dresses, though somewhat more expensive than you have expressed a desire to spend. 

There is also Unicorn Clothiers as well.

Good Luck.

[Lady Ann of Draycott]

My favorite place is Moresca, especially for their bodices, but you will pay about $150 just for a bodice.

You might try Boss Wench and there are a couple of shops to the left of the Sea Devil Tavern that you could also try.  One of them has some really nice reversible bodices and skirts.  There is another one that has some gypsy type clothing that looks very comfortable if you don't want a tight fitting bodice.  Sorry, but I can't remember the names of the shops, I just know that they are to the left of the Sea Devil (when you are facing it).

There are lots of shops, you should be able to find something....good luck and have fun! 

[Macintyre]

i'm a big fan of house of dra myself.  thier clothes are super comfortable and last a while.

[Lady Ann of Draycott]

Oh! I forgot about House of Dra! http://www.houseofdra.com/

You might be able to get a complete outfit there for less that $200, just depends on what you are looking for...but they have some nice dresses and other outfits.

[Praetorian]

All I know is she said if she had to wear something then she wanted to look nice. I know the budget is kind of low for quality stuff so we are hoping to find something that she will like. Our other option is to go with something online and she is skeptical on it fitting or being junk. My oldest daughter (22 yrs) keeps telling her to go to Party City. My wife knows better but it is funny.

I am hoping she finds something she likes that I can afford to buy and feels comfortable in. Maybe then we can go to the faire dressed together instead of just myself. She did say that she wasnt allowed to dress for Halloween when she was a kid so that is playing into this some. I keep telling her that once you dress for the fest you actually blend in more and it is not an uncomfortable feeling. Wish me luck.

[Taffy Saltwater]

Let me recommend that she make two cotton blend gored skirts & a chemise - they are straight seams w/enclosures for elastic - couldn't be easier.  Then she can buy a nice bodice at Moresca (my favorite) or another shop to pull her look together.  You may have a nice long belt she can use to hang her "stuff".

Or she could buy her bodice first & then choose skirt fabric to go with.

[LadyElizabeth]

Pendragon has beautiful court gowns and such, but you'll spend about twice what you were wanting... but they are very high quality and good stuff.  I think you could dress it down a bunch and get just a bodice, chemise, and skirt for around 200$... But this is for a Hoop skirt dress type option. 

Pendragon is the third lane on the left in from the entrance. Go down the lane and look to the right just a few shops in from the corner.

[knarlyknot]

Dragon's Den has nice items within your budget.  They are located in Pirate's Cove.  And the best part and possibly a selling point to your wife is, everything they make is machine washable!!  Even their bodices.

[Captain Kilian]

The wife LOVE dragons den - and while it might not be the most authentic looking, its the best stuff ever to mix and match and LOVE the machine washable aspect of it!

[brigaqueen1]

If you had more time...I would suggest Ebay. I found some great sellers/costume makers with decent prices! Nice stuff too. I got one pirate outfit (half chemise top, skirt and a half skirt for $56) and a bellydancing skirt and another half chemise top for about $80.

I did get an outfit a long time ago at the Frock shoppe. A chemise, under skirt and a reversible bodice for $250. They have some nice patterned fabrics and great bodices. And dont forget, she'll need a pouch or a bag to carry her belongings in!

Hope she has fun shopping!!

[Bonny Pearl]

I myself am most comfy in leggings and that is why I wear pirate garb.  If she is inclined to wear leggings, then go to Faire Pair and you can get a decent pair of leggings for about $40, then head over to House of Dra or Ravenswood for a shirt and then get the gal some weapons!!!  She'll be feelin' tough I guarantee! 

[LadyStitch]

I love Lady Dra's stuff.  I live in it even when I'm not at faire.  It is that comfy.    You can get and simple top and skirt from her for 150-200.   A friend of mine got bodice and skirt from Pendragon for 210.   i have found you get what you pay for when you buy garb. 

I have to say I have had more fun playing pirate than royal lady .  Tights are a good thing.  Then again I'm thinking a fairy might be fun too.   It will all depend on what she wants to wear.

[Lady Kitara]

Do they still rent costumes at faire? I know they did at Scarby but not sure abotu TRF. If she only wants it for the wedding and not likely to dress again, you're better of renting than investing in garb. But all the places they've mentioned are great. I second the Frock Shoppe, that's where I got two of my items. Moresca's has fantabulous corsets and skirts as well.

[LadyElizabeth]

They do rent costumes at TRF, right outside the front gate.  Most outfits are around 50$ from what I've heard.  But if she's wearing it more than once, just go with buying the garb and hope she loves it so much it will make her into a rennie!!!

[Praetorian]

I dont think there is any chance of renting at the faire. I know she isnt comfortable with that. As far as leggings go, I can tell you she wont go with that. She is not a dainty girl and would feel very self uncomfortable in anything that is that tight. I think she is convinced that a bodice could be cool if it fits and she likes the flowey skirts so that is probably the direction we are headed. She really likes the ornate gowns but we both know that isnt in the cards with our budget. On top of that it needs to be functional as she will be working for part of the day. If she had her way right now she wouldnt dress in garb at all. I told her since we were working there she had to. I am hoping she likes the faire wear and will decide to take part in the future when we attend.

[Capn Zeph]

Okay, this probably won't be an actual good suggestion, at least considering time-frame and current hobbies or skills, but making your own garb is a great way to go.  There are a lot of serviceable commercial patterns available out there, once you start looking.

My wife taught herself sewing with a hand-me-down sewing machine, then we went and bought her a new one.  Not counting footwear and weapons, my pyratical garb -- which is generally quite well-received, if I do say so myself -- was made for well under $200.  Probably less than a hundred, if you discount the buttons and the few "specialty" items.  Heck, I even made most of the leather goods (not boots or shoes) myself, and turn a little coin selling others, so...

Anyway, as I was trying to say, making it yourself can work, at times...

[Praetorian]

Thanks Capn. My wife sews but just doesnt have the time right now. Maybe if she gets garbed up and enjoys it she might decide to make her own dress that is a little more fancy. Time will tell thats for sure.

[Capn Zeph]

Praetorian--

If she decides she wants to try it at a later date, send me an e-mail or sommat (it's given on my profile thingie), and I can give you some points/tips my wife has found on various patterns, if it would help at all.

[Yrose]

You could get a good outfit for that price at Swan Lace. They are south of the Sea Devil and I have several of their pieces. I've had no complaints and they are comfortable.

[Praetorian]

well..... Silly Silly me thinking my idea of a budget was going to be adhered to. We didnt even make it past or out of Moresco. She ended up with a really pretty outfit which doubled the budget and some. At least she liked it and wore it all day Saturday.

[eldatari]

Moresca has that effect on people.

[Praetorian]

If I had knoww to go right instead of left....

As soon as she put on the bloomers she was loving the outfit. To expensive not to wear again that is for sure.

[DonaCatalina]

I see that Casta Diva is listed as having two shops this year. Do they have anything good?

[Sootikin]

On top of that it needs to be functional as she will be working for part of the day. If she had her way right now she wouldnt dress in garb at all. I told her since we were working there she had to.

If she's working there, she absolutely MUST be in garb of some sort, or she must not be visible to the public. Them's the rules. Have her ask whoever she's working for, if she needs clarification.

And on a personal note ... please, please, PLEASE put her in a full bodice. Don't put her in that girdle-type thingy that lets her hoots hang over it. That would be what we ordinarily call a "belt." A good bodice should cover nips to hips.

Basics she'll need: chemise, bodice, skirt, shoes, headwear. Have her check the participants' handbook for sources.

[Tipsy Gypsy]

Dra's stuff is great- milord bought a shirt from her at least 10 years ago that still looks almost new, and a good friend has garb from the Frock Shoppe that she uses in her theater gigs. Nice work, both.

I'll toss in a vote for Faire Paire too (www.tightsgoddess.com), just a few shops down the lane from Frock Shoppe. Her gowns are flattering to many body types, soft and comfy, and machine washable! They feel great in cooler weather, and she can layer under them too, if needed. I have one in burgundy and one in royal blue, and I love 'em, love 'em, love 'em. One can easily get a gown there for under $200.

[Praetorian]

On top of that it needs to be functional as she will be working for part of the day. If she had her way right now she wouldnt dress in garb at all. I told her since we were working there she had to.

If she's working there, she absolutely MUST be in garb of some sort, or she must not be visible to the public. Them's the rules. Have her ask whoever she's working for, if she needs clarification.

And on a personal note ... please, please, PLEASE put her in a full bodice. Don't put her in that girdle-type thingy that lets her hoots hang over it. That would be what we ordinarily call a "belt." A good bodice should cover nips to hips.

Basics she'll need: chemise, bodice, skirt, shoes, headwear. Have her check the participants' handbook for sources.

We dont actually work for the faire but I have in the past so I understand the rules as they pertain to vendors there and we will adhere to them. (it was actually a good excuse to get my wife in garb) We managed to spend more than planned on a nice outfit at Moresco complete with bloomers, bodice that fits and isnt the "lift kit" style, a skirt, chemise and floral head piece. It is very pretty and fits well which was a requirement since we require a pretty large range of motion for our photography. We dont just shoot standing up.  Anyway, we are set and ready for the wedding.

I checked out Dra and wasnt that excited about them. There garb seemed a little more modern than what I like. I did pick up a new shirt at Ravenswood.