Tips for buying garb you will be happy with

[DonaCatalina]

I apologize in advance if this is redundant.
With Faire season getting into full swing I felt it was a good time to put some information out there for our newcomers.

Please feel free to chime in everyone.



1. Never buy anything online no matter how good it looks if they cannot tell you the fabric content.
example

If the majority content is polyester you will feel like you're wearing a plastic garbage bag within 5 minutes.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

When working with clients from all about the country, from my experience, I do the following.....

1. Keeping in constant contact with photos of the progrress as to how the project is going. Make changes the client requests. Contact is important.

2. Send fabric swatches, trim sample, embellishment sample, etc.  with the design the client has chosen be it a drawing or photo that is their idea, as well as mine.

3. Giving a workable and cost effective quote that is mutually agreed upon. That may include additional cost for Shipping where applied.

4. When a  client has purchased their fabric and  sends it to  me for their project, I send the remainder back to them after the project is complete.


5. Guranteeing quality workmanship, due dates, etc.


I believe strongly these are Business Tips that everyone who orders off the Internet should consider from whom they order from. I may be a  Vendor, but I am also a customer. The Customer Service I provide, I also seek when I order things I need.

I have also learned from having been involved with the Costuming Industry for many years...A business can have the BEST made costumes, accessories, and merchandise for sale. But if there isn't the Customer Service to go with it, that business has NOTHING.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Another point or tip I forgot to mention is this.....


When an item in the ensemble doesn't  quite fit just right, a vendor should be more than happy to replace or alter  said item at NO CHARGE. That also should include shipping.

Again...Customer Service!!

[LadyDracolich]

Another point or tip I forgot to mention is this.....


When an item in the ensemble doesn't  quite fit just right, a vendor should be more than happy to replace or alter  said item at NO CHARGE. That also should include shipping.

Again...Customer Service!!

I couldn't agree more!!  I think that customer service is becoming a myth in American society.  I could be raging angry about something, but if the customer service person is nice and trying to be helpful, I almost immediately calm down and want to work with them.  When I worked for Mercedes Benz, that was one of the reasons I always had high numbers when it came to the amount of appointments I would book.  Customers started asking for me b/c I try to give them the service I would expect.  All comes back to the golden rule.

The lady I have gotten most of my garb from has amazing customer service. There was a measurement error on my part (Ok, it was really my mom who mis-measured me) and Nikki was more than happy to help me solve the problem and sent me extra tabs and laces to use with the bodice.  No one ever noticed and it actually made the bodice more adjustable.  I was very pleased.

[Marietta Graziella]

Tip for buying garb...

Don't buy what everyone else thinks is right.  Buy what YOU think is right!

What I mean is, don't get caught up in historical accuracy if what you really want is a flowy fantasy gown.  Don't go with choco brown color when what you really want is shimmery bronze.

You will enjoy your day at faire 100 times more if you feel good about what you are wearing.  It's your money, spend it on what you want.

Now, with that said, there are certain things you should consider when making your choices.  The folks on this forum will not intentionally stear you wrong so listen, and remember.  Natural fibers.  Quality over quantity.  Washable (when you can)!

[Celtic_Fae]

Make sure your measurements are accurate!

[temper]

Make sure you can *move* in it. Do jumping jacks if you have to in order to make sure the fit is right, it doesn't catch on *everything* and that you aren't personally responsible for sweeping the lanes at the fair with your hem.

[ferrissteve1]

  Having had other garments made for my mundane life the fit of any garment is almost always the deciding factor for me.  Than comes design, material weight and design etc....I buy what I like, its not always H/A but hey its my cash and my day too enjoy.

[Harbinger]

I would not recommend against purchasing online, but
would recommend researching your vendors, I've purchased
most of my garb for this year online, and have been very
pleased with everything I've gotten, but I did do the
"leg work" before hand searching forums like this one for
reputable merchants. One thing I would advise about online
purchasing, working with a merchant takes time, especially
for tweaked or custom pieces, so give yourself adequate
lead time.

-harb 

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

If you like something, don't wait to buy it "until I lose some weight" or "until my hair grows longer" or whatever "good" reason you come up with. 

If you like it, buy it now and wear it and have fun.  Life is too short not to enjoy it.   

[ladylissame]

If you can, try it on and make sure it is comfortable! Nothing worse than buying those great looking boots only to have sorer than sore feet at the end of the day

[Lims]

I buy most of my 'under' pieces online - NOT at faire.  For example, I had a pair of wrap pants that I absolutely loved on hot days that cost me around 65 bucks 5 years ago ( I was very new at buying garb myself ).  I just bought a new pair online this year before fest started and they cost me 15 bucks and I got them in 2 days.  They are exactly what I wanted.  I did the research into the cloth, though and it was 100% cotton ( washable of course ).

All of my 'over' pieces ( vests, leather, weapons, etc...)  I buy only in person.  I won't generally buy from a booth unless they are a personal friend of mine ( due to price ), but you'll always find good deals inside the fair from non-boothies. 

I always look at it like this -  it is a work in progress for everyone, and it will never be 'done'.  So, take your time with the expensive parts, but don't be afraid to splurge from time to time.  I always use my extra garb on friends that have never been there before.  They love it even more when they're in character.

[SterlingFan]

I agree with most of the tips here except not to buy on-line.  I've bought several bodices on-line and I'm very pleased with them !

One tip I have is to try garb on and view in a full length mirror if at all possible.  Everyone is shaped differently and not all styles fit properly or look good on everyone.

[Lady Kett]

I have no problem buying online either. I feel I've always received exactly what I ordered - but I do a lot of research. I like to find online vendors who have booths at faires, and then skip over to that faire's forum (either here or if the faire itself has a forum, there) and peruse the posts, or just outright ask people via post or PM. There's also some other websites and message boards that have useful merchant information. Just takes some time, but well worth it.

I love to look at pictures too, to help me envision how things will work together and figure out what bits I need. That helped immensely with some "power shopping" I did on Saturday at Rendezvous for my Pirate. It still needs some finishing touches, but the basics are there.

I've bought a piece or two that in retrospect, I don't love, but can also say with all honesty that if I'd never bought it in the first place, I would have just regretted it. It may not be perfect, but it's completely usable.

My 2 cents worth!

[dragongirl]

Don't just buy some because it fits and you need something right now.  Also I would reccomend not buying from an online vendor unless you have actually seen/touch their products before.  Example: a size large means differnt things to different vendors.  Even if you cannot afford it right now, try it on and get your sizing, this will help you make an informed choice later on If you do by online.

[Friar Rohn the Chronicler]

Keep away from online auctions that list the garb with the term "costume". Basically it will be cheap material that won't make it through one season. We went through that route and the suit was so improperly made, we gave it away to the costume shop ran by our local RenFaire. (Funny thing was, it never was rented at all during the season until the last day when it was rented by a "very short man" who offered to buy it outright at the end of the day and was declined).

Find a reputable seamstress to create your garb. I highly advise everyone to contact Lady Kathleen of Olmsted for those whom are serious about their garb. She created a outstanding Noble Class suit for my nephew and we cannot possibly think a anyone that makes finer works of art than her.

http://community.webshots.com/user/kathy0552

Friar Rohn

[Ditzy Gypsy]

If you are a dancer (belly dance, gypsy, or other) don't be afraid to bust a move in front of the mirror or in the changing room! I have found that many items with sleeves did not allow for full range of movement. Gussets are your friend