Hey, is that me over there?

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

Another thread about purchasing garb from a shop made me want to pose this question.

Does it bother you to see someone else at faire that has the same garb as you?  I purchased some last year and have seen it show up at a couple of faires.  Kind of bugged me a bit, so I am now having some custom garb made.

What say 'ye?

[LadyStitch]

A whole bunch of people wear the same shirt I do, a bunch of people wear the same bodice. However they didn't make many of my tights.  Some people are simular to mine but never quite the same.   If someone copied my DH's I'd be a bit miffed as his is custom work done by me.

If you buy something at a shop that is made in large quality of multiples, don't be surprised to see other's in it.  However they can never wear it quite the way you yourself do.   

just my 2 pence

[Ambrosine]

One piece shouldn't be an issue. You most likely put it together differently then every one else. I actually make everything I wear but the hubby does have a  shirt that many others have as well. but that is the only thing he has that I did not make for him.
There are always easy ways you can customize your garb as well. Think of adding trims or replacing the laces to mention a few.
how does it go: " The shirt does not make the man, the man makes the shirt"

[Blushing]

My favorite bodice is a Pendragon ... and I have seen other people wear it, but it doesn't faze me.  I made my own captain's coat, but I borrowed ideas from others I had seen.  I also made Italian noble garb, since you rarely see an Italian court (which actually means most don't realize the garb for what it is.  My next big project will be English court garb.  But the main reason I work on major garb for myself is cost, not because I want to be a singularity.

I think that while the main garb pieces can be one of many or custom, it's personal choice. I really believe that it's the person, and all the personal bits they add that makes an outfit truly unique.

[ItsTheBishop]

I'd be a pretty arrogant monk if I expected my habit to look like everyone else's.

Hopefully once I decide on what I want for noble garb, I'll have something custom-made by one of the brilliant artisans here.

Generally, it doesn't bother me to see someone wearing the same pieces I am.

[Merlin]

Most people wouldn't be caught dead in what I wear.

[Sitara]

My first real garb was mass produced, I hated that I kept seeing people with the same thing as me or very close to it.  I only wore it for one season then bought a sewing machine.

[GirlChris]

I have seen people wear the same pattern I'm wearing, or using the same cloth. But that's not surprising since I tend to use Simplicity patterns and buy fabric from Fabricland, which is the local fabric chain store.

I've never seen someone wearing the exact same thing as me, though, because I always try and put something unique into the costume, like an interesting stomacher, changing the cuffs, or accessories that I drafted myself.

[Lady Rebecca]

I made everything I wear besides my short cape and farthingale. I get so many compliments, and I love my fabrics (I've never seen anyone with similar fabrics) that I can't imagine wearing anything mass-produced. And since that was the first garb I have ever made, I would say there's no going back.

That said, when I see other people's garb, it definitely inspires new ideas in me.

[auntiegiggles]

I have seen variations of my garb at faires.  However, last year I decided to trim out my gown - so no one will have the exact same gown that I do .  The color choice of my gown is also not one most people order.  I have a hunter green gown with black and gold brocade.  Most people order the gown in either black or purple with the brocade.  I also think I started a trend by buying the dress.  I can't help that people want to look like me LOL. 

[dragongirl]

Since I am...well goddess sized, most of my garb is custom made.  However, last summer I went to Joann's Fabric to get cloth some new key garb pieces for Pennsic.  I found a great deal on a purple linen and bought 10 yards.  I think that Joann's must have ordered a surplus of that fabric because I saw about 50 other people at war wearing garb made of the same fabric, even one of my closest friends! lol  I enjoyed seeing the different ways that people used the fabric.  Personally I wear a pair of slops and a viking apron.  Easy to wear on a hot day but looks awsome.

[ArielCallista]

It drives me nuts in the real world when other people have the same stuff I do. Its one thing to have like the same chemise...but if its like the same set of stuff (bodice and skirts from moresca for example) I can't stand it. I make most of my own stuff anyway...No one else (as far as I have ever seen) has ANY of my garb! except my shoes, but thats ok...

[sealion]

Since I am...well goddess sized, most of my garb is custom made.  However, last summer I went to Joann's Fabric to get cloth some new key garb pieces for Pennsic.  I found a great deal on a purple linen and bought 10 yards.  I think that Joann's must have ordered a surplus of that fabric because I saw about 50 other people at war wearing garb made of the same fabric, even one of my closest friends! lol  I enjoyed seeing the different ways that people used the fabric.  Personally I wear a pair of slops and a viking apron.  Easy to wear on a hot day but looks awsome.

There were three of us in my Barony who made garb from that purple linen and accented it with the mustard gold linen- one Viking, one Russian, and one Italian. It became kind of a joke for us to wear them at the same event.

[Barret]

I saw a couple people wearing the same coat as me at TRF last year, but their aren't too many around and I take solace in knowing that I got the 1st or 2nd one of its kind. Also, like someone else said, it's as much about how you wear it and what you wear with it as it about individual pieces. My coat is a majority of my costume and as it is a full length coat it is what most people see so I definitely notice when other people have them. I guess I think of other people who have similar costumes more as my highwaymen brethren and try to talk to them about how they like the coat and how it fits into their character.

[Hatter]

As can be seen in my pic, I have a Pendragon doublet.  I like it a lot and when I see others wearing Pendragon I congratulate them on good taste.  I have multiple tights and britches to wear with it as well as a couple of other doublets and a kilt so I never get concerned if someone else is wearing  something similar that day.  I know I'll have something else on tomorrow or next weekend.