... In which Margo gives away her secret sources, both for knowledge and for supplies, while simultaneously doing a favor to those suppliers who are really great to deal with...
One Tough Costumer : Margo's personal website: This site includes a gallery of Margo's earlier costume efforts, large sections on both Elizabethan and California Gold Rush costuming, and some original essays and humor pieces -- including the famous "Rules for the Bad Elizabethan Costume Contest," and, "The Top Ten Lies Costumers Tell."www.costumes.org Over 1000 costuming links! Historical, ethnic, theatrical. Discussions, technical advice, costume shop quotes, costume movies: It's all here. If you're considering a career in theatrical costume, be sure to read the Costumer's Manifesto section.
Historic Enterprises Black Swan Designs at Historic Enterprises makes readymade, made to order, and custom historic clothing of the highest quality. Check out their blackwork embroidery, a superb machine-made alternative to handwork. They will sell shirts or smocks with the embroidery, or you can purchase embroidered panels and matching linen yardage to make your own.
The Historic Costume Mailing List (H-Costume) This list concentrates on re-creating period costume,from the Bronze Age to the mid-20th Century. Its emphasis is on accurate historical reproduction of clothing, historical techniques for garment construction, as well as the application of those techniques in modern clothing design. Other topics appropriate for discussion include adapting historical clothing for the modern figure, clothing evolution, theatrical costumes, patterns, materials, books, and sources for supplies. We consider this list to be the single best costume resource on the Web.
Sewbiz Mailing list for anyone with a sewing business. Discussions of business policy, advertising, dealing with difficult customers, technical help, etc.
The Elizabethan Costume Page We could give you an extensive set of links to Elizabethan costume, but Drea's already done it. Includes references, lists of suppliers, links to many other Elizabethan costume sites, and a terrific bibliography.
Compendium Of Common Knowledge Why go to all the effort of making an Elizabethan costume, only to sit around in it talking about computers? This site will give you a basic grounding in the lives, manners, and conversation of an Elizabethan person. Some costume detail.
Grannd Garb Corset supplies including boning, hoop steel, steel busks, eyelets, corset coutile fabric, trim, lace, buttons, clasps, patterns, jewels and accessories. One of the few purveyors of artificial whalebone in the US. Our exclusive wholesale distributor.
AlterYears (formerly known as Raiments) Steel boning, grommets, wooden busks, hoop wire, millinery supplies. Huge selection of costume books and patterns.
Amazon Drygoods Spring steel boning in 1/4 and 1/8 inch widths.
Farthingales Boning in both metal and plastic, as well as corset fabrics, corset lace and hoopsteel. Catalogue & swatches are available.
Jas. Townsend & Son Supplies for 18th century reeacting, but some are appropriate for 16th century as well. Boning, sewing supplies, long stockings.
Lacis Although Lacis specializes in lace and needework, they also have an extensive costuming selection. Supplies, books, and materials. Don't miss visiting the store (which is easily accessible by public transportation) if you're in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Bevilacqua Fine Fabrics Unless you've recently won the lottery, you won't be buying much, but go to this site to see the closest thing to high-end Elizabethan fabrics still being made today.
velvetfabric.com (also known as Buny's) Over 30 colors of high-quality cotton velvet & velveteen.
Phoenix Textiles Inexpensive quality wools, velvets, linens, etc. Very good service.
Thai Silks Silks of all types. For a deposit, you can get swatches of some or all of their products.
Dharma Trading Co. White & natural colored silk & cotton, all weights, at very low prices. Dyes for silk, cotton, linen, and wool. Dying and fabric arts supplies and books.
Ginsco Trims Huge selection of braid, piping, ribbon, etc.
Cheeptrims Astonishingly low prices on a huge selection of lace, trim, jaquard ribbons, and much more. They only sell in bulk, but at these prices, you could buy in bulk, use only what you need, give the rest away, and still have paid less than you would at a chain fabric store!
Fire Mountain Gems Wonderful selection of beads and jewelry supplies. Look for their inexpensive freshwater "potato" pearls, which are perfect for period jewelry or clothing embellishment, and the cloisonne tube beads, which make great aiglets.
The Rhinestone Guy Incredible selection of all kinds of rhinestones and crystals, from high qality to economical. Unusual shapes, settings. Also carries flat backed pearls. Very friendly service.
Nancy's Notions All kinds of sewing notions, supplies, some fabrics, videos, machine accesories, etc.
Sew True Terrific selection of sewing, dressmaking, tailoring, and pattern supplies. Silamide thread.