Bespoke Clothing

Ordering
COVID 19
Please note that due to the pandemic we are unable to perform our bespoke services with personal fittings. We are already booked till summer 2021 with the commissions we took before the pandemic, so the priority will be going to the outstanding orders.
At the moment we are unable to accept any new bespoke commissions.
We take only a few commissions a year, since the majority of my time is taken working on the books and off the peg items.
If you are interested in placing an order, please fill in our enquiry form. We will contact you as soon as possible and discuss the particulars of your order – sizing, style, level of authenticity, fabrics, trimmings, costs, delivery method and expected completion date. All the particulars will be discussed, agreed on and a contract will be issued for every customer, specifying the details of the order, time of delivery, method of payment and general Terms and Conditions.
Please take note that we make items from Anglo Saxon to Edwardian era - however, we do not make 19th century men's clothing - the coats, trousers and Victorian waistcoats are just not our cup of tea, and I would recommend a tailor, not a dressmaker to cater for men's outfits. Also, we do not make cosplay, fantasy or modern clothing - but happy to recommend people that do!
All out items are made bespoke - and as such measuring and fitting sessions will be required to assure the best fit. If you live nearby we are happy to arrange for a meeting to take your measurements personally, or we can meet you at one of the markets we frequent. The fittings etc will take place in our studio in Buckinghamshire, and appointments are available during the weekdays, 10-16.
Please note, the visits to the studio are strictly by appointemnt only - for the clients who have a signed contract and are coming for fittings/consultation.
If you are unsure as to what clothing, materials, techniques etc you need, we provide a consultation service prior to your booking - at £50 the foundation research is done for you and you will receive all information pertinent to your order - pictures and examples of clothing suitable for the station and purpose, list of fabric requirements , notions, decoration etc, as well as links to providers of milinery, jewelley and accessories suitable for the persona you wish portray. If you later decide to place the order, the consultation fee will be waivered - deducted from your deposit.
Please book well in advance - we tend to be fully booked for about 12 months in advance. We are occassionally able to cater for last minute orders, especially if they are simple garments, so please drop us a line! An order is only considered as booked when the contract has been signed and deposit paid.
We are also providing clothing made to generic sizes - available in our Online shop. There is not much as whenever we add new items they tend to go quickly, but we are working hard on replenishing stock as much as we can - so please check regularly to see newly added items:-). Stock items are priced lower than bespoke garments - mostly because they do not require fitting and measuring sessions etc, so if you see items that would work for you it is well worth snapping them up.Usually generic items like petticoats, skirts, chemises, sleeves, corsets etc are the most popular as they offer substantial savings without compromising the quality.
Authenticity standards
We aim to provide our customer with garments as close to the original as possible. We realise however that for some of our customers the 100% authenticity is not the most essential factor and in such cases they would be unwilling to pay elevated prices for
Cost
Once all the details of the commission have been agreed, you will be provided with a quotation. We will require a deposit, usually around 40% of the total price: that will usually cover the price of fabric, trims etc. We are happy to use fabric supplied by our customers, and in such a case the deposit will be around 30%. Once the work has been started on the garment, the deposit is not refundable.
The total price, including the post and packaging fee, is paid before the item is shipped, within 2 weeks of the notification of the completion of the order. We will keep unpaid items for a month and after that they will be advertised for sale.
We accept Paypal, bank transfers and cash. At the markets and in our online shop we can now accept credit and debit cards too!
Fabrics.
We can, and often do provide fabrics suitable for the outfit - but bear in mind that we will not use wrong fabrics for historical garments ( ex. cotton velvet or chenille for medieval, poly silks etc). We can provide wool, linen, cotton, silk ( mostly James Hare) and we do not charge retail prices on them - if the James Hare silk cost us £40 per metre ( with VAT and transport charges), we charge exactly that - not the retail price of £80.
Prices
These prices are meant to act as guidelines only : they are based on the simplest styles in economy finish ): the actual price will depend on the style, fabric or decorations used.
These prices are per labour only, not including the cost of the fabric or embellishments.
Prices include measuring and fitting sessions.
All commissions will be made under contract - specifying all details of the outfit, delivery costing, deposit etc.
Medieval Garments
Women
Kirtles (unlaced) from £230 (laced) from £290
Surcoats (fully lined) from £250
Gowns (fully lined) from £390
Men
Tunics from £100
Cloaks from £200
Doublets (fully lined) from £300
Gowns (fully lined) from £400
Chaperons from £90
Tudor and Elizabethan
Women
Stays - from £380
Kirtles from £380
Bodices from £320
Petticoats/skirts from £140
Gowns from £600
Men
Breeches from £290
Doublets or jerkins from £390
Gowns from £390
17th Century
Women
Skirts from £140
stays: from £390
Bodices from £390
Gowns from £470
Men
Breeches from £260
Doublets from £370
Coats from £280
Casaques from £450
18th century
women
stays from £550
petticoats from £140
pocket hoops from £100
jackets from £370
Robe anglaise, polonaises etc from £550
Robe francaise from £700
men
breeches from £250
waistcoats from £220
Frock coats etc from £750
19th century
Regency,
women
Stays/early corsets from £350
petticoats from £140
dresses from £390
Spencer jackets from £270
pelisses from £390
Riding habits from £550
Victorian/Edwardian
Bustle cages from £140
Petticoats from £90 -£200 depending on style
Flounced petticoats from £140
corsets from £370
skirts from £250
overskirts from £230
bodices from £450
Mantles, dolmans, etc from £250
Riding Habits
Please note we only make historical riding habits - we do not make fantasy or concurs outfits loosely based on historical fashions, and we do not make modern sidesaddle habits either - a different area of expertise!
Our habits are designed to be worn over period correct undergarments ( stays for 17th-18th century, corsets for 19th) and will be make using correct materials and decorations.
Labour prices examples ( do not include fabrics or undergarments):
18th century habits - from £660
Regency habits - from £480
Victorian habits - from £670
We do occassionally have sample and stock habits available in our shop - these are made to generic measurements and are offered at very attractive prices. We also stock Victorian riding corsets ( or make them bespoke) - so check our shop first!
Post and package
Post and package is not included in the overall cost of the garment, and will differ depending on the weight of the parcel and what service you prefer. We will give you an estimate before invoicing you – and if it turns out less that we had expected, we will refund the difference.
Returns
Returns are accepted on all our shop items- the garment is to be sent back within 2 weeks in unchanged condition and unworn. We do not accept returns on custom orders.
Discounts
We are happy to give a 10% discount on multiple orders (3 items or more) if the items are commissioned within a period of 2 months.