Greater Bay Area Costumer's Guild A website of a local group of the Internatioal Costumers Guild. This page is a great resource!!! They started The Great Pattern Review, which is where you should look before you spend $15 to $40 on that historical costume pattern! This page lists patterns by manufacturer and you can find out what other people thought of the pattern you are looking at and how well it went together for them. I think this is one of the best ideas for costumers! Don't miss it.
International Costumers' Guild, Inc. The official site of the Guild. learn where to find a chapter or make yours, and check out the resources. Also find out what fun events are happening near you!
The Society for Creative Anachronism People who are interested in pre-17th century European history, and enjoy dressing up! They have some info on where you can meet others who are into costuming and where to find patterns.
Milieux- The Costume Site The Best Online Sources for Costumes, Materials, Accessories, Books, and more that you can't even think of. They list where to find almost anything, for any kind of costume. Divided up into eleven huge sections: Arms and Armor; Books, Videos, and Patterns; Footwear & Leather; Garb; Hats and Wigs; Jewelry, Ornament, Metalwork & Findings; Notions, Trims, & Fabrics; Prosthetics, Makeup, Masks, & Special Effects; Miscellany; Ready-Made Costumes & Accessories; Mail Order Sources & Other Info. The first place a costumer should look!
The Costume Page- Costuming Resources Online An extensive page of even more resources than I have listed here, from basic halloweeen costumes to historical to fantasy & science fiction.
The Costume Gallery "A Central Location on the Web for Costume and Fashion" Or is it *the*? It has everything, in four sections: Designers' Hall- where you find people like me, who will sew something for you, or who have already made it and want to sell it to you; The Courtyard- fun stuff like postcards and also photos of famous costumes; Product Palace- goods and services related to costumes and costuming; The Study-dedicated to the education of costume. This section provides entrances to websites that pertain to the art of dress. Do not miss the Online Costume Library.
The Costumer's Manifesto Tons and tons of info on costume history, designs, tips on construction, for period and ethnic clothing, and just about any other kind of costume too. Thousands of links. Includes a cool list of books you should have.
Forever Timeless *compilation* Wonderful pattern catalog! Also sell corset "kits" with the patterns- everything you need to make the corset but the thread! They have Scottish goods as well. Also, they stock those *Gorgemous* Porter music boxes that cost an arm and a leg or two but may be well worth it....
Past Patterns Beautiful patterns from about 1750 to 1920 as well as corset "Kits" and reproduction buttons.
Harriet's TCS Lovely patterns for 18th and 19th century clothing for everyone in the family. Included hoop skirts and corsets. Also lots of sewing supplies and some "kits" for some of the featured patterns with all you need to make them but the thread.
Richard the Thread Extremely beautiful but extremely difficult period-type patterns! Not for the inexperienced seamstress. Also sells dress forms.
Jas. Townsend and Son, Inc. Great catalog with clothing and everything you might use in everyday life in the 18th and 19th centuries. Great camp gear and huge selection of costuming books. Lots for reenactors.
James Country Mercantile *compilation* Great patterns focusing on 19th century and especially Civil War patterns. They also sell ready to wear clothing and supplies for the reenactor, including weapons and insignia.
Sewing Central *compilation* A source for historical patterns as well as fabrics. Includes a pattern to dress your Barbie doll in an early Tudor dress! :)
The Chivalry Sports Renaissance Store *compilation* Lots of general information and FAQ's on costuming of all kinds, a catalog with armor, clothing, books and accessories, and some really neat articles as well as many kinds of patterns of Medieval and Renaissance themes.
Simplicity Patterns as well as online help and general info. Includes Simplicity, New Look, and Style patterns.
Butterick Patterns, how to's, and the magazine.
McCall's Patterns Patterns, magazine, and catalog.
Vintage Patterns for Sale If you like vintage sewing patterns, someone is selling a whole lot of them... :) First come, first serve.
Rizzo's Reproduction Vintage Cloting Very nice looking custom made historical costumes (expensive, but that is to be expected), and sometimes some discounted ready to ship items.
Sense and Sensibility Clothing Really beautiful custom made Regency dresses, at extremely reasonable prices. Jennie also recreated a couple of the dresses from "Titanic" for some girls to wear to their prom and kept a "diary" of sorts of their construction. It was fun to see how they went together and even though it was a while ago, she still has it up there and it's very interesting reading!
Ana's Accoutremonts Ready and custom made clohting from many periods and fantasy also. Some reasonable prices.
Renaissance Crossroads Lots of listings on where you can find dress and accessories of all kinds typical to what you would find at your local Renaissance Faire.
Visabella Mythic Clothing Just some beautiful fantasy themed clothing / costumes. A little pricey but I love how they did some of the photos!
Dark Garden Unique Corsetry Custom made corsets of all styles from classic Victorian (get the "Underbust Victorian" for the most authentic period look) to extreme fetish. Prices are expensive, but all corsets are.... Also has some info on care and wearing of corsets.
The Female Form Loads of info on corsetry, divided into sections: History, Photos, Links, etc. More photos of people in corsets than you'll find anywhere else, I'll wager... :P
"I want to make a corset" General info and helpful how-to's from the alt.gothic.fashion FAQ.
The Underwear Page Corsets, Shifts, Chemises...cute historical drawings and info on where to find materials and Corsetieres.
How to make an Elizabethan Corset Very valuable info on fabric selection, and "Online Pattern Generator", sewing directions, "how-to" wear it (you really do need instructions!), and where to get supplies by mail. A very well done page!
17th Century Stays Basic history and simple construction pattern from "Patterns of Fashion", short description of construction- not too detailed.
The Black Rose Readymade corsets, as well as other clothing. Not historically accurate, but fun nonetheless!
Reconstructing History History of clothing from around the world, tips on construction, dedicated to accuracy. Helpful info for reenactors.
Victoriana.Com- Resources for Victorian Living Links for shopping, neat reasearch and articles, and some gorgeous photos (especially the victorian wedding gown section!)
Jessamyn's Regency Costume Companion Wonderful tips and info on how to create or buy a Regency period costume, including accessories. Includes info on fabrics and trimmings, which most people forget to mention, but is oh-so essential for getting the true period look.
The Regency Fashion Page Just about everything you may possibly need to know on every aspect of Regency period costume, from the inside out. Includes fashion plates!
The Elizabethan Costuming Page Detailed history, links to patterns, a great section on colors and fabrics, and tons of pictures of Elizabethan clothing from all walks of life. Corsets as well.
The Fortress of Louisbourg Costume Page Some really lovely photos of reproductions and info on 18th century dress in France (which was copied almost everywhere in Europe). Great descriptions!
Godey's Lady's Book Online The most famous 19th century women's magazine brought to the internet. :) Has selections of articles and pictures.
Cutters' Research Journal A Quarterly Devoted to Period Clothing, Accessories & Textiles
Kimono Origami Not exactly "costume" related, but kimono is clothing. How to make beautiful origami kimono.
Kimono Hypertext A very easy to follow history of kimono, with nice photos and descriptions.
Haiku Kimono Beautiful made to order and vintage kimono and obi.
Japan Online Plaza Shop for clothes in Japan at home! This site isn't totally up and running yet, but it sounds like a great idea- here's hoping they make it work!
Japanese Costumes A bunch of really cool pictures of Japanese theatrical costume and accessories.
The Nihongo Yellow Pages More clothes shopping in Japan! Look up that shop and get online and buy, buy, buy....
Haki-mono This is a page from an exhibit of Japanese footwear at a museum (The Japanese Friendship Garden). It has /very/ intresting background info on the shoe construction and lovely photos (I love the little girl's zori with the bells in the heels)!
Japan Shopping Network Once again, buy those Japanese clothes from your own home!
DanceStore.com Costumes, outfits, and footwear for all kinds of dancing, as well as books, CD's, and how-to videos.
Obi-Wan's Jedi Academy Star Wars costume construction tips! Extremely detailed info on how to construct your own lightsaber from a Graflex 3-Cell Photo Flash Unit (which is what they used in the movies) or where to find someone who will do it for you. Also tips on making a costume of Boba Fett, Royal Guard, Rebel Pilot, Luke Skywalker / Jedi Knight, and Han Solo. (I was thinking about telling them how I made my Amidala costume, but then I realized that it was wayyyy too complex compared to all the other costumes described...)
Star Wars Lightsaber Prop replicas These are the frigginmundo niftiest replica lightsabers I have ever ever seen. This guy makes and sells these with a huge color choice. It actually has a charged argon-mercury plasma "blade." The plastic coating is always there, of course, but the plasma "retracts" into the hilt to great effect. Expensive, but worth it to some.... :)