Faire Ladies, Faire Lords

Quality, American-Made Renaissance Costumes

renaissance faire

Spring Faire Season is almost over!

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And just like that, spring Faire season is almost over! Wow! One more weekend left to celebrate with our friends and faire family. I’ve got something special for you, if you missed finding that special something in my store at faire – here’s another chance. But first all the news that’s fit to tell. 🙂

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The season has had a few notable changes and firsts. I’ve gotten my first ever manager (Marie) to look after things for me so I can look after the sewing side of the business better. I got a very good salesperson (Luna) too and I hope to be working with them for many many years yet. My steady boothie Anda is with us and keeping things on even keel, and my old friend William joined the team. So the team is a balance of new and the familiar.

I got to debut the new linen blend I’ve been eager for – and it has been a good success. Customers like the new stuff! I even was able to upgrade mens shirts and ladies chemises this season, and I finally got approval to carry my line of over the knee socks in the booth. Both regular and magnums. Huzzah!

Like every year, this time of the season is bittersweet. I love my friends and am happy in their successes so I’ll look forward to ‘next time.

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Here’s the special something for you all. I’ve been working on creating an Outlet Store type of situation with my website shop. And I’m feeling confident I’ve got enough of this and that to make it work. So, if you missed finding that special something in my store at faire – here’s another chance. With a discount too to make it sweet.

As ever, I’m here to answer questions and be helpful. You can message me here and you can find me on Facebook too.

Going to Northern CA Renaissance Faire

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Its that time again, time to get going to Northern CA Renaissance Faire in Hollister, CA! The faire opens on September 14th and runs weekends through October 20th. There are coupons available online NOW at https://norcalrenfaire.com/ and all sales are via the website, so plan ahead and get your tickets before you go. Yes, it has sold out before and I don’t want that to happen to YOU.

male human wearing a sleeveless jerkin vestfemale human wearing a partletteThe team and I are deep in the build process, and also packing up bins of costume for you, my patrons. Variety is necessary to living well, and I have some returning styles from years past. For the ladies, I have brought back an over-partlette like the picture on the left. For the lords, a sleeveless jerkin SORTA KINDA LIKE THE ONE HERE ON THE RIGHT. These items are not on my website, the faire is where you can see them.

Of course I am bringing all the standard styles for women, men, and children that I create. Overdresses, bodices, shirts and breeches, bloomers, caps, hats, bonnets and more items than I can list. All in linen, and in new colors. Its a lot! Did I mention childrenswear? Little shirts, chemises, dresses, and pants. Good stuff.

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jost amman woodcut of The TailorFor my patrons that want to secure their purchase before they get to faire, I have a special deal. Its a coupon code PICKUP. It will remove all shipping and handling charges and direct me to pull the product and bring it to faire where you can pick it up. This applies to any piece in my website shop – especially handy for items that are not sold at faire like Socks and these pockets and these bodices. Yes, buy them online and I can have you pick them up from the booth.

That’s all for now. Its always my pleasure to share these fun things with you. Please share this with your friends and family, your guild mates, your cosplay people. And as always if you need help or just want to get in touch, I’m on Facebook and you can email me here.

Renaissance Lord’s Shirts

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You should know I’ve just restocked the Renaissance Lord’s Shirts from size small through 3x. These get made up only once in a while so I’m putting the word out. Come and get them! They are impeccable in sewing quality and its a fantastic cotton fabric. Worth every nickle. Here’s the link

DESCRIPTION:

The Renaissance Lord’s Shirt is an embellished version of our traditional renfaire Gentleman’s Shirt. I make batches twice a year, in June and December. If an item is out of stock you must backorder through the website and I will be in touch about wait time.

The traditional renfaire shirt features a stand collar with with knife pleats and a button/loop fastener. Made of 100% cotton in a light shirting weight in offwhite. The sleeves are a medium width cut for a better fit with sleeves or bracers and cuffs also have pleats and a button fastener.

The shirt is pre-washed and shrunk so you can be confident in the fit. Available in adult sizes small through 3x and cut long because I love tall people. I am not kidding, these shirts are amazing for Big Guys. Made in the USA just like all the costumes I produce.

The Traditional Renaissance Lord’s Shirt is for everyone going to renfaire, SCA, and LARP events who wants to be just a bit fancy, stylish and well dressed. Renaissance swordsman, ruffian pirates, and ye romantic poet prince; everybody loves this shirt. Its a traditional, classic design, for a reason – because its well made and looks even better.

++++white cotton shirt with pleated collar, cuff and button closure

Ladies, you can wear one too – its very comfortable and a great ‘middle class working woman’ kind of style. Just order by chest size using the Mens’s Chart. This shirt is the very basis for your renaissance outfit ~ so get two, one for each day you will be at your event.

My traditional rennie shirt is easy to care for too – toss it in the washer and dryer. Done. You can bleach as needed too if there is a great ‘turkey leg sauce incident’. Don’t be afraid to use peroxide on that grease stain.. its fine.

Warranty:

If you have questions about the Renaissance Lord’s shirt, contact me and I’ll help you out. I stand behind my work. I will fix the shirt if its defective. If I can’t fix it I will replace it. Seriously, I care about my work and want you to be happy. That’s what I’m here for.

Bodices are back!

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Bodices are back in stock online, yay! You know the ones, the cotton twill square necked bodices featured in so much of my promotional images? These bodices are based on renaissance Tudor and Elizabethan styles I’ve been obsessed with since 2004. Hey that’s 20 years, we should have a party!

drawing by Cristof Weiditz, girl with an ermine apron square neck bodiceRenaissance art is such a wonderful resource for design, and its only gotten better since I started out. Back then, I had to order books from a paper catalog – it was all so niche and hard to find. Since then; Project Gutenberg has been busily scanning and uploading every single document, manuscript, book, catalog, etc. on the planet and made it free to the public. What a time to be alive and nerdy.

Any way, back to the bodices. I’m updating the listing NOW with more stock in those classy (and classic) garments. Black, blue, hunter green, and now burgundy. I’ll keep adding more all summer long. YOU CANNOT BUY THESE FROM ME AT A SHOW. THIS IS ONLINE ONLY. Bodices are Back, baby!

I am cautiously optimistic that I’ve got a stitcher properly trained to do things ‘my way’ aka the Right Way on this style. I’m still cutting, setting grommets, fussing with patterns and all – but what a relief to have some help with the actual stitches. Another YAY!

Share this with your friends, your guild mates, your cosplay people please? And as always if you need help or just want to get in touch, I’m on Facebook and you can email me here.

The Green Linen Project

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Hello everyone! I have news, good news! I’ve begun the Green Linen Project. Huzzah!

Finally, I’m fundraising to create a linen fabric in Hunter Green color. For so many years, clients and customers (and me, too) have wanted to see Hunter Green color used in my ready to wear line. And there has been none available from my supplier despite asking and asking and asking. Never would happen. Sure I could pay retail for it, but nobody wants to pay that much for ready to wear costume. We all agree on this.

So, lets make our own! 500 yards of it! I have the source to buy undyed fabric, and have sourced a dye house in Los Angeles, CA. This just needs funding. I need your help to make this happen.
All donations will be rewarded by your choice of either garment, yardage, or website credit. Please choose one (or more) and note with your donation. I’ll send you confirmation and details via email. There will be shipping charges.
  • yardage, at $12/yd
  • Linen shirt, $90
  • Linen skirt $120
  • gift certificate for use on my website
Note: Garments will be made up when the dyed fabric is received – so this could take a while depending how quickly the campaign goes, how long to process the fabric, etc. I intend to have this finished before the end of the year.
The fabric will be 55% linen/45% rayon, approx 4.5oz, softened. Its considered midweight and works well for draped, casual looks and the more tailored styles I feature in my line. While it holds a crisp edge when pressed, it also has an easy drape and a loose, slightly rustic weave. I call it Bachelor Friendly because it is incredibly easy to care for, not to mention delightful to wear. Toss in the wash, hang to dry. Done.
Please share this blog, repost the GoFundMe campaign, and support our search for good linen fabric.martina vending at renfaire
best regards,
Martina

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I am a costume designer for renaissance faire and historical costumes. My shop name is Faire Ladies Faire Lords . I make the clothing in my shop at faire from linen and linen blends. The good stuff.

Happy Holiday over the knee Socks!

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December is when all the elves get to grab some happy holiday over the knee socks. I wanted to share this year, it tickles me so. Also, this is a shameless plug.Striped socks being put into a mailing envelope.

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