2016 Holiday Gift Guide
Can you believe it's December? The holiday shopping season is upon us. Here are some suggestions for the costume enthusiast or fashion history buff on your gift list. Most of these companies are small businesses just like Redthreaded.
Complete Your Costume
American Duchess - historical reproduction footwear for women in high quality materials. Comfortable, accurate, and beautiful, what more could a girl want? I even wear them in every day life. I've been particularly eyeing the dyeable "Dunmores".
K. Walters at the Sign of the Gray Horse - Reproduction shoe buckles to complete your historical footwear, these work with American Duchess shoes and several other brands.
K. Walters at the Sign of the Gray Horse - Reproduction shoe buckles to complete your historical footwear, these work with American Duchess shoes and several other brands.
Frontier Millinery - Fabulous handmade reproduction art deco wool cloches. Allison is a professional milliner who offers both ready to wear hats and custom orders. Perfect for the art deco trend being popularized by Miss Fischer and Downton Abbey. She also does Art Nouveau headdresses, Renaissance hats, and more. She is also a part time stitcher for Redthreaded, so I can personally vouch for the quality of her work.
Dames a la Mode - Taylor makes gorgeous historical reproduction and inspired jewelry. Her timeless collet necklaces, pearl earrings, and crystal settings are hugely popular with historical costumers. I have a few pieces and I want more! You can also shop on Etsy.
Redthreaded - historical corsets from all periods of history. Of course, I must also recommend our own business. While corsets can be difficult to give as gifts, gift cards let your recipient choose a corset in the size and style that is just right for them.
LBCC Historical Apothecary - if you're looking for historical makeup and hair products, this is the place to go. While they primarily focus on 18th century, they have authentic makeup kits for the 1920's too! I can't wear a lot of the makeup (historical recipes make ample use of almond, which I'm allergic to), but the hair pomatum and hairstyling pads are so helpful for authentic styling. They also have styling how-to videos on their facebook page.
For the DIY-er: Tools, Patterns, Kits, & Supplies
Wearing History - While the shop is temporarily closed for maternity leave (congrats!), Lauren's historical and vintage repro patterns are some of the best on the market. Her Smooth Sailing trousers pattern is a personal favorite. UPDATE: they're back open today!
Renaissance Fabrics - One of my favorite sources for fine fabrics. I know I can always trust the quality of their fabrics, and their customer service is wonderful. 90% of the fabrics in the Ironwork Worth Gown were from Renaissance Fabrics. They also have gift cards. Hint, hint ;)
At the Sign of the Golden Scissors - Larkin and Smith offer meticulously researched kits and patterns for 18th century shirts, caps, and more. I'm currently sewing my way through the "Manchester Mob" cap kit. The fabric is lovely and the kit is an amazing deal considering it's pre-cut and includes instructions, thread, needles, etc.
Redthreaded - Our corset patterns and kits are great for sewers with intermediate skill. I also offer a custom pattern drafting service for those who do not fit our standard line.
Merchant and Mills - Beautiful shears, traditional tools, and patterns. I actually haven't used their shears, but I've been dreaming about these red handled lefties since I saw them in a shop last year.
Old Petticoat Shop - A great one stop shop for several different historical pattern brands including Truly Victorian and Laughing Moon.
The Tudor Tailor's Etsy Shop - The experts on 16th century dress. They offer patterns, books, and gorgeous laces, buttons, trims, and more. This 4 yd piece of handmade lace is enough for a ruff and would be a great gift for 16th century costume enthusiasts.
Books, Films, & Subscriptions
Seventeenth Century Women's Dress Patterns: Books 1 & 2, Jenny Tiramani, Susan North
Obsessively detailed documentation of extant garments through photographs, line drawings, grid patterns, and (perhaps most fascinating) X-ray imaging. Have you ever wanted more information on those famous pink stays at the V&A? A must for any costumer's library.
Fitting and Proper, Sharon Ann Burnston
A staple for decades, this book recently came back into print. Sharon is one of the top experts on 18th century dress in America. An excellent resource.
Embellishments: Constructing Victorian Detail, Astrida Schaeffer
In depth look at common trim styles and fabric manipulation techniques used to create the opulent, detailed gowns of the mid to late 19th century. Includes practical instructions.
Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Pamela Smith Hill (ed)
I couldn't have been the only child who first became interested in history because of the Little House series. This is a fascinating look at what really happened. Did you know Laura wrote out entire family members and changed locations for Little House? The extensive editor notes give an in depth historical context to the events as told by Laura.
I couldn't have been the only child who first became interested in history because of the Little House series. This is a fascinating look at what really happened. Did you know Laura wrote out entire family members and changed locations for Little House? The extensive editor notes give an in depth historical context to the events as told by Laura.
"This book is an anthology of true, first-person narratives by the people who have been directly affected by corset wear — a collection of uplifting short stories that inspires readers and sometimes softens the heart, similar in sentiment to Chicken Soup for the Soul but only regarding corsets and corset wear."
The resource for historical costuming and corsetry techniques on the web. A subscription based service where some of the most important research and instruction is published today. A combined subscription would be a wonderful gift.
Fun Stuff, Pretty Stuff, Just Because Stuff
Fun Stuff, Pretty Stuff, Just Because Stuff
Helper Cat Mug - by Aimee Major. What a cute gift for sewers! Designed by and for a costumer.
Corset Busk Earrings By Vanyanis - in fine silver, a luxe gift idea for the corset lover in your life.
18th Century Hair T-Shirts - by Kendra of Demode and Frock Flicks. These are hilarious!
Corset Busk Earrings By Vanyanis - in fine silver, a luxe gift idea for the corset lover in your life.
18th Century Hair T-Shirts - by Kendra of Demode and Frock Flicks. These are hilarious!
Cheers!
Redthreaded is not affiliated with any of these businesses--we just like them!
Redthreaded is not affiliated with any of these businesses--we just like them!