Faire Ladies, Faire Lords

Quality, American-Made Renaissance Costumes

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Captain Phinn’s Pirate Fishy Show video!

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I have a friend that I work with at faire, and IMO she’s a genius. Creator of Captain Phinn’s Pirate Fishy Show, she is my kind of people. She’s loud, she’s funny, she has puppets and is not afraid to use them. She loves dressing in pirate fashion and making very silly videos.

So, on the advice of yet another friend/fan I asked her to make a promo for my Stripey Pirate Socks. And the rest is comedy gold. As the OzzyMan says ‘CRANK YA SPEAKERS!’

Here’s the video, watch it, like it, subscribe to her channel? You will find there’s a QR link to my website and a coupon for $2 off the Stripey Pirate Socks. Buy some sox and she gets a dollar too for her trouble. Pretty sweet I think. We’re supporting the arts!

Yaaar!

The video Captain Phinn’s Pirate Fishy Show VIDEO

This is the Youtube channel – Captain Phinn’s Youtube Channel

This is her Facebook page too. Captain Phinn’s Facebook Page

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Thanks for reading this shameless plug! Please share this with your friends and family, shipmates, guild mates, play dates, 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.

Studio Intern/Assistant opportunity

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Studio Intern/Assistant opportunity

Work and learn with a master historical costume and apparel designer. This opportunity is available to early-career individuals who have a strong interest in the costume design, apparel design or textile arts.  I am seeking individuals who are robust, actively engaged, productive people who are passionate about their art and wish to learn about the workings of a design studio, small production manufacturing, and effectively running a business.  Interns are integral parts of the studio process.  This is an excellent opportunity for dedicated new artists and aspiring designers to improve a wide range of hands on skills in a supportive experiential learning environment, adding significantly to their professional skills and real life business practices.

It is a long term/permanent position; starting part time. You will share studio space with access to supplies, equipment and research materials in exchange for approximately 8 – 10 hours per week of paid work in the respective area of internship interest and responsibility. Participants are expected to continue formal education, and attend buying trips and sales events.

The internship program is rigorous physically and emotionally; and participants will receive support, encouragement, knowledge, an enriching intern experience and professional development opportunities in return.  If you have drive and are motivated; please consider applying.

Qualifications:

  • Ideally you are a student locally at John Hancock College or a recent graduate of a fashion/costume design school
  • Rudimentary skills – ie you can sew, you’re familiar with patternwork and garment construction
  • Willing and able to work with your hands. Some days we sew, some days we load a truck, some days we drive to LA and hunt for fabric
  • You are competent at basic business skills such as computer use, spreadsheets, writing skills
  • Reliable, motivated, and resilient

Compensation:

This position offers hourly compensation and opportunities for paid piecework. Approximately 8 – 10 hours per week with a flexible schedule to accommodate school, increasing during busy season.

To Apply:

Applicants must write an introductory letter outlining their educational and career plans, and be able to demonstrate competency with basic sewing and design skills. References will be required. Send your application HERE

UPDATE: The Green Linen Project

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UPDATE: The Green Linen Project

I don’t know where the time went, but here we are at last. The hunter green linen has landed!! That took a while, yes? If you don’t recall or maybe never knew, I’d been trying for a LONG TIME to source my linen and linen blends in Hunter Green. Here’s the original post about it.

Its really the MOST popular color in the Renfaire genre in my experience. But alas, it was nowhere to be found at a wholesale level. So, I figured out how to order a custom color from China. I got a few folks to invest/pre-buy and went halfsies with a fellow business owner. Add in the tariff hassles, and a lot of chaos because my importer up and moved their warehouse out of state with no notice right as the fabric got to Los Angeles. Its been exciting at the least. But, its here! Its a good linen/rayon blend, lightweight and with a good hand feel.

So far, I’ve got Venetian Breeches made up. Some are going on my website, some are going to faire this fall at Casa de Fruta. I’m in process of sewing linen shirts, and ladies skirts, and partlettes. All are going to faire this September.

There will be more, of course! I’m thinking ahead to the spring season having Doublets and Bodices in the Hunter Green Linen. I’m also branching out my sourcing and changing fabrics in a few areas – details to follow in another post. I should be sewing right now. I’ll be back.Patrick and I

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I am a costume designer specializing in 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.

Winter Renfaires! 2024 – 2025 season

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In the warmest parts of the US its time for awesome winter renfaires! Some of the biggest and best Renaissance shows are happening during this time, and the fun has just begun. The rest of the country is chilly and tucked away; meanwhile faire goers are garbing up in linen doublets, gowns, bodices, etc. Performers are readying their acts and the show will go on! Huzzah!

Here’s a list of SOME of these shows happening this 2024 – 2025 season. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if I’ve forgotten your favorite winter renfaires. Some of these shows are very new, and some like the Arizona Renfaire are established long running traditional renfaire gems.

Arizona Renaissance Faire (AZ) – February 1 – March 30, 2025

Brevard Renaissance Faire (FL) – January 18th to February 23rd 2025

Castlefaire Winter Renaissance Festival (GA) – January 17 – 19, 2025

Yule Viking Festival (TX) December 6 – 22, 2025

Orlando Renaissance Festival (FL) – December 7 – 15 2024

New Braunfels Renaissance Faire (TX) – December 6 – 15 2024female human wearing a partlette

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Now to the really important things, like what to wear? Well of course I’m here to advise you take a look at my online store and pick out some new gear. I’ve been working diligently on keeping stocks up all year long. Now’s your opportunity!

Thanks for reading! I hope this info will give new opportunities to play faire and live your best life. 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.

Laundry care for your costume

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I just today got an email from a customer who needed some laundry care help. They had run their partner’s doublet through the wash, and the dryer too. The doublet came out looking like a tangled mess and they were understandably upset that the garment was ruined. It was not, thankfully. It just needs proper laundry care to be fully awesome again.

That got me thinking however; in this age where most everyone wears knits and tshirts, that laundry care for woven and lined garments isn’t well known. Most clothing in 2024 is cheap and disposable, many people have never had to think about this stuff. The items you purchase from me are neither cheap nor disposable, wrecking them in the laundry is traumatic and costly. And so this post is I hope, helpful and reassuring.

The Basics:

This is the Good Stuff. All the clothing I make is pre-shrunk. The fabric goes into the wash and the dryer before I cut it. Unless specified, the costume pieces are made of linen or a linen blend. I do make cotton shirts and bodices from cotton twill, but the advice remain the same. The biggest note here is that you will need an IRON for best results. Natural fibers like linen, linen blends, and cotton relax a bit when you wear them. Its part of the comfort. So when its washed it will constrict again, like your jeans do. Part of this expansion/contraction is that steam and heat will bring things together and correct any inconsistencies.

The Care:

If a garment is not stained, spilled on, or grungy you can turn it inside out and put it on a hanger outside for a day. The sunlight will literally disinfect the smelly bacteria from your sweat.  This is for garments that are not touching your skin. Like a doublet or a bodice or a skirt. Optional: Give it a nice light steam iron when you fold it to put it away.

For garments that touch your skin like breeches or shirts, wash them. Cold/cool gentle cycle in the washer machine. If its really icky hot water is okay. Then hang dry. Once dry a little shake out, fold and put away. Again Optional: Maybe a light iron for tidy collars or cuffs.

If you need to wash something out of your garment, lunch or a spill of some kind, and its got a lining you will for sure need to IRON it. If you toss it in the dryer this will be even more needed because its getting tossed around and jumbled. Try to avoid this by gentle or hand wash and hang dry. Yes, you will still need to iron, but not as much.

If your garment has boning or extensive trim, do not put in a machine. Ever. Air it out or hand wash is mandatory. Hang dry and steam iron to get the garment back in shape.

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Thanks for reading! I hope this info will give your costume garments a longer life and you’ll love them like I do. 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.

Over the knee OTK socks for faire are restocked!

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Heads up everyone, over the knee OTK socks for faire are restocked! I got a big double box from my pal Jimmy and its full of solid Navy, Solid Brown, and Solid Cream OTK socks in that lovely cotton they use. And, YES I GOT A LOT IN MAGNUM SIZE TOO!

Click here to buy regular size OTK renfaire socks

Click here to buy Magnum Plus Size OTK socks

Over the knee socks are a must-have part of your renaissance costume or reenactor kit, and ours are made for years of wear with proper care. This means wash cool and dry gently. Don’t wear them more than once before cleaning. Be good to your renfaire socks and they will be good to you.

Good quality over the knee OTK socks for faire are not easy to find, I know. Made in the USA of 100% recycled cotton with a tad of lycra at the top to keep them from tumbling down. I buy these in bulk from my pal Jimmy in North Carolina. Its a family business with his son. He and I have been working together for over a decade, and I have checked out other suppliers. Nobody is as consistent and trustworthy. The. Best. Period.

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cotton renaissance socks by faire ladies, faire lordsFaire is in full swing all over, I hope you all take advantage of this timely drop! Use the coupon code PICKUP if you are at a faire where I’m vending and I can bring them to the show for pickup. That’s at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire in spring and Northern CA Renaissance Faire in the fall.

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.