Period

This section of the shop is all the costumes from the earliest times that people wore clothes, through to the turn of the century. We are still very short of photographs, so if you have enjoyed wearing one of our costumes, do please let us have a digital picture - then everyone can see how great you looked!

Some of the costumes are ‘fancy dress’ while others are more authentic, it depends what you want.

Ancients

Braveheart. Costume adaptable to different sizes

In this category we have Cavemen and women (and a dinosaur); Romans, Greeks, Egyptians and early Britons.

Characters include Bodicea; William Wallace (Braveheart); Cleopatra; Mark Anthony as well as slaves; gladiators (and lions).

To accessorise the costumes we also have wigs and footwear.

Medieval

The type of costume you require will depend on where you are going. We have some costumes suitable for re-enactment, and we are happy to make bespoke outfits, however the majority of costumes we have are designed for medieval banquets and Fayres.

We have assembled quite a wide selection under the heading ‘Medieval’ – from Saxons through to Richard III. Famous characters include Robin Hood; Maid Marion; Little John; King Arthur; Queen Guinevere; Lancelot; Black Adder II; as well as Jesters; Peasants; Lepers; Wenches; Monks and Nuns.

We have children and adult costumes that are suitable for living history events such as those held at Stansted Mountfichet Castle and Hedingham Castle.

If you are involved in living history, we can make authentic bespoke costumes to order (at least four weeks notice required).

See further information about this catagory

Elizabethan & Tudor

This is a wonderful period: From the early Tudors through to Elizabeth I. Like in the medieval section, we have a wide range of sizes, shapes and weights. We can also do a range of social stations - from the most basic peasant (complete with boils and warts if you want them) through to Lords, Ladies and Royalty.

Most ladies prefer the Tudor silhouette of a square neckline, boned bodice and full skirt, which tend to make the waist look smaller, as opposed to the Elizabethan outline with cartwheel crinolines and bum rolls (which are not very flattering). For men we have a range of costumes from long gowns (like Lord Melchett in Black Adder II) to doublets, breeches, cloaks, hats….and tights!

As well as those going to parties, weddings or banquets, we also cater for living history events like those held at Kentwell Hall, Ingatestone Hall or Cressing Temple. We have children and adult costumes, and can make bespoke outfits (at least four weeks notice required)

Famous events include Henry VIII’s abolition of the monasteries; the beheading of Anne Bolynn (and Jane Seymour);

The Tudor Royalty ate a great deal. In one month (November 1531) Henry and his friends ate: 24 cows, 100 sheep, 51 deer,91 pigs, 700 cocks and hens, 444 pigeons, 168 swans and over 4000 larks? You don’t have to go to these lengths to host a Tudor banquet!

Restoration

MUS 002 (M) Musketeer. Available in green (M), black (XL) & red (L) also

In this section we include costumes covering the period 1600 - 1700. Most people will recognise Cavaliers and Musketeers and we also have Puritans. Famous characters include The Three Musketeers - Athos, renowned as a fighter and drinker, Aramis, the dreamy poet, and Porthos the swashbuckling romantic; Cardinal Richelieu; Charles II and Nell Gywnne.

Famous events include the beheading of Charles II; the Civil War; the Great Plague and the Fire of London.

Georgian

We have some early Georgian costumes (circa 1750) but most are later, from 1750 through to the Regency period, which, (from a costume perspective,) goes through to 1837 when Victoria came to the throne. (William IV made little impact on fashion!)

The Georgian style was coats for men, with long waistcoats, breeches and lace at the throat and wrist. Wigs were very fashionable for both men and ladies. Ladies costumes were extravagant with lace, ribbons and bows. Skirts were worn over pads or frames to make the dresses look very wide.

Apart from nobility, we also have working class costumes, and characters such as Dick Turpin; Marie Antoinette; Zorro; Sweeny Todd; Beau Brummell; Napoleon; Josephine; Nelson; Lady Hamilton. Mr. Darcy and the Bennett sisters.

Regency

The Regency style for ladies was the ‘empire line’ where the waistline is just under the bust, and the skirts fall straight to the hem. Gentlemen wore cutaway coats with short waistcoats and elaborate cravats tied in a bow or knot at the front. Wigs went out of fashion.

Victorian

This is a huge section, officially covering from 1837 to 1901. However, from a costume perspective, most people consider ‘Victorian’ to be the period from 1850 when Crinoline petticoats became popular. To begin with, gentlemen continued to wear the cutaway coat, but more normally with trousers rather than breeches (unless riding).

Later, the crinoline gave way to the bustle, while gentlemen went into frock coats with cravats. Black tail coats were worn for balls or evening functions. This was the time when music halls became hugely popular.

We have a range of outfits: Daydresses; evening dresses; servants; gentlemen; chimney sweeps and trollops! Think Oliver!; Les Miserable; Little Women; Jane Eyre;

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