Leather Bracers & Greaves - The Badger's Den

The Badger's Den has a truly beautiful selection of leather bracers (and greaves!). Prices aren't off the charts, especially for the quality. They don't have an expansive selection of designs, per se, but they make up for it in the sleek, sophisticated style of those they do have. They're also available in different sizes so you can be sure to find something that's most comfortable for your frame. Check out the other areas of their site, as The Badger's Den is a decent source for latex weapons, prosthetics, and other costume bits like hats, vests and the like!


Interested? Check it out here!

Leather - Bracers & Cuffs

Etsy vendor SkinzNhydez has a modest yet very creative little set of leather bracers and cuffs. The little beauty to the right here is full of flavor and character, and I haven't seen anything else out there quite like it. They have a couple pieces that work look great as armor, in addition to some nice little quirky fashion cuffs. Quantity might be an issue, as it appears that bracers aren't sold in pairs, but some solid advice is to contact the artistan (I've found most Etsy folks to be VERY affable) to discuss a discount for buying in pairs, etc.

Interested? Check it out here!

Leather - Jerkins & More at Ravenswood Leather

Wow. Ravenswood Leather harbors a truly impressive array of stunning, high quality leather jerkins (among other amazing pieces!). Not really for folks on a budget, but if you are looking to indulge yourself, head on over and take a gander! Not only do they have a commendable selection of various styles and cuts of jerkin, but the level of customization is what truly sets them apart. You can choose your own combination of leather colors, grommet colors, closures (a whole slew of 'em!), AND various optional sleeve styles! Design your own dream-jerkin! Prices aren't too exorbitant considering it's leather, and it's fashionable, but neither are they dirt cheap.

But the fun doesn't stop there, my friends. They ALSO have gauntlets, greaves, bodices, pants, baldrics, pouches--the list goes on and on! I could (and have) spent days poring over their extensive collection of impressive pieces.

Interested? Check it out here!

Footwear - Planetshoes.com

A friend of mine recently directed me to Planetshoes.com, a great online retailer of--you guessed it--shoes! Well by shoes I mean shoes and boots. And by shoes and boots I also mean some nice bags. Look, they have all manner of awesome stuff. Their prices honestly run the gamut from some knock-your-socks-off clearance prices to the over $100 mark of what you'd expect for a nice pair of boots.
I was fairly impressed with what they had in the way of modern male footwear that could work reasonably well in a game setting. Of course if you're simply looking to sport some stylish urban-fantasy garb then of course their stuff works as well. I was much more impressed by their spread of women's boots, which I suppose shouldn't be surprising since there's always a wealth of interesting footwear out there for the ladies.


They also had a few nice messenger bags that, while a bit feminine, could make decent fancy-pants satchels in a LARP setting.

All in all the site's definitely worth a peek, and I'd recommend checking their Sale and Clearance sections every so often to see what gems are up for cheap prices!


Interested? Check it out here!

Armor - The Ring Lord

The Ring Lord is really an online one-stop shopping place for your chain mail and scale mail needs. They have SUCH a diverse selection of rings and scales, it's mind blowing. Various colors, polishes, and weights are available to really customize your own pieces. They mostly have the construction materials to make your own pieces, but they do have a modest selection of finished pieces as well (shirts, bracelets, jewelry, etc.).
For the beginners, they have packaged kits for various projects, as well as detailed online instructions.


Interested? Check it out here!

Leather Accesories - Craisfrod Leather

Etsy vendor Craisfrod Leather has some really stellar pieces. They have belts, bracers, chest pieces, and other accessories, all with very reasonable prices! A fantastic place for a basic piece, or for something more styled. Add to this their amazing selection of dyes, finishes, and closures, and you have a remarkable ability to customize your purchase! The bracers here are only $35 and make for a great staple!

Interested? Check it out here!

Weapons - Knighthawk Armoury

Knighthawk Armoury has an unbelievable selection of latex weapons. These are high quality weapons designed for boffer LARPing. Common sense dictates to check with your LARP to ensure that they are approved, but the site conveniently has a ready-to-read list of which organizations have approved their various lines. Knighthawk has swords, staves, daggers, axes, hammer, you name it they've got it. Items also come in a fairly broad price range, so you don't need to break the bank for a nice looking piece of weaponry.


Interested? Check it out here!

Accessories - Art of Wings Online Store

I recently stumbled across Art of Wings, a fantastic site full of a wide array of inspired accessories. Most impressive to me is their selection of hand crafted crowns. They all seem to range from about $45-50, and they come in a great range of colors and designs. I'm guessing they probably do custom work as well for a similar price, considering their work with custom wings.

I also enjoy their creative feather gauntlets. You can buy them in pairs ($45) or individually ($25). Again they have a remarkable selection of styles and colors.

Interested? Check it out!

Headwear - Cold Weather and Decorative

Winter weather of course demands certain alterations to one's regular garb. One important consideration is headwear for a weekend in the cold. Ear muffs are hardly period, though some particularly fanciful character might be able to pull it off (something especially spritely, say). Beanies and tuques are common and can do in a pinch as well. They're relatively inexpensive and can be easily found at most stories.
Headbands are another rather versatile alternative. They're also common, relatively inexpensive, come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, and can double as a scarf if need be. There are simple cuts as well as more sophisticated designs to be more comfortable and fit the ears better. They can be easily altered to feel a bit more period or in character with feathers, studs, lacing, or anything you can think of! A great chance for creativity in polishing your winter weather image.
Here are a few links to a basic and more sophisticated cut of headband for your convenience.

What I particularly like about the second one is that it vaguely resembles a simple helm.


Now if you're looking for something more decorative and less season-specific, Medieval Collectibles has a good variety of quality headwear, most at a reasonable price! Everything from "muffin hats" to cowls and hoods, to jester hats and tricorn hats! A really interesting array for a single site. Definitely worth a look, if not for purchase, then for some creative inspiration!

Cold Weather - Under Armour

When it comes to cold weather, athletes and gamers alike need comfortable and reliable thermal layers to maintain a safe temperature. Under Armour's Cold Gear provides just that. The right size should be comfortably snug, and the material is soft and thin yet designed to draw sweat away from skin to keep your temperature regulated and safe. They're ALSO designed to be anti-microbial, meaning you're slightly less rank after a weekend in the woods. Quite the bonus if you ask me.
Certainly not recommended to wear on its own regarding costuming. But because it is such a thin yet efficient layer, it fits extremely well under tunics, shirts, doublets, and most any layer.
Under Armour products are a little pricey, and they're more of a luxury item, BUT with the price comes quality, and an article of clothing by them will last years before needing replacement.
Imperative? No. But comfortable and cozy? Yes.

Cloaks - Tutorials

Cloaks are a costuming staple for gamers and Ren. Faire goers. They're oddly simple yet confusing if you're a novice sewer. Many folks have written some tutorials on how to make them without having to purchase a pattern. Some are definitely clearer than others.
Here are a few of the best I've found.

The DIY Guide to LRP site has a number of great tutorials on costuming in general. More specifically, they have not one but three classic options when it comes to cloak construction.
The Basic Rectangular Pattern - This is simple to make but looks less sophisticated. If you have never sewn a stitch in your life this is your choice, as it avoids more complicated shapes and cutting.
The Semi-Circular Cloak - This is very common and drapes the body better than the basic rectangular cloak. It's still fairly simple, and the site guides you through things fairly well. It requires a bit more fabric, but in my opinion the end result is worth it. A simple and interesting addition to this pattern is to add another semi-circular cut, following the same instructions, of about 1/4 the length. Add it as top layer for a pseudo-capelet.
The Opera Style Cloak - Most cloaks you would buy at a costume store are probably this cut. They're constructed to account for shoulders, and thus drape the body very well. Only slightly more complicated than the Semi-Circular cloak.

Ultimately your choice should depend on your concept for the outfit, and which style would best suit the overall ensemble.

Fabric Choices
Wools, satins, and velvets are three fairly obvious options. Panne is an inexpensive velvet look alike, though it can be a bit tricky to work with because of its stretchiness. A personal favorite of mine is Moleskin. It's fairly easy to work with, and can look either rugged or elegant depending on what you do with it. It can be harder to find, but comes in a variety of color options.
Lining a cloak will definitely give it a more polished look and feel. Choosing a flashy contrast can really make it pop, if that's what you're going for. Another option is to add a border or fringe.

Boots - Minnetonka Moccasins

A tried and true staple in the world of fantasy footwear is the Minnetonka Moccasin boot. They're comfortable, look great, are made of leather, and the hard sole variety even helps keep your feet dry in a wet or muddy environment! They come in a variety for both men and women in a respectable array of sizes, and the brand is found in stores nationally. Be sure to investigate waterproofing or other protective coatings for these, as with any leather article!

Men's Doublet

I can't say enough good things about the McCall M4695 doublet pattern. I made the sleeveless version quite recently and found it very approachable. I think most everyone looks good in this pattern's cut. It's sleek with some very sharp looking angles (by sharp I mean spiffy, not acute), and with the right fabric it's versatile enough to look either very regal or common.

Elf Ears

Aradani Costumes is THE place online for prosthetic ear tips as far as I'm concerned. They have a wide variety of shapes and sizes, including some really interesting and exotic options. Prices are not at all outlandish, and compare to what you would pay at a costume store (though of course with shipping you'd probably pay a LITTLE more).

Also worth a glance is their selection of ear cuffs. A great way to add some subtle sophistication to a costume's overall composition. In my opinion, it's the accessories and small details that add up to make a really strong outfit.

Interested? Check it out here!

Unisex Fantasy Hoodie

Etsy vendor ImpandPixie has an amazing fleece hoodie available. It's shape is chic, whimsical, yet elegant. A variety of color and size options are available. My only beef is the price. At $130, it's a spendy item. Assuming it's got some strong durability, I could see justifying the expenditure on a long-term, warm item. Especially since it means supporting an independent artisan.

Interested? Check it out here!