The Best Costume Links Out There, Part 3
One of my absolute favourite Internet occupations is browsing through the sites set up by dealers and sellers of vintage and antique fashions. I must have seen most of the specialist sites and have chosen some of the best for this page of links. Dealers - if you're not on this site, it's nothing personal - I may not have seen your site yet! But do remember that I love images and informative captions, and I love it if they're busy sites and are updated regularly. I prefer user-friendly sites that deal in high quality vintage designer and modern clothing and sites that specialise in pre-1930 fashion.
The sites on this page represent the creme de la creme. You will find more costume stores on the next page by clicking here, or on the arrows at the bottom of this page.
E-mail me with any dealer's URLS which I may not have seen or to request me to remove an image which has been copyrighted. Where copyright is acknowledged I have permission to use the image. I have contacted all the dealers whose images I have used but am still waiting to hear from some of them.
I absolutely cannot stay away from this site!! I wish I had a million pounds just to spend on pieces from it. (I'm sure Deborah Burke wishes I did, too.). Gems like this Stern's ballgown of 1900 may have been sold, but there are still lots and lots of magnificent pieces dating from the earliest 19th century to modern couture dresses, ranging in price from thousands of dollars to under $50 (that's under £30 to us Brits). AND it has a museum collection where you can study some of the finest pieces that have been sold. Click on the ballgown to visit the Museum Page!
Photograph copyright: Deborah Burke.
A well-organised and user-friendly site with a strict c.1905 dateline. You won't find many 20th century clothes here, if any, but you will find pieces from the 18th and 19th centuries. Like Deborah Burke's gallery above, there is a Museum Collection of sold items, which includes this fine 1795-1800 muslin dress. Click on it or the link to visit this site.
Photograph copyright: Karen Augusta
This is the costume site for the connoisseur! Extremely high quality costumes and pieces of lace and antique textiles are featured on this beautiful site, including this 1905 lace ballgown, which has just been sold. Generally quite expensive, but the images are stunning and of good quality.
Another site of very high quality antique clothing from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Many fine items for sale are featured, including this 1912 Worth evening dress. Sadly, the Worth has been sold, but images of it are still available on this site for study purposes. Wondered what a Worth label looks like? Look here!!
Photograph copyright:- VintageTextile
This must be one of the earliest dealer's sites out there - at any rate it's been around a long time! It has some of the most extensive galleries, and is worth exploring for a long time. Its wares date from the 19th century to the 20th century, including jewellry, designer clothes and some truly wonderful pieces, like this 1880s American burgundy silk and patterned velvet afternoon dress. The details are extensive and informative, and the page is up-dated relatively frequently. You cannot surf antique costume stores on the Net and NOT visit this site. It really ought to have its own museum collection!!
Photograph copyright:- Vintage Silhouettes
A nicely laid out site, especially if your browser supports frames! This site is clearly categorised with special categories for Haute Couture, specific dates, and a sales rack. Prices range from only $10 for a 1960s linen shift to $2,000 for a 1890s Beer ballgown. These people have costumed movies and promise to soon have a gallery of clothes worn by the film stars!! This elegant 1894-98 grey velvet walking suit is just one example of a very wide selection of garments, including menswear!
You can apparently find almost anything for sale on Ebay - from grand pianos to used underwear (Eeeeewww!!). The best Ebay page for your interests would be Vintage Clothing. Especially Women's Vintage Clothing. AND it's updated practically daily. You'll find lots and lots of tatty modern "vintage" clothes trying to pretend to be what they're not, but if you look around carefully, you'll find the treasures lurking among the polyester. I've seen a genuine 1955 Chanel dress, a superb Worth mantle, and Paris haute couture. Be warned however - it's addictive! You can even search for key words! Be sure to have a good look around!
Click on the right-hand arrow to move on to Costume Links Part 4 for more online stores! Or click on the left-hand arrow to return to Costume Links Part 2! Or, as usual, click on the scissors to return to my homepage.
