10 Historical Clothing Retailers for the Perfect Reenactment, LARP, or Party Outfit

Wild West Mercantile sells authentic old-west clothing for both men and women. All items are made in America. Based in Mesa, Arizona, their slogan is, "If they used it or wore it in the wild west it is likely you will find it here," and they're probably right!

Clothing items for men include, "frock coats, dusters, western suits, shirts, vests, trousers, stovepipe boots, hats, undergarments, suspenders, ties, sleeve garters," and other cowboy accessories.

Women's clothing items include, "detailed blouses, riding skirts, walking skirts, bustle skirts, saddle seat pants...vests, custom Victorian hats, head-turning dresses, and 19th-century corsets."

You'll also find "everything you need to complete your 1800s style look," such as leather suspenders, scarves, ties, garters, vintage hats, pocket watches, jewelry, badges, and more.

The prices seem reasonable for the level of detail you'll find on each item. Frugal shoppers will want to check out the Bargain Corral for discounts on weekly specials and discontinued items.

The website does not include customer reviews.

Founded in 2007 and based in San Jose, California, Historical Emporium sells pre-made historical clothing for both men and women for the Victorian, Old West, and 19th-century periods. Custom orders are not accepted.

In addition to complete outfits, shoppers can find shoes, hats, jewelry, undergarments, wigs and mustaches, gloves, parasols, canes, holsters, and more.

Prices are comparable to other historical clothing retailers. A ladies' complete outfit is upwards of $200, depending on the details. Men's complete outfits are a bit higher, starting at around $325. A few discounted items can be found on the sale pages, however, most sales are only offered only to their email subscribers.

Customer product reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.0 stars. Customer loyalty is also high, as many reviewers mentioned being long-time or repeat buyers. Also highly rated are Historical Emporium's quality, customer service, and fast delivery times.

Located in Hillsboro, Oregon, Lavender's Green is operated by "Designer, Dressmaker, and Fashion Historian" Kay Demlow. The company sells clothing for women, men, and children typical of the styles worn circa 1776 to 1945.

Each Lavender's Green garment is carefully researched and "made to dressmaker standards, one at a time, customized for fit, color, and style." The company uses natural fibers wherever possible in order to create authentic replicas of the "romantic styles of the past."

The company sells directly to consumers via its product catalog and at selected trade shows and historic events in the Pacific Northwest. A PDF version of the product catalog is available online, and a hard copy can be ordered for a fee.

Prices are a bit higher than other retailers, but that is to be expected for custom garments. Customer reviews are not included on the website.

Demlow is also available to present a variety of educational programs for your organization, such as "fashion talks" and hands-on workshops and classes about historical clothing.

Lots of interesting posts about fashion history can be found on their blog.

Maggie May Clothing is a professional design and sewing studio specializing in "authentic, high-quality, historical clothing for women and children from the years 1780—1920." Located in Powells Crossroads, Tennessee, they believe "new is not always better," which is something we family historians can agree with!

Founded in 1994, Maggie May Clothing was created by historian and designer Susan Jarrett, whose credentials include a Master's Degree from the University of Tennessee in Visual Arts and undergraduate degrees in American History and Historical Textiles.

The company has grown to include a team of four freelance seamstresses, as well as a regional network of natural dyers, weavers, and heritage artisans. Clientele includes NBC/Sony, Walt Disney Pictures, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the American Repertory Theater, and more.

In addition to clothing items for women and children from the Regency, Romantic, Victorian, Edwardian, and WWI periods, you can also find a collection of historical print fabrics. "DIY Kits" are also available if you'd like to create your own historical clothing.

Prices are a bit high but are comparable to other makers of custom-made historical clothing. Customer reviews are not available on the website.

Maggie May Clothing also offers workshops and presentations on historical fashion. And be sure to also check out the CalicoBall pages for tips on how to integrate the past into your daily life.

Originally founded in 1981 as a company specializing in Victorian- and Edwardian-era wedding attire, Recollections is an online retailer of women's historical clothing with designs from major 18th- to 20th-century time periods. Based out of Hawks, Michigan, Recollections is run by designer "Marianne" and a full team of seamstresses, natural dyers, weavers, and heritage artisans.

You can expect to find historical clothing for the Revolutionary War, Recency, Victorian, Pioneer, Old West, and Civil War eras, as well as more "modern" eras like the Roaring 20s, Suffragist, and 1950s Retro. Shop by Historical Era, as well as by the fashions of your favorite movie or TV show, such as Downton Abbey or Breakfast at Tiffany's. A full line of accessories is also available.

Garments are made-to-order by hand, although there is a small collection that is In Stock, Ready to Ship.

Prices are comparable to other historical clothing retailers. There is a sale section that includes Basics on Sale and Clearance Items, though I'm not sure what the difference is between the two.

Customer reviews are very positive, with an overall 4.8 out of 5.0 stars rating. Reviewers raved about Recollections' quality, prices, customer service, and website, and many commented that they are repeat buyers.

Be sure to also take a look at the Garment Gossip blog for interesting stories about icons of fashion and fashion history.

If you are a reenactor of 18th-century living history, you will definitely want to check out Samson Historical. The photos look like they're right off the sets of the AMC TV show TURN: Washington's Spies!

Samson Historical is a provider of "documented 18th-century reproductions." They are passionate about education and living history and offer a wide selection of period-accurate clothing and accessories for men and women. A few children's accessories are also available.

Located in Lebanon, Indiana, Samson Historical is a "three-generation, family-owned business" that began with making "historic drinking vessels," and has grown to provide reproductions of camp equipment, cooking utensils, clothing, accessories, and more.

The owners are "lifelong learners and pursuers of the past" who believe participation in reenactments and living history should not break the bank. Items are reasonably priced, with the most expensive garments being the men's Revolutionary War Regimental Coats (which are gorgeous).

Customer reviews are very positive. Many reviewers commented on the quality of the items, with some pointing out that they are not made of "costume material." One reviewer went on to say, "If clothing were made to this caliber today, we would all feel much better about ourselves."

A Loyalty Program is available for frequent buyers to earn points that can be used for discounts and free shipping. In addition, new and lightly used children's shoes purchased from the company may be returned for store credit. (Wouldn't it be great if more children's shoe retailers offered this?)

Be sure to also check out the extensive collection of authentic cookware, home goods, camping supplies, and DIY kits for sale, as well as a well-written section of educational blog posts.

Amazon has been a go-to resource for just about anything since the pandemic. Believe it or not, they even offer a decent selection of historical clothing, though the items are a bit more costume-y than others on this list.

From medieval suits of armor and colonial ball gowns to steampunk gear and Hamilton (the musical) costumes, Amazon offers a weird and wide variety of outfits and accessories for men, women, and children. Most of history's major eras are covered, including prehistoric cave-person costumes for toddlers and detailed "Marie Antoinette" ball gowns.

Prices range from expensive - such as the $799 suit of armor - to complete outfits for $50 and up. Customer reviews are generally good, depending on the item.

A search for "historical clothing" at Amazon will bring up a mixed bag of results. Not only will you see the requested historical clothing, but also oddly irrelevant items such as books, t-shirts, creepy dolls, and everyday clothing.

That said, Amazon is a good place to start your search for historical clothing, especially for budget-conscious buyers.

Etsy is populated by designers and creators who run their own stores and is a bit of a different shopping experience.

A search for historical clothing will reveal items for men, women, and children covering time periods from Hanfu to medieval to colonial to Victorian, with a few Viking-inspired items thrown in. Outlander cosplay fans will love the dresses and historically-accurate undergarments like those Claire fusses over in the show.

Some Etsy designers will let you select custom fabric and patterns for your garment. As I mentioned, I was able to do this with my daughter's colonial dress by selecting her favorite color and a pattern that would look best on a child.

We found the Etsy shopping experience to be very positive, as do other reviewers. Prices vary by designer and store.

Periods In Time is "a single shop experience for everything needed for entire costumes, head to toe, and beyond, for every possible time period." This includes accessories, footwear, hats, wigs, jewelry, and even weapons.

You will also find fantasy and cosplay costumes for both men and women, as well as clothing for belly dancers, pirates, western, LARP, and more.

The store is owned and operated by Sandra J. Zoppe, who was "drawn to costumes and acting since [she] was a small child and later as a drama major in college." Running Periods in Time gives her the opportunity to help others find what they need and avoid "an exhausting and frustrating experience." In fact, if you cannot find what you're looking for, you can email her directly, and she'll find it for you!

Prices are comparable to other historical clothing retailers, though some items may be less expensive. Customer reviews are not available on the website.

Prior Attire makes and sells clothing for both men and women for the Anglo-Saxon to Edwardian eras (excluding 19th-century men's clothing).

Based in Somerset, U.K., Prior Attire has been providing "hand-made, historically-accurate clothing" for reenactors, museums, and historical interpreters since 1999. This includes garments featured on UK television and at English Heritage, National Trust properties across the country, and events worldwide.

Izabela Pitcher has run Prior Attire for 16 years and is an accomplished designer who became involved with historical costuming during her university years. She has been a reenactor and "costumier" for the past 25 years, building "a customer base both in the UK and abroad." She is also the author of the 2-volume series, The Victorian Dressmaker, with a third volume in the works.

Prices are a bit high, especially with the exchange rate from pounds to U.S. dollars. There is a section of sale items, but even those aren't cheap (that Victorian wedding gown... OMG gorgeous). That said, if money is no object, Prior Attire does accept a limited number of "Bespoke" requests per year.

Prior Attire also provides historical interpretation services, as well as costume displays. If you are in the U.K. and have need of such services, check out the Living History page.

And don't miss the photos on the Gallery page, where you will surely find inspiration for your next living history reenactment (that poor woman in the snow must have been freezing).