Where to Buy Authentic Historical Clothing: A Guide for Reenactors, Lineage Society Members, and Costume Enthusiasts
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Updated April 2026
Whether you’re preparing for a Revolutionary War reenactment, a Victorian tea, a Civil War living-history event, a Renaissance Faire, or just a really committed Halloween costume, finding authentic historical clothing can feel surprisingly difficult. Generic costume shops rarely have what serious reenactors and lineage-society members need, and the better retailers aren’t always easy to find.
I’ve been down this road myself. When my daughter was eight, I had about two weeks to find her an authentic Colonial-era dress for a national event in Washington, D.C., and I learned the hard way that not every shop labeled “historical clothing” is the real thing. Since then, I’ve kept a working list of retailers I trust (or, at minimum, that other genealogists and reenactors vouch for).
This is that list. Below are several retailers of historical clothing, covering everything from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War to the 1950s retro, with notes on what each shop specializes in, what it costs, and what you can expect when you order.
Why Would Anyone Need Historical Clothing?
In addition to lineage society events, there are many other reasons you might need historical clothing. A few of these include:
- Celtic Festivals and Scottish Highland Games
- Cosplay Conventions
- Dickens Festivals
- Halloween and Costume Parties
- Historical Landmark Docents
- LARP (Live Action Role Play)
- Military Reenactments (Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI, etc.)
- Renaissance Faires
- SASS Contests (Single Action Shooting Society)
- Society for Creative Anachronism Events
- Theater, TV, and Movies
A Personal Note
A few years ago, my eight-year-old daughter was selected to bring greetings from the National Society Children of the American Revolution (N.S.C.A.R.) at the opening night of the DAR’s Continental Congress. Children chosen for this honor traditionally wear Colonial or Revolutionary War attire, and I had about two weeks to find her an authentic dress.
I turned to Etsy, where a custom designer made her a beautiful purple-and-white print dress for around $100 (my daughter chose the fabric herself). It arrived in plenty of time, my daughter looked adorable, and we still have the photos. She has never worn it again, and she loathed the mob cap, but the memories are worth it.
That experience is part of why I put this list together. When you actually need historical clothing, you need to know where to go.
Where to Buy Historical Clothing
The following retailers are organized by time period and/or types of historical clothing.
Wild West Mercantile
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.
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.
Historical Emporium
Founded in 2003 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 few discounted items can be found on the sale pages; however, most sales are 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.
Maggie May Clothing™
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 Netflix, Amazon Productions, Tim Burton, Hallmark, 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 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.
Samson Historical
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 and Regency-era clothing. They are passionate about education and living history and offer a wide selection of period-accurate clothing and accessories for men, women and children. 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.
BeespokeVintage
BeespokeVintage is a solo design studio specializing in custom historical clothing and meticulously restored vintage sewing patterns. The designer, a self-described lifelong devotee of period fashion, creates bespoke garments inspired by eras ranging from the Regency period through the 1940s, each piece crafted with attention to silhouette, historical accuracy, fit, and individual expression.
In addition to custom commissions, BeespokeVintage maintains an extensive digital pattern library spanning the pre-1920s through the 1970s. These patterns have been carefully cleaned, reformatted, and digitized from original sources, allowing sewists to work with authentic historical designs without damaging fragile originals. The collection is organized by decade, with additional categories for menswear, children’s clothing, maternity, and even sailor-themed and mother-daughter/father-son coordinates. Patterns can be purchased through the BeespokeVintage Etsy shop.
Custom commissions are designed collaboratively, with the designer walking clients through fabric choices, period-appropriate construction techniques, and fit considerations. This makes BeespokeVintage a particularly good fit for reenactors, performers, and collectors who want a truly one-of-a-kind garment rather than an off-the-rack reproduction.
Prices vary by commission complexity, and wait times apply as with any custom-made work, so plan ahead. BeespokeVintage is also a veteran-owned business, which may appeal to readers looking to support that community.
Customer testimonials on the Reviews page are uniformly positive (only 5-star reviews are featured), with clients highlighting the designer’s craftsmanship and collaborative process.
In addition to clothing and patterns, the studio hosts occasional themed soirées, picnics, and hands-on sewing workshops. Check the Events & Workshops page for upcoming experiences, and the blog for project features and vintage sewing inspiration.
Amazon
Amazon is a go-to resource for just about anything. Believe it or not, they even offer a decent selection of historical clothing, though some of 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.
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
Populated by designers and creators who run their own stores, Etsy 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 Fraser fusses over in the show.
Some Etsy designers will let you select custom fabric and patterns for your garment. As I mentioned above, I was able to do this with my daughter’s custom colonial dress by selecting her favorite color and a pattern that would look best on a child.
As mentioned above, I found the Etsy shopping experience to be very positive, as do other reviewers. Prices vary by designer and store.
Prior Attire
Prior Attire makes and sells clothing for 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.
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).
A Few Practical Reminders Before You Order
Wrap-up
Finding the right historical clothing retailer comes down to matching three things: the era you need, your budget, and how much time you have before the event. For period-accurate 18th-century reenactments, Samson Historical and Maggie May Clothing are hard to beat. For Victorian and Old West, Historical Emporium and Wild West Mercantile have deep catalogs of in-stock pieces. For truly custom work — or a tight deadline — Etsy is still where I’d start. And for everything in between, Amazon fills the gaps when budget matters more than authenticity.
If you’re heading to a lineage-society event, Scottish Highland Games, a SASS competition, or a Civil War reenactment this year, I hope this list saves you the hours of searching I had to do. And if you have a favorite historical clothing retailer I missed, I’d genuinely love to hear about it; drop it in the comments so other readers can find it too.
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