Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send/sell you this antique/vintage garment?
Thank you so much for thinking of me! It’s really very kind to know that so many of you all think of me as a safe space for a family heirloom or whenever you come across a cool find at a local antique or thrift store.
As of right now, I’m not actively collecting antique or vintage clothing.
However, there are some exceptions to that general rule -
Pre-1920 garments that are larger than 28” in the waist
1915-1919 designer/high-end pieces
1830s-1850s dresses
Any garment if there is really strong family/owner provenance with documentation.
If you have something that meets one of these exceptions, please email me photos of the garment and what info you have, etc., and if I am interested I will get back to you.
I am not collecting anything that is from the 1930s or later.
I want to study dress history/costume history/fashion history! Where should I go to school?
Ok, well first - WELCOME TO THE COOLEST GROUP OF NERDS EVER! It’s full of research rabbit holes and pretty fabric. :)
As for programs though…this is a bit tough to answer, as dress history/fashion history as an academic course of study is still relatively new. Here are some universities that I am aware of that have dress history-related programs:
Clothing, Textiles, and Material Culture - University of Alberta
Textiles, Merchandising, and Fashion Design - University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Art History: Dress & Textile Histories - University of Glasgow
Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice - FIT
While there are other programs out there, the universities listed above have programs that I’ve either had personal experience with or have friends and colleagues who have gone through these programs. I’m not going to endorse any particular school or program, because one’s educational journey is incredibly personal. You have to do what’s best for you.
Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell wrote a great post about this same question on her website here.
What kind of dogs do you have?
Mmmm my favorite topic, my dogs. (I am very much that dog-mom.)
Tsubasa is a female Mini-American Shepherd (she’s on the smaller side of the breed). Before 2020, she and I did a lot of training together. She’s titled as an AKC Trick Dog and we were working on Agility. I would like to get back into agility with her, she really loved it and it was good for us as a pair.
She also goes by Suba, Subie, Toobie, Basa, and Wee Beastie.
Gryff is (we think) a male border collie/lab cross. We rescued him on December 31, 2019…so….yeah…During the first few months of him living with us, we focused a lot on just his comfort level, building confidence and trust. He’s still young (2-ish), but is the sweetest and most loving dog I’ve ever had in my life.
Gryff is technically Gryffindor (he was so shy and scared when we adopted him that we wanted to give him a name full of confidence). He also goes by Gryffy, Gryffum, and Buddy.
How can I learn how to sew?
I highly recommend online sewing courses that come with patterns to learn the basics of modern sewing construction. While they won’t teach you historical sewing and construction techniques, these courses will give you a solid foundation in good sewing techniques that can easily be applied to historical sewing projects.
I really enjoy Sew Over It’s courses & their online stitch school. I learned a lot from their courses about modern sewing, and it absolutely had a huge impact on my historical sewing projects as well.
I’ve also heard great things about Closet Core Pattern Company’s online courses.