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Hi Ladies, I have enjoyed reading over your post. I now have a favor to ask you all. I am a civil war seamstress by trade. I am also a stay at home Mom. My husband is the bread winner. The dresses I sell help out in extra ways. Here's my dilemma, and here's how you can help:
I love to study original dresses, fashion plates, and CdVs. I also have my own collection. (Yes, this is where some of the dress money goes! ). Because of my studying I love to make my dresses just as they would have back then. Which means a lot of hand sewing, hand pleating and gauging, and even handstitched button holes. I do however use the sewing machine for all the internal stitches. So basically my dresses look on the outside, just like the real thing. But, no one seems to want 100% authentic dresses. Most ladies seem happy with the sutler style dress that often times do not have the correct fabric. I know very well how to sew sutler style. I know all the short cuts. I can turn over a lot more dresses making the dresses this way verses the authentic way. Yet as I am working on a dress it is so hard for me to take the short cuts. I love the delicate way the original dresses were made. It was truly a work of art. But I know everyone does not feel the way I do.
My husband says that I miss out on a lot of work waiting for someone to buy my authentic dresses. And he thinks I could make more money if I just sewed the way the ladies want it. I honor my husbands opinion. So ladies, how do you like your dresses. And what do you consider a good and reasonable price. I'll be very eager to hear your response. Thanks.
__________________ "Be careful always that the details of your dress are perfectly finished... The dress should be made to fit the figure neatly." The Ladies' Book of Etiquette 1860
I am not sure if I can answer your question or not. I sew my own clothes because I can make my dresses better than I can afford to buy especially with one in college and one about to start... the budget won't permit costly attire.
but I do like the hand stitching and the proper hems.
that said there is a market for well made dresses with attention to detail. and they are well worth the cost. but I suspect there maybe a bigger market for typical sutler row dresses.
Were I you... I might consider two lines. the ones you love to make and those that earn you money. as for price... I can't guess it has been too long since I bought a dress and then it didn't fit or hold up... hence my making my own and the kids... who are now grown... and my daughter is making her own now.. well with my help.. she can't set sleeves yet.. LOL
Seriously I think I would check out other quality sites and see what they charge and charge accordingly for your quality dresses. and like wise typical sutler row dresses.
in the mean time I wish you the best of luck in your endevor... to me there are far too few quality makers... and if you make two lines... have two different names to sell them by. Your name for the quality dresses... and a pen name if you will for your sutler row quality. that way should your reputation begin to draw your better clients there won't be a question about the quality of your work.
Well I am not a seamstress that for sure. I am a Tailor. I make the men's military and some civilian garments. You bring up a few good points some of witch I have been pondering over for a few years. I am sure I may add or confuse this thread. I have a good bit of knowledge of the ladies dress forced on to me by a seamstress that I talk on the phone with for at least an hour a day. Thank goodness for headsets of I would never get any work done. If you take the time to do everything the way it should be your time will never add up. Granted after the making the same garment many times over the time to construct a garment decreases. You just have to find the folks who want there dresses done right. If there are steps that you can take that will shorten up your time with out lowering your quality, you should not feel bad about it.My way of sewing things is to do it right. I hate modern sewn factory made garments with a passion.
Dear Seamstress, the "how authentic" discussion is about as old as reenacting!
There is a sort of reenacting bell curve... you have your extremely inauthentic on one end, your extremely authentic on the other, and then the vast majority of us. From my experience, it doesn't cost that much more to make an authentically styled dress in the proper fabric using modern methods than to make a horrible dress out of 70s calico with a zipper in the back.
My suggestion would be to make the more middle-of-the-road fashions up ahead and take orders for the more authentically constructed ones. As for prices, I have no idea, have always made my own gear.
I'm quite new to the reenacting world, but have been a spectator for about 8 years, and have wondered for a while why someone would spend as much or more for a merchants row outfit when it could be very authentic for the same amount of money.
I personally make my own dresses, using period construction methods. That means that my bodice is made mostly if not all by hand, and , if a sewing
machine is used, it is mainly in the skirt. Everything is hand guaged or pleated.
As for prices I have no idea. I would say if you had sewn most of the garment by hand, it should go for more money (since sewing some stuff is a pain!).
Hope this helps!
__________________ "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
Dear. sweet ladies. If I could get Dear One into one of your frocks for a half-minute, I would buy the doggon musket and cheerfully sleep on the ground. Is there some secret? Or do you just have to care?
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Ole, I was the oddball... I was the one who dragged Mr. Zou to events and bullied him into drill and battles. (I gotta say, he was the envy of his fellow reenactors!)
My reenacting has fallen off somewhat with his departure, since my new pard is a Vietnam veteran who is NOT INTERESTED IN HEARING GUNFIRE EVER AGAIN.
I think there has to be a spark of interest before you can fan the flames. If there's no spark, it'll always be a chore.
The question above is, why would somebody choose an incorrect outfit when a correct one costs about the same?
The answer is, lack of caring, or lack of education.
Personally, I deplore sutlers who sell those nylon-lace-fastooned monstrosities and polyester uniforms. There is such an opportunity for education and guidance.
My best advice to anyone starting the hobby has always been, find a group you like BEFORE you buy anything. Let the veterans guide you. If they're wearing nylon lace and polyester uniforms... RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!
I prefer the authentic dresses - like you say you are selling. If I bought a dress, that's what I'd prefer.
I'm having trouble selling a period correct dress, so if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear
Thank you for all your kind responses. I am finding out that many reenactors do not like to spend a whole lot of money on their dresses, due to the fact, that they just get ruined outside in the camping environnement.
Suzanne, I have found that many women in the Daughters of the Confederate, who are not reenactors, tend to pay more for their dresses. The ladies who do not go out on the field, but go into the schools and things, don't mind paying for a very well made dress. And they like their dress very period. One of the things that I have done to help get business is to set up displays and have fashion shows in public libraries. My family plays civil war music, and that is one way to draw a crowd.
Ole, My husband got me into reenacting. But I have always loved dressing up. I go to all the reenactments with my husband and our unit. I have an eight month old son which makes it difficult. But I still love it. I think the woman must like it somewhat, in order to go.
__________________ "Be careful always that the details of your dress are perfectly finished... The dress should be made to fit the figure neatly." The Ladies' Book of Etiquette 1860
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How authentic should you be? 
). Because of my studying I love to make my dresses just as they would have back then. Which means a lot of hand sewing, hand pleating and gauging, and even handstitched button holes. I do however use the sewing machine for all the internal stitches. So basically my dresses look on the outside, just like the real thing. But, no one seems to want 100% authentic dresses. Most ladies seem happy with the sutler style dress that often times do not have the correct fabric. I know very well how to sew sutler style. I know all the short cuts. I can turn over a lot more dresses making the dresses this way verses the authentic way. Yet as I am working on a dress it is so hard for me to take the short cuts. I love the delicate way the original dresses were made. It was truly a work of art. But I know everyone does not feel the way I do. 
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