Many of the resources required for recreating the fashions, activities and dances of the past are often difficult to find. The list below is of some of my favorite on-line (mostly) costume and vintage dance related sites, broken into categories: vintage sewing, vintage dance, and also a list with full contact information.

Sewing and Costuming Links: Patterns, books, cloth, notions, etc...
Vintage Dance Related Links: Groups, musicians, suppliers, research sites.
Suppliers List: with full contact information.
Period Fashions on-line Reference Library.

Useful Resources for Vintage Sewing and Costuming

Experience the Elegance of Yesteryear

The following list is a very short list of links to books, pattern companies, repoduction goods, fabrics, trims, and notions suppliers, antique clothing dealers, museums, and societies to aid you in recreating and enjoying the past. Visit my Vintage Dancing Links page for sites helpful for vintage dance enthusiasts. I am trying to keep my link lists short and easy to scan through but they get longer every day; there are so many good sites out there.

Vintage Sewing and Fashion History related sites

Books Return to top
Vintage Victorian	Vintage Victorian publishes books on authentic costuming for reenactors as well as for vintage dancers. Each July, Vintage Victorian hosts the Nahant Victorian Day Ball.
R. L. Shep Publications	Books on authentic costume, fashions and uniforms from the Civil War, Edwardian, Federalist, Regency, Victorian and other eras. Authentic historic patterns and tailoring systems. Books on etiquette, customs, textiles, hats, corsets, sewing and needlework.
Patterns of Fashion, Volume 2	Patterns of Fashion 2: Englishwomen's Dresses and Their Construction C.1860-1940, by Janet Arnold. A book of patterns, taken directly from ladies garments of the period, in 1/4 scale. An excellent, accurate, resource. Volume 1 covers 1660-1860, and Volume 3 covers men's and women's dress 1560-1620
Hollis & Bell	Publishers of Plain Needlework - A Guide to Nineteenth Century Hand Sewing and the online, eclectic Victorian magazine The Family Treasury, which contains articles on subjects from tight-lacing corsets to doll furniture to making a chemise.
LaBarre Books	Authors and Publishers of Vintage Clothing Reference Books: 1900-1939, a series of five reference books on vintage clothing.
Dover Publications Inc.	Publisher of period catalogues, books, and costume reference books, has catalog, no phone orders, also available in most bookstores.
Patterns Return to top
Past Patterns	Historical Pattern Company dedicated to accuracy. Publishers of 19th and early 20th Century patterns.
Patterns of Fashion, Volume 2	Patterns of Fashion 2: Englishwomen's Dresses and Their Construction C.1860-1940, by Janet Arnold. A book of patterns, taken directly from ladies garments of the period, in 1/4 scale. An excellent, accurate, resource. Volume 1 covers 1660-1860, and Volume 3 covers men's and women's dress 1560-1620
Patterns from the Past	Patterns from the Past sells original, vintage and some recently out of print sewing patterns of all kinds, and older knitting, crochet and tatting patterns.
Folkwear Patterns	Folkwear, founded in the mid-1970s, has a selection of sewing patterns based on vintage fashions and traditional ethnic costumes.
State Historical Society of Wisconsin	A line of historical patterns which is also quite good.
Harper House	Vintage sewing patterns of many eras for the costumer, the re-enactor and the hopeless romantic. Illustrated catalog of vintage sewing patterns, hoop skirts, costume findings, reproduction needle art implements and books.
Vintage Pattern Lending Library	This library makes copies of all of their patterns, from the late 19th to the early 20th Centuries available (for purchase or loan) so they no longer languish forgotten in closets and on shelves.
Sense and Sensibility	Dress designs for lovers of Romantic fashions who want sensible clothing that fits nicely. All dresses created with period details and custom designed to suit your individual tastes, making each purchase unique.
Ageless Patterns	Reproduces patterns, mainly from Harper's Bazar Pattern sheets, 1867 - 1915. Also carries some other pattern companies' lines.
Amazon Dry Goods	Amazon Dry Goods has a new Owner! They don&rsqou;t sell through their website yet, but they have four catalogs: a general catalog, shoe catalog, pattern catalog and a drapery catalog.
Laughing Moon Mercantile	Purveyors of Victorian sewing patterns for costuming and high fashion enthusiasts.
Pattern Tracing Paper	Pitman (formerly Charrette) supplies a good tracing paper for tracing multisize patterns.
Vintage Reproduction Costumes and Accessories Return to top
River Crossing Inc.	Source for authentically-researched Old West clothing. Michael J. Guli provides buckskin leather garments to historians, re-enactors, movies and television programs, museums and SASS members, while Sharon Guli hand-crafts Victorian corsets and ensembles.
Jas. Townsend and Son, Inc.	A mail order company that supplies 18th and 19th century reproductions for living history.
The Vermont Country Store	Not reproduction, but many useful vintage products, hair rolls, combs, stockings, etc...
A Cool Breeze	A Cool Breeze, sells reproduction hand fans, from the simple to the extraordinary.
Veilled and Bejeweled	Sells fine quality bridal accessories wholesale to the independent bridal retailer, nice tiaras.
Classic Jewelry	Manufacturers of genuine Garnet Jewelry Original Bohemian Designs from the nineteenth century.
Jewels by Count Alexander	Reproduction crown jewels for those with substantial budgets.
Russian souvenirs	Russian printed wool shawls.
Fabrics, Trims, Notions Return to top
Farthingales	Supplier of vintage related sewing notions and supplies, including corset supplies, has spoon busks.
Thai Silks	Imported silks from Thailand, China, Korea, and India and cottons from Indonesia.
Oriental Silk Co.	Imported silks from China.
New England Quilt Supply	A wholesale quilt supply warehouse, fabric, notions, batting and more.
Richard The Thread	World wide distributor of corset supplies (Corset Busks, Hooks, and Eyes), costume supply-notions, fabrics including fine English coutil, and dress forms.
Corsetmaking.com	Offers corset making supplies, products, books, and services.
Agelong Brands	Maker of Faultless Powdered starch.
Lacis	Offers an extensive selection of notions, books, tools and supplies for the textile arts to the wholesale and retail market. Publishes over 90 books relating to needlework and costume.
Pattern Tracing Paper	Pitman (formerly Charrette) supplies a good tracing paper for tracing multisize patterns.
J.R. Burrows & Company	Historical design merchants. A great source for late 19th century reproduction fabrics, lace curtains, and wallpapers.
Greenberg and Hammer Inc.	Sadly Greenberg and Hammer has gone out of business.
Antique Clothing Return to top
Karen Augusta - Antique Lace and Fashion	Offers for sale 18th Century through mid-20th Century museum-quality antique clothing, lace, and textiles.
Antique and Vintage Dress Gallery	This site sells antique clothing from the 1800's through today.
Vintage Textile	This site sells antique clothing from the 1800's through today.
Charles A. Whitaker Auction Company	Auction company which conducts regular vintage clothing and textile auctions.
Museums with Costume Collections Return to top
The Museum of Costume, Bath	BATH, ENGLAND. The collection focuses on fashionable dress for men, women and children from the late 16th century to the present day. The Museum of Costume was opened in the Bath Assembly Rooms in 1963.
Kyoto Costume Institute	KYOTO, JAPAN. Has a vast collection of costume from the early 18th century through the 20th century. great on-line collection.
The Costume Institute	NEW YORK, NEW YORK. The Costume Institute, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, houses a collection of more than 80,000 costumes and accessories spanning five continents and as many centuries.
Department of Textile and Fashion Arts	BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. At the Museum of Fine Arts, the collection contains examples of costumes and accessories from the 16th to the 20th centuries.
Les Petites Dames de Mode	DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS. John Burbidge has made a collection of 29" high dolls dressed in period clothing, 19th and early 20th century, there is no permanent gallery, but they are displayed in exhibitions throughout the country. Can subscribe to email list with schedule.
Societies Return to top
The Costume Society of America	The Costume Society of America "advances the global understanding of all aspects of dress and appearance."
The Ladies' Tea Guild	The Ladies’ Tea Guild was established in the spring of 2001 with the intent of providing an oasis for women who have a passion for the cultural history of the 19th and early 20th century and a love of tea in all its dimensions. They have 18 local chapters.

Useful Resources for Vintage Dance

Experience the Elegance of Yesteryear

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Vintage Dance provides an excellent opportunity to use and appreciate reproduction Vintage Clothing. During the 19th Century dancing was one of the few social pastimes available. Many teach-yourself dancing manuals exist from this period, and a thriving Vintage Dance community exists to recreate the dances and social customs of that era. I belong to The Commonwealth Vintage Dancers, a dance troupe that performs a number of dances of the 1860's, 1890's and Early 20th Century.

Here are a number of resources available on the web related to Vintage Dancing:

Vintage Dance Groups and Events Return to top
The Commonwealth Vintage Dancers	MASSACHUSETTS A dance troupe based near Boston; performing troupe and sponsor of balls, workshops and the Newport Vintage Dance Week held each year in Newport County, RI in August.
Vintage Victorian	MASSACHUSETTS Each July, Vintage Victorian hosts the Nahant Victorian Day Ball. Vintage Victorian publishes books on authentic costuming for reenactors as well as for vintage dancers. .
The Vintage Dance Society	CONNECTICUT A dance troupe directed by Marc Casslar and based in Hartford; sponsors Balls, performances and other Vintage Events throughout the year.
email Moments in Time (c/o Bob Chapman)	CONNECTICUT Moments in Time sponsors regular dances, both formal and informal in the Hartford area, including the annual Holiday 19th Century Ball.
Elegant Arts Society	CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY The primary mission of the Elegant Arts Society is to promote historically-accurate Regency-era social dance, particularly in the tri-state area and the rest of the Northeastern United States. Secondarily, they support and promote historical social dance of other periods of interest, ranging from the 15th through the early 20th centuries.
Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts	NEW JERSEY Located in Cape May. Sponsors two vintage dance workshops each year, one in April and another in October during their Victorian Week events.
The Metropolitan Vintage Dance and Social Club	NEW JERSEY Sponsors vintage dance balls and social events.
Centuries Historical Dance	WASHINGTON, DC A performance troupe dedicated to recreating and presenting period social dances in the Metro DC area. Focus is mostly on 19th and early 20th century social dances, but their repertoire also includes dances from the Renaissance, and folk couple dance styles.
MiXED PiCKLES	PENNSYLVANIA Dance troupe based in and around Philadelphia, directed by Bob Skiba, researches, performs and teaches American dances from the colonial period all the way up through the 1940s.
Lansdowne Vintage Dancers	PENNSYLVANIA Based in the Philadelphia area, Lansdowne Vintage Dancers is an organization of dancers dedicated to providing a regular venue for dancers to enjoy vintage dance.
Flying Cloud Academy of Vintage Dance	OHIO A dance troupe based in and around Cincinnati; sponsor of vintage balls and workshops throughout the year.
Grand Traditions Vintage Dance	MICHIGAN Grand Traditions Vintage Dance Academy, founded in 1990 by Arlynn Hacker in Ann Arbor, , invites you to experience vintage dance. Offers workshops and balls, focusing on dances from the mid-19th through mid-20th centuries.
Lexington Vintage Dance Society	KENTUCKY The Lexington Vintage Dance Society, with headquarters in Lexington, is dedicated to researching, teaching, performing, and promoting the ballroom and social dance forms of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Academy of Danse Libre	CALIFORNIA A performing troupe based in Palo Alto, (near Stanford) under the direction of Eduardo Maragliano and John Beale. A not-for-profit organization dedicated to the lively exhibition of 19th and early 20th century social dances.
Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble	CALIFORNIA Based in Stanford, The Stanford Vintage Dance Ensemble, directed by Richard Powers, performs social dances from the 19th and early twentieth centuries, from the Victorian to the Ragtime and Swing eras. Mr. Powers also organizes the Stanford Waltz Week held (usually) each year in June.
PEERS	CALIFORNIA PEERS (the Period Events & Entertainments Re-Creation Society) is a vintage music and social dance organization in the San Francisco Bay Area that gives monthly period balls, generally set in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Social Daunce Irregulars	CALIFORNIA The Social Daunce Irregulars have been presenting Victorian Balls in the Pasadena area since 1988. they are dedicated to keeping the tradition of the 19th Century Grand Ball alive in an otherwise gray and pedestrian world.
The Bay Area English Regency Society	CALIFORNIA The Bay Area English Regency Society is a vintage music and social dance group in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Holds monthly dance parties and several period fancy-dress historical balls throughout each year.
The San Diego Vintage Dancers	CALIFORNIA A social dance group located in San Diego; an affiliate of the Lively Arts History Association, present a variety of vintage dance events every year.
The Lively Arts History Association	CALIFORNIA An organization dedicated to fostering an understanding of history through the performing arts. LAHA is a resource which can be called upon by historic sites, museums, civic organizations, educators and others interested in making history accessible and interesting.
We Make History	ARIZONA A dance group which runs historic dance events.
Hof-Dantzer Make History	AUSTRIA The ensemble HOF-DANTZER, led by Hannelore Unfried, based in Vienna continues the tradition of the golden age of Viennese dance culture.
Vintage Dancing in Australia	AUSTRALIA Vintage Dancing isn't only done in the US and Europe. Earthly Delights provides a host of vintage related links including dances, music, and costuming. They also have a list of Upcoming Events you might be interested in if you are in the Canberra region.
Musicians Return to top
Spare Parts	On piano and flute, Bill Matthiesen and Liz Stell play a variety of dance music, including romantic couples dances, contra, and English Country, as well as historically accurate programs for Regency, Victorian (mid-nineteenth century through 1890s and ragtime dances. Argentine tangos are a special interest of theirs. Their CD entitled The Civil War Ballroom is ideal for recreating a Victorian Ball.
Ian Whitcomb	America's Foremost Tin-Pan Alley Man, Ukulele Virtuoso, and Grammy Award-Winning Recording Artist. Ian Whitcomb has been entertaining the world for over 30 years. Hitting the American Top Ten charts in 1965 with his novelty record, "You Turn Me On", he soon abandoned life as a British Invader (born in Surrey, England, in 1941) to devote himself to resurrecting the roots of pop music, especially Ragtime and the simple, heartfelt songs of turn-of-the-century Tin Pan Alley.
email Roy Wiseman director of The New River Dance Orchestra	The New River Dance Orchestra provides period dance music for Victorian and Ragtime Balls, their speciality is the music of the Ragtime and Early Jazz eras.
Dance History Research Sites Return to top
Library of Congress	An American Ballroom Companion presents a collection of over two hundred social dance manuals at the Library of Congress.
Dance Card Museum	The Dance Card Museum is located at 152-154 Spring Street, Newport, Rhode Island.
Vintage Dance Images	Vintage Dance Images are reproduced from wonderful antique dance postcards and piano sheet music, most from pre-1920.
Dance Related Suppliers Return to top
Dance Card Pencils	There is once again a supplier for dance card pencils ($5.40 per dozen).