Suzi Clarke

Frequently Asked Questions

Please note, I do not have anything ready-to-wear, or for hire. I only make clothes to order. Also, I can no longer supply any costume at short notice.

I do not take anyone on work experience/ work placement, nor do I employ staff. Please do not ask, as you will be disappointed.

1. Do you make corsets for underwear, or outerwear?
   I only make historically based corsets. However, these can be adapted to make bodices for dresses, or for wearing over a shirt or top. I do not make leather or rubber corsets, corsets for tight-lacing, or for medical purposes such as correcting posture.

2. How much does a corset cost?
   Most corsets start at £250.00; a Victorian corset is from £300.00. This includes black or white corset material, boning, and lacing, but not postage and packing. These are individually made to measure, and not kept in stock. Other materials cost extra. Corsets for outerwear cost from £350.00 not including fabric, post and packing. Contact me for a personal quotation; see below for contact details. Please be sure to tell me your deadline.

3. Do you have a price list I can see?
   As each item is costed individually, depending on what is required, I do not have a price list available. However, a basic Regency or medieval dress starts from about £400.00, not including materials, postage or packing. Corsets start from £250.00, a man's Regency coat from £450.00. These are all making costs, and materials are not included.

4. Do you make men's 18th Century shirts?
   I make men's shirts in fine linen or cotton lawn, with neck and cuff frills, from £60.00, not including fabric, postage and packing. These are not in stock, but are made to order. Other materials such as lace or muslin frills and cuffs cost extra.

5. Do you make late 18th or early 19th Century frock coats, Jane Austen style, for men?
   I make frock coats for men from £450.00, not including materials, post and packing. These are not in stock, and have to be made to order.

6. Do you make wedding clothes?
   In general I no longer make wedding clothes, although you can always ask.

7. Can you give me a personal quote for a wedding dress, coat, costume etc?
   If you send me a request, with details of the garment you require, together with the date when you want to wear it, I will try to reply the same day. (Please note I am not taking orders for wedding clothes. See 6.) See below for contact details.

8. Can you make a 1940's dress or man's suit, or a "Titanic" dress?
   I do not make any historical period clothes after about 1900. This includes dress of the "Titanic" period, 1911.

9. Do you make uniforms, or large numbers of similar costumes for a group?
   I no longer make uniforms or livery of any kind. Large numbers of costumes are not possible.

10. Do you make hats? Can you provide wigs?
    I make soft hats and head-dresses and trim straw or felt obtained elsewhere. For anything else I use a wonderful milliner called Catherine Delaney. I do not provide wigs but I recommend Derek Easton, who has provided wigs for many of my customers.

11. Do you make shoes or gloves?
    I do not make shoes. I handstitch leather gloves in whatever style is appropriate for a particular period. I also hand embroider gloves, but this is very, very expensive. I do not buy gloves from other suppliers, but make them myself.

12. Do you make or hire out fancy dress or fantasy costumes?
    I am not involved with fancy dress of any kind, nor do I hire out costumes as I have no stock. I can make fantasy and some science fiction costumes, but not "Superman" or "Spiderman" type costumes. If the costume is from a film, CD, DVD or Video game, I would need a picture of some kind to work from.

13. Can you make me a cheap costume? Can you sell me a pattern?
    My costumes do not work out cheaply. I have a basic minimum price for each garment, which is non-negotiable. However, please ask for a price for a specific garment. I do not make patterns for sale as every costume I make is made and fitted to order.

14. Can you recommend another costumier/a material shop/a jeweller?
    I do not normally recommend other costumiers. My Links page has a list of suppliers I have used and recommend, which includes jewellers, material shops, haberdashers and so on.

15. Could you send me a catalogue? Can I buy or hire from stock or ready-made clothes?
    As I only make clothes to order, I do not have stock or costumes to hire, or any ready-made clothes. I do not have a catalogue for the same reason. Contact me for a personal quotation; see contact details below.

16. Do you run workshops?
    I do not have space to run workshops from my business, but any group or society can arrange for me to run workshops on their behalf, using premises arranged by them. I am happy to travel if the venue is easily reached by train. I do not have the facilities to teach individual students.

17. Do you take work experience students?
    I do not take work experience students of any kind.

18. Are you looking for full or part time assistants? I do not employ staff, and I have no intention of doing so in the foreseeable future. Please do not send me your CV as I will not be able to help you.

19. Can you help me with my school/college project? Can you do some research for me?
    Unfortunately I cannot spare the time to help with school or college projects. For genuine research projects, e-mail me for further information and fees. See contact details.

20. Where do you work?
    I work in London, but can send costumes overseas if necessary. I have fulfilled commissions for customers from Japan, Finland, Holland and Germany among others. However, I prefer to fit costumes personally wherever possible. My address is easily accessible from most London mainline stations. For further information, e-mail me, see contact details.

21. Do you have a waiting list? Can you make me something at short notice?
    On average the waiting time is 2 - 3 months for a complete costume, but I am scaling down my work load, so the waiting list may be longer. Currently I am booked into September 2008. I do not like taking orders for anything more than 6 months in advance, in case of unforeseen circumstances. However, do contact me to discuss your requirements.

22. Where can I see pictures of what you do?
    You can see pictures of some of the clothes I have made on my Photo Gallery.

23. Can I link to your website? Can I ask you to link to my website?
    Yes, you may. If you would like a banner to link with, please check here. If you would like me to link back to you in return, then please contact me at the address below. However, please note that all of my links to suppliers are to ones that I have dealt with during my career. I only link to people I have bought from, or have dealt with, and can therefore personally recommend. I do not link to anyone until I have used their services.

24. My E-mail Address. I apologise for there being no direct link to my e-mail address. This is because I am currently overwhelmed with spam. Please put something costume-related in the subject line for this reason.

My contact details are as follows:

Snail mail: Suzi Clarke, 2 Boundary Lane, London, SE17 2BH		e-mail: suzi@suziclarke.co.uk