Ravensmoon Replicas

Medieval, fantasy and SF garb at peasant prices

Let's say you're a LARPer and you need garb for your next shindig—you're tired of pinning bedsheets together, but you don't know how to sew and you're not willing to pay more than $600 for someone to make you a cloak. Maybe you just want a few accessories for the period clothing you already own. Or perhaps you've always wanted to have your own chainmail shirt. Maybe you want some wizard-wear for the next Harry Potter book roll-out. Maybe, like me, you're just an adult who never outgrew the need to dress up and you want a really cool Halloween costume this year.

Let me introduce you to Ravensmoon Replicas.

Ravensmoon is a small replica clothing and accessories company based in Utah. The owner, one "Beorn Tordensjold," has been making and selling replica items at local events since 1997 and online since 1999. His concern as a re-enactor was over some of the high prices he saw advertised for costumes and other garb—he honestly felt that a merchant ought not charge over $300 for a cloak just because the market would bear it. So he began making and selling his own items at more reasonable prices—and things snowballed from there.

Items sold at the Ravensmoon web site (http://www.ravensmoon.com) include medieval and early Renaissance clothing, accessories, leather and chainmail armor and weapons. There are also specialties made by artisans working with Ravensmoon, and a section for science fiction and fantasy replicas, including "Force Knight" and "Dark Lord" (read: Star Wars Jedi and Sith) costumes and accessories.

I have to admit I was a little apprehensive about ordering from Ravensmoon for the first time. Let's just say that I've been an extremely successful Pirate King and all that success has, um, gone to my waist. I'm not easy to fit, so I don't often purchase clothing unless I can try it on first—and Ravensmoon does not offer a full-refund guarantee. They will, however, fix anything that is broken during shipping or doesn't fit properly, so I gave it a shot.

For the most part, I'm quite pleased. I now have a maroon lined cloak with a hood that would be the envy of Little Red Riding Hood, two fitted bodices that lace up in a most attractive way, and a cinched overskirt that ought to create an impressive barmaid costume. All items arrived in record time, especially considering I ordered around Ravensmoon's busiest time of the year. (The white chemise that came with this order does not fit properly—it's actually too big for me—so I'm going to return it to them for additional tweaking.)

There are at least three ways to order items through Ravensmoon.  They have a Paypal shopping cart so you can add items with one click.  They also have a paper order form if you prefer to print out your order and send it via snailmail. They also have an eBay auction site where they sell off overstock or one-of-a-kind items.

Of course, Ravensmoon isn't perfect. As indicated above, since they make all items to customer specifications when they order, their return policy is limited to fixing broken stuff and altering items that don't fit right—so be sure you really want an item before you order. (To their credit, Ravensmoon is exceptionally patient about answering pre-order questions via email.)

Still, there's a lot to like at Ravensmoon—particularly if you are, like me, a woman closer to resembling Rosie O'Donnell than Calista Flockhart. Browse around. Come thank me later.

(And btw, if you have a young Harry Potter fanatic in your house, be sure to take a look at the child's cape. It's darling.)

All material displayed on this website is © 2001-2009 by S. B. Houghton, writing under the alias "The Pirate King." All rights reserved.
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