Often, even the top professional costume designers and wardrobe managers in the entertainment industry do not have in-depth expertise in costuming for all historical periods. Our Historical Wardrobe division helps clients fill this gap by providing period specialist consulting on period details, construction techniques and textiles, as well as the age and socioeconomic demographics of the clothing of that period. We also have leading experts on period hairstyling who can provide historical consulting, assisting hairdressers in re-creating authentic styles. Our consultants work as an integral part of your wardrobe team and include published authors on period costuming, leading collectors of original items and members of the Costume Society of America.

If needed, we can also we can provide a full service wardrobe operation -- designers / stylists, researchers, inventory & continuity management, set costumers, and stitchers.

If budgets allow the commissioning of wardrobe items for your project, our membership includes several of the most authentic seamstresses and tailors in the reproduction clothing, and we are in regular close touch with most of the other leading players. If budgets do NOT allow new costuming, we maintain a large instock rental inventory of accurate civilian clothing for men, women and children owned centrally by the company and can draw upon an even wider range of items through our members.

Most of our military reenactors come already prepared with accurate uniforms for the period being portrayed. However, developing a new impression can be expensive. For those who have not yet acquired appropriate gear for their proposed role, our wardrobe inventory also covers military needs. These items, military and civilian, are available on a rental basis to qualifying productions and projects.

Judi Flowers, Historical Wardrobe:  As Judi puts it, theatre is in her blood:  she’s part of the third generation of theatre and production experts in her family.  Though she knew theatre an early age, Judi has by no means rested on family laurels.  She started by owning and operating her own Academy of Ballet, including two major productions per year.  Then, after Warner Brothers called on her costuming expertise as technical advisor for North and South, Judi went on to serve as costumer for a variety of Discovery Channel series.

In order to advance her research, Judi moved to Europe in 1989 and lived in London for a time; she still travels there frequently as an international lecturer and costume expert while maintaining a home base in her native Virginia.

While in Europe, Judi has been able to examine antique clothing, jewelry, books and architecture not available in America; she has also interviewed people whose lifestyles still reflect over 100-year-old traditions.  In addition, she has served as an assistant manager for Waterman’s Art Center and has worked with such noteworthy museums as the Louvre, Victoria and Albert, Aberystwyth Yesterday, and many private collections.  Parts of her personal costume collections can be seen at The Isle of Wight Museum in Smithfield, The Hunter House in Norfolk, and the Ryder Museum in London.

Judi’s published works include articles for publications such as Olde Times, Ladies Gallery, Vintage Fashions, and The Wick.  She also wrote the Civil War and Victorian Period reference book entitled Finishing Touches for Ladies. 

Judi’s professional accomplishments also include an appointment to the Virginia State Historic Advisory Board and first-place finishes in the National Dress Competition of Historic Clothing.  A few of her other production credits include the following:

• "John Adams" 2007
• "Mission Impossible" 2006
• Iron Jawed Angels (set costumer, HBO)
• The F.B.I. Files (costumer for eight episodes, Discovery Channel)
• The New Detectives:  Case Studies in Forensic Science (assistant costumer/buyer, New Dominion Pictures, distributed by Discovery Channel)
• North and South (costumer, Warner Brothers)

If you are a production company in need of authentic period wardrobe for your upcoming project, we'd like to talk to you about your needs.

Contact Judi at Wardrobe@HETVFilm.com.

If you are a living historian or historical actor with authentic period wardrobe and are interested in joining Historical Entertainment, click here.