Post #2386399

2026-04-13 07:20 UTC

@em@babka.social 2. I bought a dress from Maya Hotenko, and it has been a really faithful 'look nice but actually be super comfy' dress over the years. Her shop says she's based in Kharkiv, but when I was corresponding with her a few years ago, I believe she had relocated to Poland because Kharkiv wasn't safe; I'm not sure where she is right now. Beautiful, sturdy stuff, inspired by late Victorian and Edwardian fashions. I find her linen is denser than Armstreet, and so doesn't hold up as well when Kyoto is the surface of the sun, but for every other season: beautiful. https://www.etsy.com/shop/MayaHotenkoDress 3. Another Ukrainian dressmaker doing Edwardian-inspired clothing is “Gibson Girl Dress". She does beautiful work, but it didn't suit me (I am quite short-waisted) so I gave that particular blouse to my mom. https://www.etsy.com/shop/Gibsongirldress (2/4)

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@elana@babka.social 2026-04-13 07:21

@em@babka.social Now we get into things that are probably waaaaay too costumey for most people who aren't weird in the same highly specific ways that I am. I discovered most of these shops before the war, when I was looking for really nice historical reproduction clothing. Ukraine happens to have a lot of really skilled people in this space. 4. Valentine Crafts Store: I got a quilted petticoat from here. She has tons of beautiful stuff, but most of it you'd need to have an Occasion to buy. The cotton chemises seem versatile though! https://www.etsy.com/shop/ValentineCraftsStore 5. Fiorentina Costuming: I got a super comfortable Regency-inspired cotton gown from her. I loved it but I popped a button and it went into the depths of the “to mend" pile and then I moved to Japan 🥲 She was lovely to correspond with, though. (Edit: come to think of it, I think I also got a pair of short stays from her, which are also marvellous. Also possibly some cotton chemises. It's been years…) https://www.etsy.com/shop/FiorentinaCostuming (3/4)

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