Fashions of the Ages
Policies

The prices listed on our website for all items other than undergarments are rough estimates based off the garment designs pictured. For a more accurate quote please contact us with the specific fabrics and trims desired.

All orders are processed on a 'first come, first serve' basis. You may reserve a space in our schedule by placing a deposit. Quotes are valid for 30 days only. Orders are considered 'placed' once a deposit and measurements have been received.

General Outline of the Ordering Process

All garments are guaranteed to fit the measurements provided to us.  The hem of garments is not included in the guarantee.  We provide two choices for the hem.  We can leave garments un-hemmed (preferred by the majority of our customers) or we can hem garments according to the provided measurements at no additional charge.  Be aware that an error in the measurements of even 1/2 of an inch could cause garments to be too long or too short. Because each client's body is different we highly recommend adding mock-ups to most orders. Loose fitting items such as chemises, drawers, etc. generally do not require mock-ups. Mock-ups are particularly important for clients with natural waist sizes larger than 35", for any client who has a difficult time fitting into standard size clothing, and for any client who has ordered a very tailored garment. While we guarantee that all garments will be made to fit the measurements provided us, without ordering a mock-up we cannot guarantee that garments will fit perfectly, there may be fit imperfections. If no mock-up is ordered it is absolutely vital that the client takes accurate measurements.

Completed garments are non-refundable.  If the garment does not fit because of a sizing error on our part we will gladly alter and return the item to you.  We are not responsible for damages that may occur to the item after it has been received.  If you find a flaw in the craftsmanship of a garment, you must contact us immediately (within two business days) and let us know the problem/flaw.  We most likely will require you to send us photos clearly showing the fit of the garment. (If photos are requested, they are mandatory - no exceptions!. If the client refuses to send photos Fashions of the Ages reserves the right to refuse to make free alterations. Without a personal fittings photos are the only alternative to allow us to see what the problem is.) After sending notification and receiving approval from us that your claim is legitimate, the item must be mailed back within two days of contacting us.  We will not accept garments shipped back after one week after customer received the items.  Please do not try to return garments after this period, they will not be accepted and returned at buyers’ expense.  After we have received the item back we will repair it as soon as possible.  Please note that items sent back must be insured or we will not accept them.  We will not accept returns for color discrepancies.  When placing an order we send you a detailed description and/or photos (or swatches if requested) of the fabrics selected.  If matching an exact color is important to you please send swatches - not photos - with your order and we will match colors exactly, otherwise we will not be responsible for slight color variations.

If the piece does not fit but matches the measurements provided we unfortunately cannot accept returns or provide free alterations.  We keep all measurements and patterns on file so we can quickly check if there is a problem with the size of the garment.  We are happy to alter the garment however we do charge for this service.  Alterations may take up to 12 weeks depending our calendar.

We accept payment plans for any order at the client's preference. Payments may be made in any amount, however we will not begin work until 50% of the order total has been received. Once invoices have been sent out it is the client's responsibility to send us their payment information and ensure that it was received. Because of our high work load we typically do not send payment reminders after invoices have been emailed. On occasion, at Fashions of the Ages discretion, we may require payment in full for an item before work is begun. This is typically only for some rush orders, orders with a quick turn around time, or especially elaborate custom pieces.

Any changes to the design/fabric/size/style of the order may result in a change in pricing and/or a change to the completion time. If you request a change that will impact the price, we will always let you know what the new pricing will be before proceeding with the change, we will never surprise you with increased prices at the end of your order. Please also keep in mind that design changes or additions to an order most likely will increase the time it takes to complete your order.

Because of the high volume of individuals who are just browsing we do not release our phone number through our website. In almost all situations, orders are completed without needing to discuss them over the phone. At Fashions of the Ages discretion, depending on the circumstances of the order we will give out our phone number if there are details that cannot be worked out through e-mail. Another reason we prefer communication via e-mail is the added protection of written communication for both the client and Fashions of the Ages.

The following paragraph DOES NOT apply to corset mock-ups which are included in corset pricing and time estimates. Mock-ups will extend the length of time an order takes to be completed.  For all mock-ups, if we quote you 6 weeks for your order the 6 weeks does not include the period from the date we mail the mock-up out to you to the date we receive it back.  We cannot be responsible for shipping times.  Generally mock-ups will extend the order by 1-2 weeks, however this is solely dependent on how quickly you fit the mock-up and send it back to us. When a mock-up is requested we will require photos of the client wearing the mock-up. Please be aware that providing photos of yourself in your mock-up is a mandatory part of the mock-up process. It is not necessary to include your face in the photos if you'd like to preserve anonymity. All photos are kept strictly confidential. Photos are the most important part of the mock-up process by taking the placed of a personal fitting. Any client who does not supply photos of the mock-up fit may have their order suspended or cancelled at the discretion of Fashions of the Ages.

All orders are processed on a 'first come, first serve' basis. We are often fully booked through the end of the year by August. You may reserve a space in our schedule by placing a deposit. If the reservation is greater than 6 months in advance the reservation deposit is $100.00. This fee will be deducted from the 50% initial deposit placed when work commences on your order. If the reservation is less than 6 months in advance the 50% initial deposit must be placed to reserve a space in our schedule. All quotes are valid for 30 days only. Orders are considered placed once the deposit and measurements have both been received.  All balances and/or previous balances must be paid in full before orders will be shipped.

When placing an order it is the client's responsibility to add our e-mail address (mail@fashionsoftheages.com) to their trusted/allowed senders list to ensure that all of our e-mails arrive in their inbox and are not mistakenly placed in your spam/bulk/junk mail folder. We have no spam filters on our e-mail address to make sure that we receive every single e-mail sent to us. We also have a back up e-mail that receives a duplicate copy of all e-mails sent to our main address. **General e-mail note: Occasionally e-mail servers have problems and might result in either party not receiving correspondence (please note this is rare). We reply to every e-mail received, so if you feel you have sent an e-mail but we did not respond to it, it means we did not receive it. Fashions of the Ages cannot be held responsible for any information/requests contained in emails that were not received.

In the event that an order is placed and we are unable to make contact with you through e-mail we will attempt to contact you by certified mail. If we still do not receive a response after 30 days of attempting to contact you, the order will be suspended. A suspended order will be held for 6 months as a valid order. After 6 months the order will be considered abandoned. Once an order is suspended we will begin working on other orders. If the fabrics and supplies were not purchased for the abandoned order any funds received over the 50% initial deposit will be returned by company check. If fabrics supplies were purchased no refunds will be given.

In the event that an order is completed and we are unable to make contact with you through e-mail and collect the balance due on the order we will attempt to contact you by certified mail. If we still do not receive a response after 30 days the order will become subject to a 10% storage fee. After a period of 90 days of no response the order will be considered abandoned. At such time it is under Fashions of the Ages discretion to either sell the completed costume to another party to receive payment or to pursue legal action. Please remember, by placing an order you are entering into an agreement to pay for the entire garment(s) ordered. If an unforeseen situation arises during the construction process and you anticipate that you will be unable to pay the final balance on the order please let us know right away. We're more than happy to work out an arrangement that works for both parties - whether it be accepting smaller payments until the final balance is paid or placing the order on hold until a mutually agreed upon future date.

All natural fabrics are pre-shrunk before fabric is cut to ensure completed garments will not shrink when laundered by the client. Natural fabrics (linen, silk, cotton, wool) will occasionally have small imperfections/defects in their weave. If fabrics have any imperfections we will always situate them in a way that area of the fabric is not easily visible. (Please note that we always use high quality fabric in all our garments. Imperfections referenced are generally very small, and invisible except on very close inspection. We are always happy to use fabrics without any imperfections (were available), however often these fabrics are very expensive and imported from Europe.) All garments are produced in a clean, pet, smoke & perfume free environment. We do not send garments to the dry-cleaners upon completion. All garments are shipped clean and free of debris, but there may be slight fabric sizing visible on the insides of unlined garments. Such markings will always disappear when laundered.

Fashions of the Ages reserves the right to photograph all garments created for use on our website an in other promotional/advertising materials. We use live models whenever possible and take the utmost care when photographing completed garments to ensure that they are not damaged in any way. When garments are modeled by live models they are worn for no longer than 15 minutes and are only worn by a model the same size as the client or smaller so that no stress is placed on the garment(s).

Fashions of the Ages reserves the right to cancel any order at any time for any reason. This is only done in extreme situations when it becomes clear to us that the client has unrealistic expectations of what can be achieved and/or needs personal fittings to complete their order. If payment has been received prior to cancelling the order but no work has been done the entire payment will be refunded. If work has been started the client will be responsible for the cost of all materials plus $30 per hour of work time. In this situation all materials (fabric, trims, etc.) would be returned to the client.

Please ask any questions before ordering.  We are always happy to help you in any way you can.  All of the garments we make come from authentic historical patterns or patterns we draft ourselves.  Unless specifically specified we will create garments according to the fashions of the period.  Modern conveniences such as zippers were not used and we will not use them either on historical pieces.  We can however make exceptions for special needs, so please don’t hesitate to ask.