Sometimes high-end reenacting is lame because there are such a limited number of people selling high end goods that you end up all knowing all their stock. So, say, you spend a hundred dollars on a gorgeous reproduction tablecloth, and it's like, "ohhh nice you got the Historic Enterprises tablecloth!" (Yes, we have the tablecloth.) Or I keep seeing photos of really great costumers in fifteenth century clothing and I'm like, "HAH! I see you splashed out for the Armor and Castings collar."
Half of everybody has Feed the Ravens tortoise brooches, because they're hands down the best available in the US, and of those, half of us own the same design from a grave at Birka, because it was one of their earlier models offered. (I do. Mercifully they're now offering half a dozen other options.) Those turnshoes are Boots By Bohemond, those pattens are Armlan, that machine embroidered Byzantine tunic is Linen Garb, and so on. Does take a little of the wonder out of it.
On the other hand, maybe some day people will say, "Oh, did you get those beads from Golden Apple Beads?" That would be alright.
