Shipping & Returns

Shipping Policy

Processing time

Orders are processed within 5-7 business days of purchase. We are a small, one-person operation — each item is individually inspected, cleaned where appropriate, and packed before it leaves. Orders placed over weekends or public holidays are processed on the next working day.

You will receive a shipping confirmation with tracking information as soon as your order is dispatched.

Domestic shipping (United States)

Standard shipping via USPS is available on all orders. Expected transit time is 5-10 business days depending on your location. Expedited options are available at checkout for time-sensitive orders. Standard US shipping is free on orders over $100.

International shipping

We ship worldwide, with a few exceptions. Typical transit times are 7–14 business days, though customs can add delays, and customers are responsible for any import duties, customs fees, and taxes charged by their country.

Please note: we're currently unable to ship to the United Kingdom, European Union, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Recent UK and EU rules require overseas sellers to register for and collect VAT at the point of sale, and to take on distance-selling obligations such as a mandatory 14-day right to cancel — requirements that aren't practical for a small, one-person shop like ours. We hope to offer global shipping in the future.

How we pack

Delicate pieces — beaded garments, silk, lace, or anything with structural embellishment — receive additional padding and are boxed rather than mailed flat. Vintage textiles can suffer irreversible creasing or discolouration from improper storage or packing, so we take this seriously.

Antiques and objects are wrapped individually, cushioned on all sides, and boxed with void fill to prevent any movement in transit. We treat every item as breakable regardless of how sturdy it appears — because antiques are often irreplaceable, and we would rather over-pack than have you open a damaged piece. Fragile items are clearly labelled on the outside of the box.

For particularly valuable or fragile antiques, we photograph the item packed and ready to ship. If anything arrives damaged, these records support any claim you need to make.

Packaging materials

In keeping with our sustainability values, we use recycled and recyclable materials wherever possible — recycled kraft paper, paper void fill, and reused boxes in good condition. The one exception is moisture protection for delicate textiles during transit, where a light plastic sleeve may be used as a precaution.

Insurance and lost packages

All parcels ship with the carrier's included coverage (typically $100–$200), and we add extra insurance to high-value orders at our discretion.

Once tracking shows a parcel as delivered, we can't be responsible for loss or theft after delivery. If a parcel is lost in transit, we'll work with the carrier to resolve it.

If you have concerns about delivery security, we recommend shipping to a location where someone is available to receive the package.

Returned parcels: if a parcel comes back to us because of an error on our part, we'll reship it at no cost to you or issue a full refund. If it's returned because the address provided at checkout was incorrect or incomplete, or the delivery was refused or unclaimed, we're happy to reship it once the new postage is paid, but we can't offer a refund.

Order changes and cancellations

We begin processing orders quickly, so please contact us as soon as possible if you need to make a change. We can make changes to an order as long as it has not yet been dispatched. Once an order has shipped, we are unable to cancel or redirect it.

Return & Refund Policy

We want you to love your items.

The best way we can help with that is before you buy.

All sales are final

Due to the one-of-a-kind nature of vintage and the scale at which we operate, we do not accept returns or exchanges for change of mind, fit, or personal preference.

We know this is a different standard from high-street retail — and we think that's appropriate. Nearly every piece in our shop is unique, pre-owned, and carefully described. We grade condition honestly, provide detailed measurements, and are genuinely happy to answer questions, share additional photographs, or record a short video of any item before you commit to a purchase. Please use us. We would far rather help you make the right decision before buying than have either of us navigate a difficult situation afterwards.

If you have any questions about a piece — how it moves, how it compares in hand to the photographs, whether a flaw is noticeable at a distance — contact us before purchasing at curator@morbidaristocracy.com. We respond within two business days.

The exception: our error

We take condition grading and item description seriously. If a piece arrives in a condition that is materially different from how it was listed — undisclosed damage, a significant error in measurements, or the wrong item entirely — please contact us within 48 hours of confirmed delivery.

To be considered, your message must include:

Your order number
Photographs of the item as received, including any specific issue
Photographs of the outer packaging if damage appears to have occurred in transit

We will review each case individually and work with you toward a fair resolution, which may include a partial refund, store credit, or — in cases of clear seller error — a full refund and return postage. Full refunds will be processed once the item is noted as having been received by the post office or delivery service.

This window exists for genuine errors on our end. It does not apply to condition details already disclosed in the listing, fit or sizing preferences, or items that have been worn, washed, or altered after receipt.