Well, although not “cured” of my alzheimer-like problems, I did have a perfectly respectable conversation mostly in Latvian with the post office lady this afternoon.  I’m so happy...now for a drink to see if my theory works!

Re: the english audio guide at the museum.  I haven’t tried it yet...hopefully tomorrow.  Did I tell you Cait was volunteering there over the summer?  Always a question of how much help a teenager will actually be, but she liked it a lot. 

And, the funniest thing, she has flags on her badge to indicate her languages...and instead of the Spanish, they used the Colombian flag.  Her first tour (solo) was in Spanish...to a Spanish couple who thought it was 1) hysterical that the implication was that she spoke “Colombian” and 2) puzzled that a Colombian was working at a museum in Latvia.  She got that cleared up quickly....but admitted she has been saying she’s Colombian on the theory that it’s so confusing that people don’t ask further questions and thus avoids the inevitable discussion when they find out she’s American but not of any Latvian descent...apparently a huge discussion with most Latvians from outside of Latvia.

So...on to that drink...I’ll let you know the results of my experiment.:-)

Hello
Yes, languages, I think for me it becomes funny, because unfortunately I can’t speak latvian but I will learn it, and my english is a bit bad, at all when I get nervous.
So you can see how I speak english, with a bit german and with hands and feet, and with many breaks, and I think I’ll move me like an jumping jack. ;O)

Greets Sonja

Check out this link
http://www.dlmm.lv/index.php?id=6&news=9
you can order your folk costume there. The lady working in a souvenir shop - Ruta speaks basic English and, if I am not mistaken, German too.

@saule
Hello
Many thanx for help, I have notice it, and I’ll write a mail to her.

Greetings Sonja

I wasn’t *really* making fun of you, McT. :P

Yep, I did know that Cait was at the Museum - I’m sure she’s got plenty of interesting stories. 

Click on this for more pictures of latvian traditional dress.
http://zagarins.net/Latvjuraksti/index.html

Our singing group has had great success ordering head to toe men’s or women’s wear from a workshop called Muduri, it’s in the basement of that address (entrance through the courtyard, not off the street.) (Well, not shoes or men’s hats)

see: http://www.viss.lv/index.php?PersID=97285&act;=PersApr⟨=lat
There is a slide show of their work.

The previous posts describe the best system - sending your measurments to them (in centimeters) and explaining exactly what you want. 
eg: Some people like a thinner wool that is softer, others like a thicker not-soft feel to the fabric that seems to wear longer.
Men’s pants seem to be a bit slender; specify thigh width if you want a fuller cut.

To look for more workshops, google the phrase: tautas terpu darbnica

Oh yes, about wanting the skirt to be certain length (longer than usual in your case) :

Most of the Kurzeme area has beautifully knit socks or stockings.  The skirt then comes to mid calf - bottom of calf (in Barta, Rucava, Nica) to show off the socks. 

Barta also has a very decorative border on the skirt.  If the skirt is as long as you want it, chances are it will drag on the ground if you go up & down stairs, that sort of thing.  In a Renaissance fair, a lot of dust gets kicked up and the border of that skirt could show the wear & tear a lot sooner than the rest of the dress.  Stockings are easier to replace than the border of the skirt.