This past weekend I modeled again for the painting class at the Nevada Museum of Art. It’s quite an enjoyable experience, even though sitting still for 3 hours is difficult. I enjoy…
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Behind the Scenes at the Antoinette/Highbury Photoshoot
Last week Chris and I worked on a new shoot for Antoinettes and Highbury. We wanted to create a ladies’ boudoir space, similar to the interiors in these paintings: Francois Boucher, La…
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Happy Valentine’s Day!
…here’s a pink dress… LACMA, 1830 It’s a dress I’m madly in love with. It’s the kind of painful sort of love that makes me want to attempt to make this, but…
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LACMA Sacque – Done! And I Love It!
Sometimes it’s really does pay off to just press through the rough patches and finish a costume, even if you hate every stitch along the way. I’m glad I finished this one.…
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Please Vote for the New February Shoe…
It’s that time again, dears! What shall be the next offering from AD? Up for consideration are: The new Georgiana Georgiana (est. $120 – $140 retail) Made of improved fabric, on Kensington’s…
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LACMA Sacque – The Home Stretch (Maybe?)
I have been working on this gown on-and-off for, gosh, a year? I’m ready for it to be done, but not willing to put in the effort to get it there, lol.…
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18th Century Riding Habit Waistcoats for Women
Lately I’ve been working on a waistcoat to go under my Snowshill riding habit. I really love the look of this menswear inspired style, but before jumping in, I needed to take…
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Interview with Merja of “Before the Automobile”
Today’s seamstress needs no introduction. She is renowned world-wide for her gorgeous costuming, amazing fit, brilliant styling, and – oh!- that silhouette! Merja Palkivaara of “Before the Automobile” and “The Aristocat” is…
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American Duchess Shoe Shop Announcements
Howdy! Today I have a couple shop announcements for you. First… Imperfects Sale We have quite a few styles available, but only a small and random selection of sizes in each. The…
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Accessorizing for Williamsburg: The Do-It-Again-George Cape-Mantle-Thing
Of course, my cape looks nothing like this… I’m off and running on my Williamsburg accessories. Feeling good about the muff, I jumped into making a cloak…something simple, easy, quick, right? Uh,…
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Accessorizing for Williamsburg: An 18th Century Fur Muff
On my list of things to make for our March trip to Williamsburg was a fur muff to keep the hands warm, in case of chilly weather. Mrs. Wilbraham Bootle, 1781 by…
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Accessorizing for Williamsburg, 2014
For once I have a decent number of gowns to wear to a big event, but what I *don’t* have is a selection of accessories to help with what might be quite…
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Returning to Williamsburg in March 2014
Colonial Williamsburg, here we come! I’ll spare you the “squee” (but know that it’s happening) – my dear friend Maggie and I will be attending the Millinery Through Time conference in Colonial…
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Review: “Creating Historical Clothes: Pattern Cutting From Tudor to Victorian Times”
Title: Creating Historical Clothes: Pattern cutting from Tudor to Victorian times by Elizabeth Friendship (c) Batsford 2013 ISBN: 0896762858 $21.00 – $26.00 Every once in awhile there comes a book that changes…
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Test Driving “18th Century Hair & Wig Styling – The Book”
As all of you 18th century beauties will already know, Kendra Van Cleave, the intrepid costumier and long-time blogger of Demode, has finally produced a how-to book on authentic 18th century coiffures.…
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Extant Victorian Side-Lacing Gaiters
Darlings, I realize I’ve been going on and on about “Gettysburg” boots without showing you the real deal! So here are lots of examples of pretty gaiters from the 1830s to the…
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Are “Gettysburg” Boots Appropriate For Civil War Costuming?
Litchfield Historical Society – 1860 There’s quite a lot of quibbling on Facebook about the dating on the new “Gettysburg” boots, so I’m here to give some insight into how I chose…
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Pre-Order: “Gettysburg” Victorian Side-Lace Boots
Today I’m happy to open the pre-order for “Gettysburg” Victorian Side-Lace Boots. Pre-Order January 10 – 30, 2014 SALE $135 ($155) www.AmericanDuchess.com Gettysburg boots are typical of footwear found between 1830 and…
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Practical Footwear, 1860-1880
AuntieNan asks: What did they wear in the way of practicality, on a railway journey, say, or going to town? Why, boots! Delicious, delightful boots! Just like the re-emergence of the heel…
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The Quilt of A Thousand Vintage Fabrics
This past Christmas, I received a lovely gift from my mother. She won at auction, a few weeks before, a beautiful hand-made, hand-tied quilt created entirely from fabrics of the 1920s through…
