More than a couple of you have asked where we got the pieces Shannise wore in our Bessie Coleman photo shoot, so it seemed fitting to write a quick little post about…
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Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave (into our clothes): Spiderweb Motifs in Fashion
When we saw these spiderweb shoes in a vintage catalogue from the 1920s, our jaws totally dropped! Bada-bing-bada-boom, now we have Parker Vintage Shoes, resplendent in all her spidery goodness. Spiderwebs are…
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Glamorous 1920s Shoes and the History Behind Them
Something about the fall and winter months reinvigorates enthusiasm for the Jazz Age, Art Deco, and all things 1920s and flappers! Working on the designs for the All Hallows collection also totally…
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All Hallows – {Pre-Order Open}
It’s spooky season, and to celebrate we have some enchanting shoes for you! This collection is definitely aesthetic, vibing strong in the 1920s with a dash of gothic goodness. Satins, patents, and…
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The Fascinating Lives of Buttonhooks
As you will hear us shouting from the rooftops any time we release a button boot, buttonhooks are an utterly indispensable accessory for anyone who dons Victorian/Edwardian footwear with functional buttons. This…
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A Little History of Victorian/Edwardian Cloth-Top Button Boots
We’ll have Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island too! Isn’t it lovely to have cloth-top button boots! Built on the same last and heel as the uber-popular Tavistock all-leather boots, the lighter…
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Cute As a Button! Pre-Order Open
As autumn unfolds we have a whole bunch of glorious designs for you, but not all of them are ready at the same time, so we’re doing some “mini collections” throughout this…
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The History Behind Double-Buckle Combat Boots
When you think ‘combat boots’, what comes to mind? Your favorite Doc Martens, punk rock, or your grunge phase? Modern service boots? Something entirely different? Like camo patterns and army jackets, combat…
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One Boot to Rule Them All
With the new Larkspur Wool and Leather Boots, we claim a rather long time period for accuracy, 1810s – 1930s. This bold statement demands evidence, so I’m here to provide it. The…
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On Cycling Costumes: Pants, Skirts, and Boots
Though some parts of the northern hemisphere may still feel as hot as summer, there’s no denying it- autumn is on its way! Therefore, we have boots on the mind. Our Adventure…
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How to Dye Ivory Leather Shoes
You know that special, excited feeling you get when you’re sewing, about creating a project will be unique and customized just for you? Imagine that excitement doubled (or tripled) for the joy…
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The History of Mary Jane Shoes
The new Prism collection features not one but two splendid Mary Janes, Anna May (3 inch heel) and Millie (1.75 inch heel). We have been working on these babies for a looooong…
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All About Anna May Wong
Have you heard of Anna May Wong? Anna May is widely considered to be the first major Chinese-American film star, and she is the namesake of our new Anna May Mary Jane…
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“Prism” by American Duchess – August 2022 Pre-Order is Open!
The new “Prism” collection is now ready! This collection is all about colors, presenting several new colorways in AD classics, along with a new design in two different heel heights. Before we…
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Shoes for Service: 1940’s Wartime Oxfords
During the second World War, over 400,000 women served in the US military, and nearly half a million women served in the British military. In fact, women served in the military all…
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We’re Sports People Now: A Brief History of Victorian/Edwardian Tennis Shoes
Are you a fan of our Kedwardian Sporting Oxfords? This lovely style is a reproduction Victorian/Edwardian sporting shoe! This shoe is the ancestor of our modern sneakers. We were primarily inspired by…
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Jazz Standards – Introducing the New Vintage Collection
At last, we’re proud to present a big new collection of vintage shoes that hit all the right notes, the “Jazz Standards” Collection. These are the classics, the quintessential styles of the…
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Heck Yeah, Witch Shoes
This month we’re all about unexpectedly ‘modern’ designs in historical fashion. The May ’22 “Avant-Garde” collection explores bold colors and geometric shapes in 1930s/40s shoes, and also an older trend, the late…
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A Little History of Shocking Pink
For the first time in American Duchess history, we’ve created shoes in several very strong pinks, all drawn from and inspired by a late 1930s “Surrealist” palette. As with many things in…
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Bold Moves – The “Avant Garde” Vintage Shoe Collection with Karolina Zebrowska
Today is quite an exciting day. We’re proud to introduce a new capsule collection in collaboration with Karolina Zebrowksa! The story of this collection is rather amusing. In 2020, Karolina posted a…