Nearly ten years ago (omg), we published a blog post featuring mules in 18th century art for the first release of Antoinette Mules. Now that spring has arrived, Fêtes Galantes is coming…
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American Duchess x Bata Shoe Museum: History of the Museum and it’s Founder
The second week of our In Bloom collaboration collection pre-order with the Bata Shoe Museum is underway, and we are just thrilled with the reception it has received! It makes us so…
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American Duchess x Bata Shoe Museum Collection: The History of Pinet
We’re in the midst of our In Bloom collaboration collection pre-order with the Bata Shoe Museum, and we couldn’t be happier with the amazing reception we’ve received for Primrose, Flora and Daisy!…
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In Bloom: Bata Shoe Museum x American Duchess Collaboration Collection Pre-Order
We are so excited to announce an extra-special collaboration collection for pre-order: the In Bloom collection, designed in collaboration with the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, Canada! This collaboration collection was inspired…
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Art Nouveau Shoes and Accessories
Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something about springtime that always puts me into an Art Nouveau-phase. Sort of like a Nouveau perennial plant. Each spring, I start dreaming about all things…
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Seeking Historical Faux Suede Shoes: Down a Historical Rabbit Hole
Our new Lido Sandals are a reproduction of a very interesting extant shoe in our collection. This 1940s/1950s peep-toe pump actually has a textile upper, as opposed to real suede uppers. This…
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Pre-Raphaelite Paintings and Aesthetic Dress: Fantasy, Self-Expression, and Tea Gowns
Lately, the Arts and Crafts movement and Pre-Raphaelite movement seem to be having a moment. IKEA recently released a collection of William Morris-inspired prints for some of their home textiles, and apparently…
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Giving Tuesday: Marjorie Russell Clothing & Textile Research Center
After the whirlwind that is Black Friday we like to participate in a relatively new tradition, “Giving Tuesday.” Today, 20% of proceeds from all American Duchess orders will be donated to the…
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Save the Date – Silver Bells Sale!
It’s that time of year again – sale season! This year we’re throwing it all in, literally…. What does that mean? You’ll have to wait and see! The Annual American Duchess‘Silver Bells…
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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
Manhattan Edwardian Side-Button Boots are back with a vengeance this fall, in *six* new colorways. Built on the same last and heel as the uber-popular Tavistock all-leather boots, we’re glad to have…
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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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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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The Medieval Gambeson as Winter Historybounding Jacket
We all *love* historybounding – wearing historical garments in modern contexts, mixed with modern dress or styling in some way great or small. It’s “secret” history…the muggles see an interesting jacket, but…
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2020 Holiday Shipping Dates
Important announcement! Here are the shipping deadlines for this holiday season – USPS: We recommend getting your orders in a few days before these dates, so we have time to pick, check,…
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Our Silver Bells Sale is OPEN
Here comes the sale announcement for our Black Friday-to-Cyber Monday annual sale. Here’s what we have for you this year… COUPONS! We’re offering six coupons for all sorts of things – free…
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Well Don’t I Feel Foolish…
I’ve been updating my blog theme and messing around in the (new-ish) Blogger admin, breaking stuff, and I noticed in the comments tab a *whole bunch of comments* waiting for approval. Dang,…
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(More) Dress Form Hacking – Literally
Marking how much of the shoulder needed to come off to match my shoulder width from base of neck to shoulder bone. Blogs may be dead, but I’m still holding out (like…
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Why Sew with Nowhere to Go?
-or- Why Sew When the World is Ending? For so many of us, sewing is about so much more than producing clothing to be worn. Everyone has a different reason for pursuing…
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Motivation to Sew in the Time of Coronavirus
A 1930s UFO – it’s not made well, but it’s made! The year thus far has been a rollercoaster (understatement), and my sewing adventures have been rather manic-depressive – great big swings…