Bunka Gakuen Costume Museum, 1835. Is it finally time to venture into the 1830s? I’ve talked about it for years; I’ve seen my friends do incredible 1830s gowns and even reproduce the…
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Please Vote! New Victorian/Edwardian Pumps in *Colors*
Shoes from J. Ferry, 1885-1890. The Met, 2009.300.1579a,b Ladies, for the first time *ever* we are able to offer a range of colors in one of our new styles for next Spring.…
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Podcast Episode 12: Chelsea G. Summers and the Birth of Vintage
Hey Y’all! Abby here and I am so excited to share with you all the latest episode of Fashion History with American Duchess. We’re really excited about these next couple of episodes…
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The Robe a la Turque – Part 3 – Shalwar Puffy Pants
Before I forget about all the trials and tribulations (and sometimes fun) I had making my Turkish costume for Costume College 2017, I better tell you about one of the most enjoyable…
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Jane Austen Festival in Pictures
How remiss am I in sharing photos, proper photos, from the Jane Austen Festival. So remiss! In fact, when I opened up this draft post to see how far I’d gotten, this…
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Pattern Review: Decades of Style #2502 – 1925 Zig Zag Dress
Hello Lovelies! Abby here, reporting for 1920s vintage-y fashion-y goodness! Today, I wanted to share with y’all my snazzy new 1920s dress I made for The Gatsby Summer Afternoon in Oakland earlier…
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How To Make a 1920s Miss Fisher Wardrobe
For Costume College 2016, one of the classes I taught was about making a “Miss Fisher” wardrobe, developing your style based on the popular Australian murder-mystery show set at the end of…
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The Gatsby Picnic in Pictures
Lauren, Abby, and Tina at The Gatsby Oh Gatsby Summer Picnic how I love you … let me count the ways! This year Abby and I ventured over the hill to one…
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The Vintage Makeup Review – with Lauren & Abby
Whether you’ve gone fully down the vintage style rabbit hole of everyday dress or you need a faceplan for an impending costume party, today we’re going to share with you our discoveries…
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The American Duchess Guide – Previews!
Lovelies, we are so excited to finally be able to give you all a sneak preview and some behind-the-scenes info on our upcoming book, The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Dressmaking.…
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The American Duchesses: A Tale of Two Consuelos
Hello Lovelies! Welcome to part two of our stories of real life American Duchesses, rich stateside socialites who married into the British aristocracy. Today we have the Tale of Two Consuelos. The first…
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Pattern Review: Decades of Style #2005 1920s “Baltimore” Dress
My Decades of Style “Baltimore” dress in green and ivory striped cotton. This past weekend was one of my favorite events of the year, the Oakland Gatsby. This annual end-of-Summer picnic is…
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The Real American Duchesses: Part 1
Hello Lovelies! As you all know, this blog and shoe company are called American Duchess – but would you believe we’re not the first American Duchess(es) to exist? Nope! Indeed, there have…
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Tulip Fever – Hello, Early 17th Century
Holliday Granger as Marie in “Tulip Fever.” Lauren here – This past weekend, we went to see “Tulip Fever,” a film set in 1630s Amsterdam. Though the movie suffers from mixed reviews,…
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New Cotton Striped Stockings, Oh YEAH!
Storyville portrait, New Orleans, c. 1912. Portrait by E. J. Bellocq. Who doesn’t love a good striped stocking? The Georgians, Victorians, and Edwardians sure did! Striped stockings of various colors – some…
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Introducing Nicole Rudolph, Footwear Designer
We are beyond excited to officially announce the newest addition to the American Duchess / Royal Vintage team: Nicole Rudolph! Many of you will know Nicole from her blog Diary of a…
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Podcast Episode 11: Interview with Theatre/TV/Film Costumer Constance MacKenzie
Constance & Cathy Hay looking amazing at the Jane Austen Festival in Bath Hello Lovelies! Lauren and I had the pleasure of being introduced to Constance MacKenzie by Cathy Hay while we…
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Pattern Review: Decades of Style No. 101 The E.S.P. Dress
Hello Lovelies! Almost exactly a year ago, I finished making my first dress from Decades of Style’s ESP 101 Pattern. It’s a part of their Decades Everyday pattern collection that is meant…
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Review: Gracy Q 1950s Style “Sophia” Dress
Gracy Q “Sophia” dress in yellow Do you have a “best dress,” a frock or outfit that is your nicest, most polished look and, most importantly, you feel epic in? My “best…
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The “Jane Austen Goes to Ikea and then to Jane Austen Festival” Gown
This year was my first visit to Jane Austen Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, at beautiful Locust Grove historic site. I had been to Locust Grove before on a rainy November afternoon rather…