In preparation for making your Simplicity 8162 18th c. stays, you may wish to re-draw the boning pattern. The pattern comes with an accurate layout for half-boned stays. If you would like…
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My “Agent Carter” Outfit on The Mood Blog (!)
I am a bit remiss in posting lately. A whole lot of everything has been going on, but a lot of it hasn’t been about historical costuming. While I’ve been buried in…
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18th Century Stays – Q&A about Simplicity 8162
Continuing on with the Simplicity 18th Century Pattern Hacks, I thought it would be good to cover some questions about the pattern specifically. I’ve finished my stays made from this pattern, but…
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18th Century Stays – Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How
Ladies, now it’s time to get started on our Simplicity 18th Century inspired patterns! You’ve got two pattern packs – one with underpinnings and one with the outfit itself – but where…
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New Civil War Boots – Pre-Order Now Open!
It’s another pre-order day! I’ve been trying to go more towards “collections” for Summer and Fall and less all-over-the-place for introducing new shoes for you ladies. With that, I’d like to introduce…
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“Manhattan” Button Boots – Now Open for Pre-Order
It’s time! The new “Manhattan” Victorian and Edwardian Button Boots are now open for pre-order. I’ve been talking a bit about these new boots in previous posts and on Facebook, but the…
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1940s Hair Styling Inspiration
It’s Sunday. I was meant to do a 1940s photo shoot today, but it’s raining. Yup, rain in the desert. It rains 10 days a year here, and I manage to schedule…
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Review: Hand Bound 18th c. Style Book by Paul McClintock, From Common Hands Studio
Hand made sketchbook with historic marbled paper cover and tooled leather binding – From Common Hands Studio I recently received a fabulous gift: a hand-made custom blank book from Paul McClintock of…
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Tuesday Shoes-day: 1920s Shoes Inspiration
Lately I’ve been working on the second collection for Royal Vintage Shoes. Wait, what? You haven’t even seen the first collection yet! I know, don’t worry! I’m having to adjust to fashion-industry-norms…
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How to Wear Vintage Menswear Without Looking Like a Man
Marlene Dietrich – famous for many things, one of which was rocking this look For centuries, women have been working elements of masculine dress into their wardrobes. Clear back to the 16th…
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6 Reasons to Watch and Love Canadian WWII Drama “XCompany”
We history geeks sure do love a good costume drama, but these days *good* costume dramas seems harder and harder to find. It might have good costumes but a terrible plot; it…
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The Truth About Real Women’s 1940s Pants
Joan Bennet When the present interprets the past, it always adds its own ideals on top. This is how we can identify “70s does 30s” and “80s does 40s” – it’s because…
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What It’s Like to Be an Extra on a Historical Documentary, pt.1
This time last year I was cast in a Weather Channel documentary on The Donner Party, filming right here in Northern Nevada where the ordeal took place. Casting It was an interesting…
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I’m No Pinup
The actual me: I can’t draw a cat eye; I don’t often wear dresses; my car isn’t vintage; I’m covered in dog hair. I’ve been into vintage fashion a long time now.…
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Wearing History “Smooth Sailing” Blouse Review
Wearing History “Smooth Sailing” blouse made from the excellent printed pattern, worn with the ready-to-wear “Smooth Sailing” jeans. The pattern also contains piece for these pants. Late last year I made my…
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Exclusive Manchester Regency Boots – Pre-Order Open!
It’s been an age in developing our recreation of the famous Manchester Art Gallery c. 1820 Grecian booties. Voted as our Cycle 6 Exclusive, the Manchester Regency Boots are finally…finally!…finally! available to…
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Professional Shoe Hunting Adventures in Vegas
View from (almost) the top Last week I went to Magic in Vegas. That sounds glamorous, but Magic is the name of the USA’s largest fashion trade show, and when I say…
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A “Miss Fisher” 1920s Burgundy Cloche Hat
It pales in comparison to the original, but I’m quite happy with my burgundy Miss Fisher hat, retro-cycled from a sad garage sale find. I know it’s February – practically Spring! –…
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Heading to Vegas, Baby
Being from Nevada, albeit the other end of the state, I’m not really excited to be going to Vegas for the next three days…but I AM excited to be visiting the US’s…
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The Return of Mademoiselle Guimard
This time last year I was excited about a project I never completed. Let’s rather say I just haven’t completed it yet. But I haven’t forgotten, or gotten over my interest in…