A few posts ago I staked lampshade style bonnets of the 1780s against similar chapeaus of the 1910s. My idea was to see if one hat could be used for both periods,…
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V94: The Significance of Color in Revolutionary France
KCI – jacket, 1790 – revolutionary or royalist? These days, many costumers, me included, look to the fashions of the past and select items to make based on, well, their pretty-pretty. I…
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V93: Finding Inspiration Anew
I still really love this 1785 polonaise jacket and matching skirt. 1785 is a bit late for the event we’ll be attending in CW …but maybe I don’t really care? I’m feeling…
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V89: Fashion Face-Off – Hats of the 1780s and 1910s
As we all know, history repeats itself, and fashion especially. Nothing is ever “new” on the runway (well, maybe if it’s a suit made out of bubble wrap, etc.), and this was…
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V86: Marie Antoinette in Prison
Being sick is like feeling close to death, sometimes. That is me, today, and I’m in a morbid mood, hence my blog post. These are depictions of Marie Antoinette in prison, in…
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V82: How To Decorate Pemberley Regency Shoes Like It’s 1789
As of late I’ve been inspired by that interesting transitional period in women’s dress, around the end of the 1780s and into the 1790s. Many things changed – the waistline of gowns,…
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V68: Operations Petticoat: Two Finished 18th Century Petties
I finally finished two Georgian petticoats that seem to have taken me forever to do. Petticoats are supposed to be easy, right? Celadon green silk petticoat with pinked ruffle, sheer embroidered apron,…
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V67: The Red Shoes, The Pretty Red Shoes
On Facebook, Pamela charged me with finding portraits, fashion plates, and extant examples of red 18th century shoes, and I went a little bonkers and hunted down all sorts of images, so…
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V63: Georgian Miniature Portraits
Mrs Oakeley, by John Smart, 1780s Happy Saturday! Here are a few 18th century miniatures, a lovely little (literally) art form that began life in the 16th century, and was known as…
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V62: The Hairstylings of Madame de Pompadour, by Legros de Rumigny
Lovely reader Ceselha, of the blog “My Stubby Fingers…” pointed me to two books on ladies’ hairstyling, from 1768, entitled ” L’Art de la Coeffure des Dames Francoises,” and a supplement to…
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V61: Favorite 18th Century Shoe Buckles
If you own pair of latchet shoes, eventually you will own a pair of shoe buckles to close them. Shoe buckles were the standard way of fastening one’s footwear in the 18th…
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V60: 1770s Hair Notes
Today’s post is a page out of my dress journal. I went through a great many images, a lot of them fashion plates, and broke down the various parts of the big…
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V59: New “Kensington” 18th Century Leather Shoes in Black and Red
Last week I asked you all for your help in deciding what color Kensingtons to release first. All three colors (black, red, and ivory) are the goal, but we just can’t run…
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V58: The Tim Gunn Petticoat of Suck
I thought I’d experiment with matelesse fabric, a recommendation from a couple lovely readers, to get the whitework/quilted look. Unfortunately I bought too little, because I clearly had my dunce cap on…
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V57: Mardi Gras / Carnevale 18th Century Costume + Hair
I’m wearing tea-stained Georgiana silk shoes and Dauphine buckles – they were comfy, and didn’t scuff or get dirty at all. Last night I went to a belated Mardis Gras Party with…
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V56: 18th Century Costumes from “Versailles: Countdown to Revolution”
I watched a documentary series recently called “Versailles,” covering, in three installments, the history of the palace and its monarchs, Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI. I was really impressed with…
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V55: New “Kensington” 18th Century Leather Shoes – Vote For Your Favorite Color
Hi Ladies! Once again I need your help, this time in deciding on colors for the new leather colonial shoe, “Kensington.” Kensington is a sturdy 100% leather shoe with a pointed toe,…
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V54: How To Create A Simple 18th Century Pouf
A few nights ago I dressed my hair into a simple 1770s pouf style, for modeling at the Nevada Museum of Art. I did this style using one hair piece and one…
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V53: 18th Century Costume Modeling at Nevada Museum of Art
Last night I posed for artists at the Nevada Museum of Art’s costume painting class. I wore the Revolution Dress I made last year, and dressed my hair in a simple pouf…
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V52: 1770s Pannier Experiments – Style 1
In poking around the 1770s it becomes obvious that panniers are the thing to wear. I’ve never made panniers before – I usually land in the 1780s and 90s, when I visit…