American Duchess crew in 18th century attire – Friday night at Costume College 2019 Another year, another fabulous Costume College! If you’re unfamiliar with Costume College, it’s a 5-day costuming convention in…
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1780-81 The Glasgow Polonaise Sacque Jacket – Done!
My sacque jacket from the back, with the beautiful hanging pleats Last I updated about this jacket, we’d just set the shoulder straps and I had a bit of finishing to do…
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18th Century Hairstyles for Long Hair
Jenny’s long hair was plenty to go over the ski slope hair cushion. Nearly as often as we receive questions about doing 18th century hairstyles for short hair, we see the question…
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18th Century Hairstyles for Short Hair
Nicole’s chin-length bob was perfect, if not even a little too long, for the early 1780s crape’d hairstyle once supplemented with a few hair pieces at the back… One of the most…
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The Isabella Mactavish Fraser Project – Prep Work!
Working on our mockup dress in wool flannel, carefully studying photos of the original 1785 Isabella gown. Today Abby and I are in Scotland! We’ve come halfway across the world to work…
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#ADBeauty – 18th Century Hats, Caps, Bonnets, and Accessories
Jasmine wearing her Therese hood, a very simple early 1780s accessory It is my belief that one can never have too many 18th century accessories. Hats and caps are essential to getting…
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1780 – 1781 Glasgow Polonaise Sacque Jacket Progress
1780 – 1781 Polonaise sacque jacket almost done! I love the back, even if it has double the fabric in it that it really needs. Alllmmmooosssttt doooonnnneeeee! This project has been one…
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#ADBeauty – 8 Authentic 18th Century Hairstyles!
Big Hair? Yes you can! Possibly the post you’ve been truly waiting for, today I’m going to give you some previews of the hairstyles in our next book “The American Duchess Guide…
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#ADBeauty – 18th Century Cosmetics and Hair Care Products
Cynthia applied 18th century rouge in The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Beauty. “The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Beauty” is a how-to book broken into what could be considered…
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Introducing “The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Beauty”
We’re official one month away from the release of our second book, “The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Beauty” ! This time last year we were sewing, styling, and photographing with…
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Introducing: The Isabella MacTavish Fraser Wedding Gown Project
The famous Isabella MacTavish Fraser wedding gown c. 1785. Photo by Ewen Weatherspoon. Reproduced with permission of Inverness Museum & Art Gallery Big news! We’ve been hinting at it for awhile now, but…
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Ikea Costuming 101 – Making Historical Gowns with Duvet Covers, Curtains, and Sheets
The Italian Gown from “The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Dressmaking” was made with one LJUSÖGA Queen size duvet cover from Ikea. Accurate printed cottons are very difficult to find. Usually…
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1780-81 Glasgow Polo-Sacque Fiddling
Progress! This past weekend I made a lot of good progress on my version of the 1780 – 1781 Polonaise-Sacque Jacket. I am always so very chuffed by how quickly sacque-back things…
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Making A Start: The 1780-81 Glasgow Polo-Sacque Jacket Progress
A quick mockup – feeling excited! At last, and for the first time in 2019, I am sitting down to sew something! The first four months of this year have been taken…
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A Little History of … Hamilton / Schuyler 18th Century Shoes
New American Duchess “Hamilton” / “Schuyler” 18th Century Shoes for men and women. Next in our line up of new men’s (+ women’s) styles are the beautiful “Hamilton” (mens) / “Schuyler” (womens)…
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Meet our New Theatrical Footwear Line!
American Duchess Spring/Summer 2019 Theatrical Line We are trying lots of new things this year in shoe-company-land. For years we have (rather unexpectedly) supplied historical footwear to the opera, ballet, and theater,…
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A Little History of…Albert / Bertie Regency Pumps
Zack Pinsent for American Duchess This season we’re very excited to launch our new men’s styles….which are also women’s styles! One of our most basic and versatile styles is the Albert /…
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Pre-Order is Open at American Duchess
Pre-Order is OPEN at AmericanDuchess.com April 18 – May 10 Wow, where do we even start! There is so much new stuff this season! You won’t want to miss these! Men’s and…
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The Curious Polonaise-Sacque Jacket
1780-81 jacket – Glasgow Museums Collection – 1932.51.o January is Costume A-D-D time. A whole new year lies ahead and we are all brimming with project ideas. Some I’ve even started and…
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1790 Redingote Inspiration and Percolation
Redingote, c. 1790, LACMA M2009.120 Friends, I haven’t wanted to sew for awhile. Burn-out is a real thing, especially failing miserably on the last two 18th century gowns I tried to make…
