Hello Lovelies! Abby here and I am in full “July has been full of travel and awesome but now I need a nap nap” mode over here at American Duchess headquarters. There…
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Abby’s Jane Austen Fest Dinner Dress – a Lesson in Plan B…or…C?
Hey Lovelies — So the last time I blogged about my Jane Austen Fest Dinner Dress I was totally jiving on this idea of making a tunic and turbany/chiffonettey thing to wear…
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The Robe a la Turque – Progress!
Hi, it’s Lauren… I promise, I HAVE been sewing. Promise! It’s just been sllooowwwwwww. It’s time to light a fire under my split bum, though – Costume College is in a few…
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Podcast Episode 8: It’s not just One Direction: The Many Hairy Styles of 18th Century Women
Hi All! Abby here with Episode 8 of Fashion History with American Duchess! This is Part 2 of our 18th Century Hair convo. Last week we talked about hygiene, hair care, and…
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Podcast Episode 7: Did They Have BUGS in Their Hair?! 18th Century Hair & Hygiene
Hi All – Abby here and I am very pleased to release this weeks episode of Fashion History with American Duchess – “Hair, Hygiene, and the 18th Century Woman” – as it is…
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Episode 6 – Enslaved People’s Dress in the 18th & 19th Century with Cheyney McKnight
Hey Everyone! Cheyney McKnight (Photo: LoomHappenings) Today, we are very excited to share our newest episode for Fashion History with American Duchess! In April, Abby got a chance to sit down with…
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Podcast Episode 5: Hot Town, Summer is Sh*tty (For Costuming)
Hey All! Our 5th Episode of Fashion History with American Duchess is now live! This week Abby & Lauren sit down and talk about how to beat the summer heat while wearing…
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EXCLUSIVE! “Louis” Velveteen & Embroidered Baroque Shoes
OK, I know, it’s taken us half a year to get the new Exclusives going, but now that we’re here…. Meet “Louis,” the new velveteen, leather, and silver embroidered shoes now available…
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Pieces of Me – Remaking an 18th Century Gown
Sacque gown, partially deconstructed, 1765-69 – National Trust NT 1350856 It’s commonly known that 18th century dress textiles were made and remade and remade again. A great many extant gowns in museum…
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Jane Austen Goes to Ikea – Slow Progress
Slow progress on this 1790s gown, but it’ll {eventually} come together in time for JA Fest in July. Jane Austen Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, is 10 weeks away and I got nothin’.…
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Simplicity 8411 – A New 18th Century Pattern!
Howdy! After many moons we finally get to announce the release of our new collaboration with Simplicity Patterns – Simplicity 8411. Now right off the bat many of you will be rolling…
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Guts – Inspecting the Insides of 18th Century Garments
Vintage Textile, c. 1780s (click through for more). This is the waist edge at the center back of the bodice. Lauren here > Historical costuming is a journey. It starts with an…
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The 1790s “Jane Austen Goes to Ikea” Gown – The Corset
Ikea does it again – Ingmarie curtains >> This year is 1790s year. After completing all the book projects, Abby and I can finally settle into share-able projects. Both of us are…
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Research: We See What We Want to See; We See What We Know
Dress research is one of the great pleasures of the historical costuming hobby, and it’s also a necessity. We all start off along this interest in old clothes knowing nothing, then slowly…
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Sacque-spiration – Robes a la Francaise to Admire
Hi! We are currently stitching along on our most complex book project, the 1760s sacque. While we can’t show you the whole big crazy thing quite yet, we’d like to share with…
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The “State of the Book” Address – Updates and Progress
Well it’s been a couple months now since we announced the writing of our 18th century sewing book, which now has an official title: “The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Dressmaking:…
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What The Heck Is This 18th Century Dress?
I keep a Pinterest Board called “Historical Costuming Weirdness,” wherein I pin all the things I find that don’t match up nicely with what we think we know about historical dress *right…
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Finding Inspiration in the 1790s with Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun
Self Portrait by Vigee-Lebrun, 1791 Those of you who have been following for awhile will know I’m not a huge fan of, well, anything with an empire waist. I just can’t seem…
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DIY Hair Powder Shaker, or, DIY Powdered Sugar Shaker (depending on your Pinterest Mood)
Hello Lovelies! Abby here – Today, I wish to speak with you about Arts & Crafts, while attempting to teach ya’ll something that will make Pinterest go crazy with excitement! …maybe….? I…
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Rufflecon 2016!!!
Hello lovelies! Lauren and I are currently off on a new adventure together – first was China & now we’re off to Stamford, Connecticut for Rufflecon! (this is the part where I do…
