Last weekend a dear friend, Jenny, gave me an incredible gift – a complete pattern catalog from 1880. I’ve been studying it with great interest and costume lust, careful to keep the…
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Bastille Day Picnic Inspiration
Portrait of Madame Emilie Seriziat and her Son, 1795 I’ve been MIA lately due to moving, yay! But also nay! because all of my sewing stuff is in complete disarray. Still, there’s…
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White/Ivory 18th Century Gown Inspiraton
I just received 10 yards of delicious ivory silk taffeta, and I’m just *itching* to make something (or a lot of somethings) out of it. Of course I’m thinking along 18th century…
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How Wide Should Your 18th Century Panniers Be?
I’ve set out on the adventure of making a Grand Pannier to wear under voluminous 18th century apparel, and the first question that came to mind is – how wide was the…
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The Many Types of 18th Century Gowns
I realized today with the 18th century gowns I have made I have only scratched the surface of how many different types there were. It’s easy to fall into the idea that…
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Problem Solving with Regency Stays
Boobs are such an issue in the Regency. Seriously, they’re just in such *weird* places! Naturally, or rather unnaturally, we as costumers want to try to achieve these, um, heights, and do…
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What is Osnaburg?
I was pretty stoked recently when I found osnaburg fabric at Walmart, of all places. I bought what was left on the bolt, dreaming of all the awesome interlinings and buckram I…
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Bright Yellow Regency Gowns
…because there’s never enough yellow in my life! I have to admit that Regency isn’t my period, so when it came time to look for inspiration for something to wear to Maggie…
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Men’s Regency Inspiration
I’ve been a bag blogger, I know! It’s just that, well you know how it goes – brain fried with all kinds of in-progress projects, future projects, crazy stuff happening. My “big”…
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Beautiful Historical Fans – Please Vote!
Hello Lovelies! Today I’d like to share with you a number of gorgeous historical fans, and ask your opinion on which you like the most… Fan #1 – The Met, early 19th…
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18th Century Pattens for Shoes
Bata Shoe Museum – Shoes with clog English, 1710-1730 Pattens. What are pattens, besides really really cool? Pattens were ladies’ shoe accessories worn to protect one’s fancy shoes, to raise the wearer…
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V352: New Vintage Shoe Acquisitions
Well, I’ve been on eBay entirely too much…again…acquiring vintage and antique footwear for our quickly growing collection. All the shoes I nabbed aren’t even here yet, but I wanted to share with…
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V347: Shoes of the 1860s-1880s
I’m still plugging away on my 2012 “Vintage 365” project, ha! I want to share my new costume-related New Years Resolution with you, but I can’t until I’m done with last year’s.…
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V337: Bustle Decoration Inspiration
I’ve been so bad about blogging recently. So much for 365 straight days of blogging! I will make it to 365, but it won’t be by January 1st, haha! Anywho, I thought…
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V333: Precious Things: Early 19th Century Slippers
I’ve been spending way too much time on eBay, building the American Duchess Historical Footwear collection … out of real historic footwear! My latest acquisitions … This single shoe is quite precious,…
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V330: Shoes to Get Excited About in 2013
Two thousand and twelve is drawing to a close, but that brings excitement for the coming year! I have already been designing and planning my little heart out, and researching the bazoozles…
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V326: Elastic Goring in Victorian Footwear
Hello Lovelies! Today I’m going to tell you about the magical world of elastic, as used in Victorian footwear, one because it’s fascinating, but also because there have been some questions about…
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V316: Riding Habit Trim Inspirations
While I scramble around making the my version of the Snowshill riding habit somewhat wearable, here are some trimming inspirations… 1750-59 VandA – gorgeous, but not the kind of trim I have.…
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V300: Vintage Stockings, 20th Century
from Wearing History – 1939-40 – novelty stockings The other night at the Bomber Girl’s Pageant, I was asked if we carried vintage style seamed stockings in the A-D shop. I had…
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V295: Victorian Plastic – Yes, Victorian; Yes, Plastic
Ever since learning about plastic injection molding of the 1870s, I’ve been gnawing on the idea of Victorian plastics. It seems like an oxymoron – we all know plastic is a 20th…