American Duchess Historic Shoes Blog
2017 - Costuming Year in Review
Jane Austen Festival, 2017. Photo by Tony Tumbusch. It's that time - that year-end-year-beginning-blog-post time. This year I feel I was a terrible blogger. One of the side effects of...
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...
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...
Spotlight: New "Fraser" Early 18th Century Leather Shoes
Lauren reporting - As you all know, this year we've opened all of our new Fall/Winter historic styles for pre-order at the same time. We've also made the pre-order period...
My Big Fat Yellow English Gown - Finito!
Lauren here - Doesn't it just feel *so good* to best a cranky project, wear it, and love it? I'd been working on my yellow English Gown for most of...
My 1740s "Mutton Chop" Cap
The Athenaeum - Lettice Mary Banks (William Hoare - ) English 1746 It's getting down to the wire on Costume College preparations. Most of my major projects are a few...
And It Was All Yellow...
You're going to think I'm all-over-the-place right now, and you would be right. Projects here, projects there, moving house, moving business, omg! It's been stressy, for sure, but this is...
Larkin & Smith 1770s English Gown Progress
Last night I finally got back to work on the 1770s English gown. I'd only pleated the back and stitched one side down, before, but here's what I did last...
English Gowns of the 18th Century
I've had my sewing confidence rattled lately by the utter failure of my Robe a la Turque, so I'm sorely in need of some hand-holding through a project. Enter the...
1740s Scottish Tartan Outfit - Done!
1740s Scottish working woman's tartan wool ensemble (Here's another I'm posting about from *the future* - ah, how remiss in never finishing up these projects! But here goes...)There wasn't much...
Plannings For A 1740s Scottish Ensemble
I do love me some OL and the show's been inspiring some Scottish-themed ideas, especially since I "rediscovered" a gorgeous tartan skirt that's been lurking in my closet the last...
1740s Riding Habit Waistcoat and Shirt
It's been a flurry of sewing madness here, getting ready for Colonial Williamsburg next week. I've ripped into a lot of garments, and made some pretty big changes to many...