Filter by
Pompadour French Court Shoes, 12.5 Years Later

Pompadour French Court Shoes, 12.5 Years Later

Our Pompadour 18th Century Shoes are an American Duchess classic! With their custom, curvy Louis heel, easy-to-use tabbed latchet closure, and period accurate white rand, these babies are a tried-and-true...
American Duchess
Pink Popularity in the 18th Century

Pink Popularity in the 18th Century

If you're anything like us, you have probably been really into the moment the color pink is having in fashion this summer, thanks to a certain iconic doll. It's been...
American Duchess
Fit for a Queen Collection Pre-Order

Fit for a Queen Collection Pre-Order

Hear ye, hear ye, our June pre-order has started! We are thrilled to present the Fit for a Queen collection, which combines 18th century and Regency silhouettes with fantasy and...
American Duchess
Mules in Art: Part Deaux

Mules in Art: Part Deaux

Nearly ten years ago (omg), we published a blog post featuring mules in 18th century art for the first release of Antoinette Mules. Now that spring has arrived, Fêtes Galantes...
American Duchess
Fabrics for the 18th Century and Beyond

Fabrics for the 18th Century and Beyond

Robe a la Francaise, 1770, LACMA M.2007.211 - beautiful and expensive printed cotton One of the top questions I get from budding 18th century costumers is "what fabric should I...
Lauren Stowell
The February 2021 Collection is Here - {Pre-Order Open!}

The February 2021 Collection is Here - {Pre-Order Open!}

Time for the first collection of 2021!This year, the big plan is to do a pre-order every single month through August (yowza!). Our February collection got off to a bit...
My 2020 Costuming Year in Review

My 2020 Costuming Year in Review

This has indeed been a weird, challenging, rough year. I think I've left my house, like, 20 times max for 10 months. During this time I feel I sewed very...
Petticoat Pitfalls for Grand Panniers

Petticoat Pitfalls for Grand Panniers

Well shoot, this didn't work.... Don't you just love when you finish up a project, perhaps the first part of an ensemble, something you've maybe done numerous times before, only...
American Duchess
How to Avoid Lampshade Hoops in the 18th Century

How to Avoid Lampshade Hoops in the 18th Century

It's a thing in the Georgian period too! I've recently started on my next big (physically big), early 18th century project, a Robe Volante. One of the reasons I felt...
American Duchess
1765 Robe a la Bon Bon - Simplicity 8578 - Trimming the Beast

1765 Robe a la Bon Bon - Simplicity 8578 - Trimming the Beast

Cutting strip after strip of pinked trim - the trick is the fold up your fabric three or four layers and cut through all at once. A plain sacque in...
American Duchess
1765 Robe a la Bon Bon Sacque - Simplicity 8578 - Construction Complete!

1765 Robe a la Bon Bon Sacque - Simplicity 8578 - Construction Complete!

Trying on the new sacque - it's always nice to have something, y'know, fit at its first real try-on. Next time I say something like, "oh I'll just throw this...
American Duchess
Pattern Notes on Simplicity 8578 - Robe a la Francaise Dress Pattern

Pattern Notes on Simplicity 8578 - Robe a la Francaise Dress Pattern

A couple years ago now we worked with Simplicity to create a Robe a la Francaise pattern (Simplicity 8578) based on Abby's sacque in The American Duchess Guide to 18th...