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V205: Nearing Completion for the Parisian Gown

V205: Nearing Completion for the Parisian Gown

I've been working holes into my fingers over the past week, trying to complete shiny new costumes for Costume College, the first weekend in August. I have her on my...
American Duchess
V194: More Robe a l'Anglaise Problem Solving

V194: More Robe a l'Anglaise Problem Solving

Just getting any idea of final look, with one panel of skirt pinned on, and some trim pinned to the CF - the trim will go around the neckline and...
American Duchess
V192: What I've Learned About Sleeves (in the past 24 hours)

V192: What I've Learned About Sleeves (in the past 24 hours)

...besides that sleeves are evil and the bane of every seamstress' existence... The boneyard of fabric scraps...and sleeves. At least they can become trim for the gown, and not go...
American Duchess
V190: Progress on the 1770s l'Anglaise

V190: Progress on the 1770s l'Anglaise

Oooo, fits niiice... LIES! I spent all day yesterday working on this new robe a l'Anglaise, draping, then cutting and stitching. Then correcting. Correcting more. Cursing. More correcting. Ah, if...
American Duchess
V189: Beginning a Robe a l'Anglaise a la Polonaise

V189: Beginning a Robe a l'Anglaise a la Polonaise

I've been procrastinating on, well, everything costume-related, and with Costume College a mere month away, it's time to get down to business with this striped gown. My material - I...
V178: 1770s Polonaise Jacket Progress

V178: 1770s Polonaise Jacket Progress

I haven't been in a super-sewing mood, but I have made a little progress on the polonaise jacket planned for our Colonial Williamsburg trip this coming October. I draped the...
American Duchess
V60: 1770s Hair Notes

V60: 1770s Hair Notes

Today's post is a page out of my dress journal. I went through a great many images, a lot of them fashion plates, and broke down the various parts of...
American Duchess
V52: 1770s Pannier Experiments - Style 1

V52: 1770s Pannier Experiments - Style 1

In poking around the 1770s it becomes obvious that panniers are the thing to wear. I've never made panniers before - I usually land in the 1780s and 90s, when...
American Duchess

V36: SuperStripe Sunday - Stripes in the 1770s

Met It's Superbowl Sunday here in America Land. I don't follow football, so I'll be burying myself in the sewing loft and trying to accomplish something on the 1912 Titanic...
American Duchess
V3: Reconciling Myself to the 1770s

V3: Reconciling Myself to the 1770s

My dear mother and I are planning a trip to Colonial Williamsburg in October of this year. Of course, that means getting all excited about costume possibilities NOW, and planning...
American Duchess

1770s Hair Help From the Interwebs

The Dreamstress is seeking advice for big 1770s style hair. I haven't done a wig in this style yet, but I did find this video tutorial not only extremely well-done,...
American Duchess