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Getting Dressed in 18th Century - 1780s - 1790 {Video}

Getting Dressed in 18th Century - 1780s - 1790 {Video}

Let's get dressed! Hi Lovelies! I made a short video showing the steps and pieces of getting dressed in a 1780s Italian gown or Robe a l'Anglaise. I know for...
American Duchess
What Is a "Hedgehog" Hairstyle *Really*?

What Is a "Hedgehog" Hairstyle *Really*?

A lady sporting the hedgehog hairstyle - 1775-78. Gallerie des Modes, MFA.org 44.1344 It is a truth universally acknowledged that all 18th century historic costumers, when we first start, quickly...
American Duchess
Cake or Death - Marie Antoinette

Cake or Death - Marie Antoinette

I have a new video for you today, the first in a series! I'm quite proud of this, even though it's...weird, and possibly off-color. I hope you enjoy it!
American Duchess
18th Century Printed Cotton Do’s & Don’t’s

18th Century Printed Cotton Do’s & Don’t’s

A beautiful printed cotton gown, 1785-95. The Met. A very condensed version of this essay, without pictures, appears in The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Dressmaking. Because there is...
American Duchess

The Countess of Melbury's Ball c. 1789 - Inspo!

The Met, 1780s Italian gown. Inspiration for my own gown for this event. Next March, 2020, I am attending the Countess of Melbury's Ball in Walnut Grove, California. The event...
American Duchess
The Isabella Mactavish Fraser Pattern & Documentary!

The Isabella Mactavish Fraser Pattern & Documentary!

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are very proud to release to you today the Isabella Mactavish Fraser gown pattern and construction PDF along with our short documentary about this famous tartan...
American Duchess
The Isabella Mactavish Fraser Project - Day 2

The Isabella Mactavish Fraser Project - Day 2

Georgia Gough wearing the finished Isabella Mactavish Fraser wedding gown and arisaid - Edinburgh, Scotland I'm back with the second day reporting from the Isabella Mactavish Fraser wedding-gown-in-a-weekend project, a...
American Duchess
The Isabella Mactavish Fraser Project - Prep and Day 1

The Isabella Mactavish Fraser Project - Prep and Day 1

Braining hard on the Isabella Mactavish Fraser wedding gown - Edinburgh, Scotland, June 2019 Abby and I are back from our whirlwind trip to Scotland, and I've had a nice...
American Duchess
18th Century Hairstyles for Long Hair

18th Century Hairstyles for Long Hair

Jenny's long hair was plenty to go over the ski slope hair cushion. Nearly as often as we receive questions about doing 18th century hairstyles for short hair, we see...
American Duchess
18th Century Hairstyles for Short Hair

18th Century Hairstyles for Short Hair

Nicole's chin-length bob was perfect, if not even a little too long, for the early 1780s crape'd hairstyle once supplemented with a few hair pieces at the back... One of...
American Duchess
1780 - 1781 Glasgow Polonaise Sacque Jacket Progress

1780 - 1781 Glasgow Polonaise Sacque Jacket Progress

1780 - 1781 Polonaise sacque jacket almost done! I love the back, even if it has double the fabric in it that it really needs. Alllmmmooosssttt doooonnnneeeee! This project has...
American Duchess
Introducing: The Isabella MacTavish Fraser Wedding Gown Project

Introducing: The Isabella MacTavish Fraser Wedding Gown Project

The famous Isabella MacTavish Fraser wedding gown c. 1785. Photo by Ewen Weatherspoon. Reproduced with permission of Inverness Museum & Art Gallery Big news! We've been hinting at it for...
Lauren Stowell