American Duchess Historic Shoes Blog
How To Make 18th c. Cockades
by Lauren Reeser Cockades are so cool. They add so much interest and texture to a hat, pinned to a jacket, even tied onto your shoes. So here's how to...
Button, Button - Who's Got the Button?
by Dana Reeser Or more correctly, who made the button? Lil' Duchie never played "button button" so she didn't get the reference, but this is Lil' Duchie's Lady Mother writing...
:Ubersexlich 18th c. Men's Suit - More Progress...Again...
Please excuse the messiness of my room! More progress on James' velvet and brocade suit. The linings are being hand-stitched in and pleats adjusted...and....and.... The right side in this photo...
:Ubersexlich - Progres on Le Suit
Progress on James' 18th c. suit. Actually, lots of progress, but on things that just aren't things you take pictures of for your blog: black buttonholes on black fabric, interior...
:Ubersexlich Breeches - James' 18th c. Suit
Do you know how uninteresting and even weird pictures of pants are? You can't put them on a dress form...they look odd on the hanger...the best I could do was...
:Ubersexlich - James' 18th c. Suit - Progress
Photos at last of progress on "The Suit." I've been working on the waistcoat, which to be honest is not at all interesting to look at right now. It wants...
Ubersexlich...Proof of Life
Proof of my exploits as a hired seamster. That's a LOT of trim, and it's not even a quarter of it. There will, of course be more...everywhere...down the front edges,...
Trim-Laden Teaser
Oh Duchess, you're SUCH a tease!
The collar of James' frock coat, trimmed out,ready to be stitched to the body of the coat. Whee!
Early Christmas Gifts, Ubersexlich, All Manner of Update...
It's been a crazy mid-month, and here's hoping things calm down. Lots of happenings and announcements and other zaniness ahead...First Up - Pogey Bait! Nicole, herself a fantastic seamstress and...
Apocalyptic Costuming and Life
Sometimes things just don't work out. Sometimes NOTHING works out. This makes me very grumpy. Dickens Day Dress? No. New Car? No. Sick dog? Yes. Men's Breeches Toile for James'...
The Great 1840s Madness, and Some 18th c. Toile-ing
It feels fantastic to be sewing again, and to be sewing on a tight deadline. I believe in the power of tight deadlines to keep us excited about a project,...
James' :Ubersexlich 18th c. Men's Suit: Sketches
The time has come to begin sketching and designing for James' 18th c. suit. The nice thing about men's fashion in the 18th c. is that while it was flamboyant,...