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Pieces of Me - Remaking an 18th Century Gown

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...
Jane Austen Goes to Ikea - Slow Progress

Jane Austen Goes to Ikea - Slow Progress

Slow progress on this 1790s gown, but it'll {eventually} come together in time for JA Fest in July. Jane Austen Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, is 10 weeks away and I...
American Duchess
Simplicity 8411 - A New 18th Century Pattern!

Simplicity 8411 - A New 18th Century Pattern!

Howdy! After many moons we finally get to announce the release of our new collaboration with Simplicity Patterns - Simplicity 8411. Now right off the bat many of you will...
American Duchess
Guts - Inspecting the Insides of 18th Century Garments

Guts - Inspecting the Insides of 18th Century Garments

Vintage Textile, c. 1780s (click through for more). This is the waist edge at the center back of the bodice. Lauren here > Historical costuming is a journey. It starts...
American Duchess
The 1790s "Jane Austen Goes to Ikea" Gown - The Corset

The 1790s "Jane Austen Goes to Ikea" Gown - The Corset

Ikea does it again - Ingmarie curtains >> This year is 1790s year. After completing all the book projects, Abby and I can finally settle into share-able projects. Both of...
Lauren Stowell
Research: We See What We Want to See; We See What We Know

Research: We See What We Want to See; We See What We Know

Dress research is one of the great pleasures of the historical costuming hobby, and it's also a necessity. We all start off along this interest in old clothes knowing nothing,...
Lauren Stowell

Sacque-spiration - Robes a la Francaise to Admire

Hi! We are currently stitching along on our most complex book project, the 1760s sacque. While we can't show you the whole big crazy thing quite yet, we'd like to...
Lauren Stowell
The "State of the Book" Address - Updates and Progress

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...
Lauren Stowell
What The Heck Is This 18th Century Dress?

What The Heck Is This 18th Century Dress?

I keep a Pinterest Board called "Historical Costuming Weirdness," wherein I pin all the things I find that don't match up nicely with what we think we know about historical...
Lauren Stowell

Finding Inspiration in the 1790s with Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun

Self Portrait by Vigee-Lebrun, 1791 Those of you who have been following for awhile will know I'm not a huge fan of, well, anything with an empire waist. I just...
American Duchess
DIY Hair Powder Shaker, or, DIY Powdered Sugar Shaker (depending on your Pinterest Mood)

DIY Hair Powder Shaker, or, DIY Powdered Sugar Shaker (depending on your Pinterest Mood)

Hello Lovelies! Abby here - Today, I wish to speak with you about Arts & Crafts, while attempting to teach ya'll something that will make Pinterest go crazy with excitement!...
American Duchess
Rufflecon 2016!!!

Rufflecon 2016!!!

Hello lovelies! Lauren and I are currently off on a new adventure together - first was China & now we're off to Stamford, Connecticut for Rufflecon! (this is the part...
American Duchess