American Duchess Historic Shoes Blog
1770s Powerpuff Polonaise Progress
I've been working little by little on the pink polonaise I started last weekend. It's been incredibly tricky to figure out, but it appears to be working. I re-fit the...
New Project: 1770s Powerpuff Polonaise
I have terrible Costume A-D-D right now. I want to make ALL the 18th century things! It's good to be inspired, though! I have a trip to Colonial Williamsburg coming...
1780 Robe Retroussee - My Tribute to Avi
I have always been in love with this 1780s French gown from the Met, one for being a gorgeous gown, but because of the way the photograph was styled with...
1785 Williamsburg Chintz Pierrot - Progress at Last!
I've been so diligently digging into the UFO pile, finishing things left and right, so I decided to pick up this little chintz jacket I started ages ago. Here's the...
Larkin & Smith 1770s English Gown Progress
Last night I finally got back to work on the 1770s English gown. I'd only pleated the back and stitched one side down, before, but here's what I did last...
English Gowns of the 18th Century
I've had my sewing confidence rattled lately by the utter failure of my Robe a la Turque, so I'm sorely in need of some hand-holding through a project. Enter the...
Mademoiselle Guimard in Turkish...or Chinese...Costume
In my journey concerning The Turque thus far, I've learned that contemporary French terminology surrounding this type of gown, and other orientalist gowns, is fuzzy. Levites, Circassiennes, Polonaises, Turques...they kindof...
So a Robe a la Turque is What, Exactly...?
In my first post about the Robe a la Turque, I wound up with more questions than I answered, realizing I'd only just peeked into the rabbit hole that is...
18th c. Red Petticoat Re-Fashion
Woot! The first project of 2015 is complete, and piece #1 of my Robe a la Turque is ready. Refashioned red petticoat with apron This petticoat was once a sad,...
Costume Analytics: What Is a Robe a la Turque Anyway?
It's been a long time since I've done a Costume Analytics, but I've found myself entering "new territory" with a type of 18th century gown I *thought* I understood until...
1740s Scottish Tartan Outfit - Done!
1740s Scottish working woman's tartan wool ensemble (Here's another I'm posting about from *the future* - ah, how remiss in never finishing up these projects! But here goes...)There wasn't much...
Embroidered Stomachers of the early 18th Century
Every once in awhile I do some handiwork that I'm then very proud of later, and always glad I took on. Last time, it was an embroidered 18th century pocket,...