American Duchess Historic Shoes Blog
1795 Open Robe: It's About Time For Some PROGRESS
Finally! *Actual* progress! The 1795 Robe is almost completely constructed, but still miles from being finished. This mockup in yellow linen is unlined, and I have an obsessive problem with...
A Wild Hair : When Good Wigs Gets Better
At about 3 A.M. one morning I decided my 18th century "big wig" just wasn't big enough. It's not that I thought it ugly, it just wasn't the right shape....
Behind the Masque: Owl Mask Concept and References
What is more intriguing than and 18th c. Masquerade (and it's masks)?American Duchess' first monster project, which all the dress diary entries so far have been working towards, is the...
I'm NOT Crazy! - Examples of Incredible Feather Gowns
Holy Mackerel! Look what I found wandering the interwebs! This is an Yves Saint Laurent gown made of pheasant and vulture (vulture!?) feathers. It's GORGEOUS!! I don't have access to...
Hair of Great Enormity - a Practical How-To...
Get ready ladies. This is the post you've all been waiting for! A step-by-step guide to creating 18th c. monster hair from a long synthetic wig.So by now you've got...
1795 Open Robe: The Sheety Toile
The time has come to create the pattern for the 1795 Open Robe! I printed out my scan of the Janet Arnold "Patterns of Fashion" robe and was pleased to...
18th Century Wig-stravaganza Pt.1
Hooray, my wigs have finally come and are in my clutches! After ripping open the box and hastily pulling my two wigs out of their packages, I stuffed the first...
Wig Ransom
My wigs arrived today! Unfortunately they are being held hostage in the apartment complex office. I will likely pick them up tomorrow evening, in exchange for the ridiculous amount of...
We Have A Winner!
As this dress has been on my mind constantly for the last week, I've been mulling over construction and shape, and here, at last, the *FINAL* sketch for the design...
The Hair Up There - Enormous Wigs of the late 18th Century...
Much planning has already gone into The Barn Owl gown, from the undergown to the robe, to the underpinnings, and hair is not to be left out! I am mainly...
New Sketch
A quick sketch of the new ensemble - the undergown with an empire waist, but full through the skirt, and the open robe pretty much as it is in the...
Design Sketches
Because of the nature, and cost, of this project, there must be much planning, sketching, and thinking before anything ever gets cut, stitched, or glued. Here are a few more...