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V166: Book Review: "The Art of Finger Waving" by Paul Compan

V166: Book Review: "The Art of Finger Waving" by Paul Compan

Art of Finger Waving -- Recreating Vintage 1920s and 1930s Hairstyles Paul Compan (c) 2007 by Bramcost Publications ISBN 978-1-934268-34-6 There are few techniques in the world of vintage fashion...
American Duchess
V140: New Vintage Camera: No.2 Folding Cartridge Hawk-Eye Model B

V140: New Vintage Camera: No.2 Folding Cartridge Hawk-Eye Model B

While in Astoria, Oregon, Carolyn and I visited many an antique shop. I was delighted to find a whole case full of vintage cameras, many of them folding cartridge styles...
American Duchess
V136: Butchart Gardens, The Empress Hotel, and Costumery in BC

V136: Butchart Gardens, The Empress Hotel, and Costumery in BC

The Sunken Garden at Butchart Gardens, planted 100 years ago in a quarry. The last day of my cruise with Lady Carolyn was spent in gorgeous Victoria, British Columbia. We...
American Duchess

V119: Are Sequins Period Accurate?

The Met: toque (hat), 1915 The short answer is YES! I've heard this question come up a couple of times, in regard to using sequins on our Titanic gowns. Sequins...
V92: 1920s Sporty Skit at The Auto Museum

V92: 1920s Sporty Skit at The Auto Museum

Yesterday Lady Carolyn and I finished up our appearances at the Auto Museum's 1920s Symposium with a silly skit in which well-to-do Mrs. Carpenter (Carolyn) was going camping in Yosemite...
American Duchess
V90: 1920s Fashion Presentation at the National Automobile Museum, Reno

V90: 1920s Fashion Presentation at the National Automobile Museum, Reno

Last night Lady Carolyn and I co-presented "The Bee's Knees and the Cat's Meow: Fashionistas 1920s Style," a general survey of women's clothing and fashion trends through the Roaring '20s....
American Duchess

V74: Thoroughly Modern Millie

Today's post is brief because I'm slammed with stuff-that-isn't-sewing-stuff (argh). It's the opening credits from one of my favorite films ever, "Thoroughly Modern Millie," starring Julie Andrews. I won't explain...
American Duchess
V69: Vintage 1920s/30s Hair Clip Results and Photos

V69: Vintage 1920s/30s Hair Clip Results and Photos

Yesterday I played around with some vintage hair waving clips I picked up at Sacramento Antiques last month. Remember these?... 1930s aluminum hair waving clips, and dog hair. I used...
American Duchess
V39: 1920s Beaded Flapper Dress Design

V39: 1920s Beaded Flapper Dress Design

Today Lady Carolyn invited me to participate in a presentation on 1920s fashion coming up at Reno's National Automobile Museum at the end of March. How could I resist! I...
American Duchess

V22: More 19teens and Early 1920s Hairstyles {Videos!}

I've been talking a lot about hair lately. It seems to be the thing we have the most trouble with. In the first post, "Introduction to Hairstyles in 1912," I...
American Duchess
V21: Vintage Bead Binge

V21: Vintage Bead Binge

A belt, but also a headband, perhaps. I was thinking just the other night about where to find heavily beaded bandeau materials for my 1912 (and also 1920s) hair styles,...
American Duchess
Book Review: "Vintage Hairstyling" by Lauren Rennells

Book Review: "Vintage Hairstyling" by Lauren Rennells

Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Techniques Lauren Rennells 2nd ed. (c) 2009 Lauren Rennells ISBN 978-0-9816639-1-3 If you are like me, you have pretty much no knowledge of how...
American Duchess