American Duchess Historic Shoes Blog
A Summer Straw Cloche for Mom
I've been on a hatmaking binge, ever since I refashioned my black straw Gatsby hat. No hat in my house is safe now. Even the moth-eaten hat husks waiting to...
Orientalism in 1920s Fashion
Orientalism was a big trend in 1920s Western fashion, taking design for textiles, silhouette, even makeup, from Japan, China, Russia, India, and the Middle East. I noticed that Miss Fisher...
My First Miss Fisher Outfit
Last month I wrote about my love obsession with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, and of course Miss Fisher's fashion. While the show is set in 1929, most of what Miss...
FlapperHacks: Retro-cycling a Hat and Dress for Gatsby 2015
As all you modern Flappers will know, original 1920s clothing can be hard to find and scary to wear (don't sweat on it!), so it behooves us to collect our...
Miss Fisher's Fabulous Fashion
I'm *deep* in Costume College prep fog, but I have been winding down my nights watching Season 2 of "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries," an Australian series that is everything you...
Introducing Royal Vintage Shoes - Shoes for 1920s through 1940s
For the past few years I've been running a historical footwear company called American Duchess. We make a lot of really old fashioned shoes, all the way back to the...
A Basic 1920s Frock
"Frock" is exactly what I should call this dress, even though I don't really like the word. I found this -frock- on Etsy for an excellent price, and was so...
Early 1920s Tabard Gown - a Wonderful Gift!
Last week I received a surprise in the mail from The Lady of Portland House. I couldn't believe what I pulled out of the box - an utterly stunning cut...
I. Miller & Sons - Shoes for Movie Stars, Chorus Girls, and You.
There are a few names in the history of footwear that conjure up instant praise and awe. You may know a few - Pietro Yantorny, Roger Vivier, and I. Miller....
1920s Flashy Dancing Shoes
Shiny shiny was big in the 1920s. Legs and shoes were on display more than ever, with flashy footwear being all the rage for an evening of vigorous dancing. Style...
PRE-ORDER Exclusive #3 - "Cicero" 1920s Pumps
These days we modernes can be pretty reserved with our shoes, but back in the 1920s, the flashier the better. Legs were on show and dancing was all the rage,...
Cycle 3 Exclusive - Vote for Colors!
We've gotten a bit bogged down with the various holidays worldwide, but we're gearing up for production to start again, so it's time for another Exclusive! The winner of the...