American Duchess Historic Shoes Blog
My 2020 Costuming Year in Review
This has indeed been a weird, challenging, rough year. I think I've left my house, like, 20 times max for 10 months. During this time I feel I sewed very...
1833 Plaid Silk Gown + All the Accessories - Done!
I can't believe I never shared *finished* photos of the 1833 plaid day dress with all the accessories. I went through the whole making of it but, like...never showed the...
UPDATE: The Scandalous Tango Boots!
Around the time of the turn of the 20th century, a new dance craze swept the Western world. The dance was risque and immensely popular, first introduced to Paris by...
History is Cool: 1890s Belle Epoque Linen Summer Blouse
Hi all! Well, during this crazy time in human history I managed to start and actually finish one (1) project, an 1890s summer shirtwaist made in lovely white linen. I've...
Altering My 1860s Evening Gown
Currently on my sewing table is a "simple" alteration to my one-and-only 1860s evening gown. I made this gown, along with a matching day bodice, back in 2014 and over...
Coco 2019 Gala - 1830s Explosion!
For this year's Costume College gala, the theme was "The Opulent Streets of Venice," which can be, well, anything really! Abby, Chrissy, and I decided to be opulently wide and...
Resplendent in 1835 - A Photoshoot
Nicole Rudolph in her c. 1835 ensemble. OK, so it's pretty obvious I'm obsessed with the 1830s now (though I will never stop loving the 18th century deeply). I've made...
#SewingIsHard - 1830s Bodice Video
It's time for another episode of #SewingIsHard ! This time we're covering 1830s bodices, with some behind-the-scenes tips, tricks, and discoveries to help you in your own 1830s project. Enjoy!...
#SewingIsHard - 1830s Skirts!
Hi lovelies! It's time for a new video all about the magical world of 1830s skirts. If you're working on an 1830s gown, be it for day or evening, we've...
My 1830s Bonnet
In the quest to be ever huger in our 1830s attire, the Gigot Girl Gang™ chose a variety of headgear to top off each of our ensembles. Maggie used bonnet...
My Ghosts of Dickens Fairs Past
This year will be my first visit to Dickens Fair in San Francisco in many years, and I'm *excited.* I've been to Dickens many times, and even worked it as...
1833 Plaid Dress - Sleeves!
Museum of FIT - go big or go home! The best part about early 1830s gowns, in my opinion, is the sleeves, of course! Big, huge, mega gigot sleeves are...