American Duchess Historic Shoes Blog
Dipping My Toe Into Uncharted Corsetry
Hello Lovelies! Abby here -- Ok - so my title is not entirely true. I've made an 1800s corset before...hell I've even taught a workshop on how to pattern and...
How to Use a Victorian Button Hook - Video!
Those of you who costume for mid-Victorian through Great War will be familiar with side-buttoning boots. They're iconic and beautiful, but can be a little tricky to get closed if...
My New Victorian Corset by Anachronism in Action
Over my years of historical costuming, I've learned enough about corsetry to know I know nothing. This is engineering to a T, with bust-to-waist ratios, shaping, materials knowledge and use,...
"Bronte" Victorian Slippers & "Highbury" Regency Slippers - Pre-Order Open!
I'm a little late to the game here on the blog, but better late than never! If you follow us on Facebook or Twitter, you'll already know the new early...
Early Victorian Slippers (to Get Excited About)
Women's slippers, c. 1850 - LACMA Today's post is all about slippers worn c. 1820s - 1850s (so a little pre-Victorian). Surprisingly ladies shoes remained fairly unchanged during this time....
Hard Lessons in Victorian Corset Making - My "Duh" Moments...
Left side - boning, strength additions, and padding. I still have wrinkling, but it's better than it was.Right side - no boning, no strength layers, no padding. I can make...
My First 1830s Dress - Complete!
I managed to finish something! It feels so good, considering the *pile* of started, half-finished, nearly-finished, and will-never-be-finished costume bits & bobs I have cluttering up my desk and all...
Options for 1830s Headgear
This coming weekend is the first time I'll take the red 1830s dress out for a spin (assuming I :::cough::: finish it :::cough:::), and while I had grand plans to...
Adventures in the 1830s - For Real This Time
The Met, 1835 I've been wanting to make an 1830s dress for a long time now, but haven't actually, y'know, done it. Until now. I can't really account for how...
My Annual Sewing Rut
Once again, I have absolutely no motivation to make a single stitch of anything lately. I've learned that this is quite normal, and that if I force the issue I'll...
Happy Valentine's Day!
...here's a pink dress... LACMA, 1830 It's a dress I'm madly in love with. It's the kind of painful sort of love that makes me want to attempt to make...