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American Duchess Designs on Garmz.com

American Duchess Designs on Garmz.com

Special thanks to Lady Carolyn Runnells, who sent me a link to this snazzy new website, called Garmz.com, I think you should *all* take a look at. It's a website...
American Duchess
The Stays That Bind: Olympe's 18th c. Stays

The Stays That Bind: Olympe's 18th c. Stays

Starting a new project, a pair of stays, a commission for Olympe. Olympe's materials - cream jacquard, yellow linen, and the stays shall be interlined in canvas They will lace...
American Duchess
The Great 1840s Digression

The Great 1840s Digression

Today I went to the fabric store for one thing and one thing only: muslin, primarily for the purpose of mocking up James' 18th c. men's suit (more on this...
American Duchess
James' :Ubersexlich 18th c. Men's Suit: Sketches

James' :Ubersexlich 18th c. Men's Suit: Sketches

The time has come to begin sketching and designing for James' 18th c. suit. The nice thing about men's fashion in the 18th c. is that while it was flamboyant,...
American Duchess
Measure Twice: Preparing For Costume Creation

Measure Twice: Preparing For Costume Creation

One day you're surfing the internet, enjoying your favorite dress diaries, when BAM! it hits you. There on your screen is an image of a dress, a jacket, a bodice,...
American Duchess
Behind the Masque: Owl Mask Concept and References

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...
American Duchess
We Have A Winner!

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...
American Duchess
New Sketch

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...
American Duchess
Design Sketches

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...
American Duchess
Concept

Concept

A friend and I have been planning our Halloween gowns. A little early, yeah! She had an awesome idea of being a fox, interpreted as a Victorian bustle gown with...
American Duchess