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...
The Annual 2019 Sewing Slump - My Tips for Self-Care in Sewing
The Letter, Pietro Longhi, 1746 It's that time of year! It seems right about this time, on an annual basis, I go into a dreadful sewing slump. I'm not motivated...
American Duchess on Patreon
Hi Lovelies! I have some big news - we are now on Patreon! Patreon is a way to support creators with small monthly contributions that help us make more and...
The American Duchess Historical Holiday Gift Guide 2018
Happy Holidays! Welcome to our big mega huge list of holiday gifts for the historical costumers in your life (or yourself!). This year we have lots and lots of goodies...
The 7 Stages of Piecing
There are very few historical projects I've made over the years that have gone totally smoothly. In fact, I can think of one. Every other gown I've made, and a...
The American Duchesses: A Tale of Two Consuelos
Hello Lovelies! Welcome to part two of our stories of real life American Duchesses, rich stateside socialites who married into the British aristocracy. Today we have the Tale of Two...
A Trip to England and Wales
Lauren here.... ....here in Reno, and not in the UK where I have been and would like to still be. ;-) For the first time in years (and for the...
Research: We See What We Want to See; We See What We Know
Dress research is one of the great pleasures of the historical costuming hobby, and it's also a necessity. We all start off along this interest in old clothes knowing nothing,...
The Great China Adventure, Or, How Jet-Lag is Evil
Hello Lovelies! Abby here - sort of... Jet lag is evil & mean. But I'm here in body, even if that means my circadian rhythms are still totally bananas and...
Review: Hand Bound 18th c. Style Book by Paul McClintock, From Common Hands Studio
Hand made sketchbook with historic marbled paper cover and tooled leather binding - From Common Hands Studio I recently received a fabulous gift: a hand-made custom blank book from Paul...
What It's Like to Be an Extra on a Historical Documentary, pt.1
This time last year I was cast in a Weather Channel documentary on The Donner Party, filming right here in Northern Nevada where the ordeal took place. Casting It was...
I'm No Pinup
The actual me: I can't draw a cat eye; I don't often wear dresses; my car isn't vintage; I'm covered in dog hair. I've been into vintage fashion a long...