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V157: Opinions Please - Mid-Victorian Shoe Survey

V157: Opinions Please - Mid-Victorian Shoe Survey

Hi Ladies! It's market research time once again, and your invaluable opinions are needed to help us decide on a mid-Victorian style of shoe, for next year's historical footwear lineup....
American Duchess
V156: A Start to The Billinghurst Stays, 17??

V156: A Start to The Billinghurst Stays, 17??

Rather awhile ago I shared with you some photos of a very interesting, atypical pair of 18th century stays held in our local costume and textile collection. There was much...
American Duchess
V152: Costume Analytics: Pehr Hilleström, Kitchen Maid

V152: Costume Analytics: Pehr Hilleström, Kitchen Maid

This week on Costume Analytics, we'll be looking at a wonderful painting by Pehr Hillestrom, entitled "En piga höser såppa utur en kiettel - i en skål," or something along...
American Duchess

V149: Taking Stock of Stockings

Those of you who follow me on Facebook will know I've been asking around about stockings. What material, what color you like, etc. Some more questions are to come, but...
American Duchess

V147: Gowns a la Pompadour - 1740s - 1750s

Madame de Pompadour by Boucher, 1759 The 1740s and 1750s in France was the time of large, beautiful Robe a la Francaise gowns, made from stunning textiles, and decorated in...
American Duchess
V145: Costume Analytics: Madame de Pompadour, c. 1750

V145: Costume Analytics: Madame de Pompadour, c. 1750

It's been a long time since I've done a "Costume Analytics," but now is a good time to bring it back! This time we'll be looking at the famous Madame...
American Duchess

V129: 18th Century Reds

Imatex - red velvet jacket, bound in blue, 1780-90s. This is a must-someday-make jacket I'm a sucker for red, I'll admit. My second 18th century gown was red and still...
American Duchess
V122: Beginnings of a Polonaise Jacket

V122: Beginnings of a Polonaise Jacket

Gallerie des Modes, 1780. Dames a la Mode on Tumblr I've finally settled on a design for one of my Colonial Williamsburg pieces - a polonaise jacket, inspired by a...
American Duchess

V119: Are Sequins Period Accurate?

The Met: toque (hat), 1915 The short answer is YES! I've heard this question come up a couple of times, in regard to using sequins on our Titanic gowns. Sequins...

V114: Incredible 18th Century Jackets from the Imatex Online Collection

I have to give mad thanks to Emily over at My Vintage Visions, who showed me the secret of searching the Imatex costume collection, a wonderful resource with gigantic photos...
American Duchess

V110: Pink Jackets of the 18th Century

...I want one. I want it to be patterned taffeta-silky-something. WANT. Inspo.... Okay, I know it's a polonaise, but let's just say it counts :-) ; 1775, Killerton, Devon, Nat'l...
American Duchess
V94: The Significance of Color in Revolutionary France

V94: The Significance of Color in Revolutionary France

KCI - jacket, 1790 - revolutionary or royalist? These days, many costumers, me included, look to the fashions of the past and select items to make based on, well, their...
American Duchess