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V26: 18th Century Panniers - examples and ideas

Trouvais.com I've been thinking about panniers lately. Pocket hoops. Hip padding. For an upper class impression, it looks like a little side hoop action was still en vogue for the...
American Duchess
V17: What Real Women Wore in 1912

V17: What Real Women Wore in 1912

I get so starry-eyed when I look at evening gowns and haute couture of the 19teens. It's easy to forget that most women didn't wear anything even remotely like this....
American Duchess
V2: Opinion: The Vintage Figure vs. Today

V2: Opinion: The Vintage Figure vs. Today

Why do "vintage bodies" differ so much from our modern bodies? It seems like most sources (like this one) will have us believe that what we eat and how much...
American Duchess
1950s Petticoats

1950s Petticoats

As we all know, petticoats were a big thing in the 1950s. Large, puffy skirts had to be supported by various methods of pooferry, pufftasmicness, and even occasional hoop-lah. Here...
American Duchess
Tagged: Undies Vintage
Revolution Dress - About Those Stays

Revolution Dress - About Those Stays

The Dreamstress asked me to share a little about the stays I've been working on. Those extra grommets at the bottom are me messing up. Ignore those, pls. :-) I...
American Duchess
Revolution Dress - Undies!

Revolution Dress - Undies!

This is just a quick post on underwear, in all its glory. As you know, I've started this latest 18th c. gown project with the basics, a proper set of...
American Duchess
The Revolution Dress - Beginnings, Again

The Revolution Dress - Beginnings, Again

Last time, I wrote about a new 18th c. project concerning a Robe Retroussee dans les Poches, but since then the project has been morphing and smooshing around trying to...
American Duchess
Starting Small on a Big New 18th c. Project

Starting Small on a Big New 18th c. Project

I finally have a new 18th c. project in mind, yay! I want to make a striped red Robe a l'Anglaise, but to be worn either polonaise'd (verb) or "dans...
American Duchess
1780s Half-Boned Stays

1780s Half-Boned Stays

Finished - they close edge-to-edge across my bust, but I also like them open like this - more thrust! See the difference in shape between these and Olympe's? In my...
American Duchess
Olympe's Stays - Complete! Finito! Done!

Olympe's Stays - Complete! Finito! Done!

I finally finished Olympe's lovely cream, goldenrod, and powder blue stays. Finally. FINALLY. It's only taken me FOREVER. They are too small for the smallest setting on my dress form,...
American Duchess
Late 18th Century Skirt Supports - The Unorthodox Edition

Late 18th Century Skirt Supports - The Unorthodox Edition

I have received some questions from you guys asking what I wear under my petticoats to give that super-poof shape. Well...it ain't pretty. I don't have picture-perfect panniers, or layers...
American Duchess
Tagged: How-To Undies
Extant 18th c. Stays from the Marjorie Russell Clothing and Textile Museum, Nevada

Extant 18th c. Stays from the Marjorie Russell Clothing and Textile Museum, Nevada

A little while ago I attended a fascinating lecture on underwear through the ages, presented by Jan the Costume Anthropologist at the Marjorie Russell Clothing and Textile Research Center. While...
American Duchess