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A Quick 1879 Bonnet from a 1950s Hat

A Quick 1879 Bonnet from a 1950s Hat

I've had a lot of questions about the bonnet I wore with my 1879 Tea Dress. I didn't have time to construct a late 1870s/early 1880s bonnet, and I'm not...
American Duchess
Review: Wearing History's 1879 Dinner Bodice E-Pattern

Review: Wearing History's 1879 Dinner Bodice E-Pattern

Last weekend I finished up and wore my new 1879 "Cafe Promenade" dress (or "Creme Brulee" or "Cafe Au Lait"), which I had quite a good time putting together over...
American Duchess
Christmas Tea at the Brewery Arts Center, Carson City, NV

Christmas Tea at the Brewery Arts Center, Carson City, NV

This past Saturday good-sized group of us Great Basin Costumers invaded the Brewery Arts Center in Carson City, for their afternoon High Tea. There was no set period for costume,...
American Duchess
1879 Tea Gown: More Progress, and Bustling Up on the Deadline!

1879 Tea Gown: More Progress, and Bustling Up on the Deadline!

I haven't been working *flat out* on this dress, but I have been making steady progress each day. I'm thankful to have not hit any huge snags (yet). I'm not...
American Duchess
Museum Sketching and Progress in 1879

Museum Sketching and Progress in 1879

Left to Right: me, Oscar, Debbie, and Jane Last weekend a few of us Great Basin Costumers gathered at the Nevada Museum of Art to act as models for a...
American Duchess
1879 Tea Gown: Mocking Up and Sketching

1879 Tea Gown: Mocking Up and Sketching

Last night, I jumped into working on this 1879 gown, for our tea on December 14th. I was so anxious to see what resulted from the Wearing History 1879 Dinner...
American Duchess

Book Review: "Embellishments: Constructing Victorian Detail" by Astrida Schaeffer

Embellishments: Constructing Victorian Detail Astrida Schaeffer (c) 2013 by Astrida Schaeffer ISBN 978-1-938394-04-1 Many of us have been anticipating Astrida's book "Embellishments" for quite some time. I was happy to...
American Duchess

Seeking Adventure in 1879, But 1880 Will Do, Too

I'm having that...that feeling. It's an exciting but terrible feeling, the one that comes with being in the middle of one complex project, but wanting to start another complex project...
American Duchess
Glorious 18th Century Mules, and some 19th Century Wanna-Be's

Glorious 18th Century Mules, and some 19th Century Wanna-Be's

Antoinette mules in French blue Today is the day to celebrate mules, those pretty little backless, heeled slippers that have been gracing the feet of ladies for hundreds of years....
American Duchess
The 3rd Annual Steampunk Ball of Piper's Opera House, 2013

The 3rd Annual Steampunk Ball of Piper's Opera House, 2013

Liza rockin' her Victorian tail bodice with shorts and amazing stockings This past weekend Chris and I worked our tails off at the 3rd Annual Steampunk Ball up in Virginia...
American Duchess

"Real" Late Victorian Steampunk Fashions for Women

The Met, 1897-99 (via) - an excellent start to a fabulous Steampunk ensemble. My favorites are the original gowns that unknowingly have that Steampunk flavor. I haven't been working on...
American Duchess
1860s Button Boots with Scalloped Fly

1860s Button Boots with Scalloped Fly

The boots, once stuffed and supported, were in surprisingly good condition. Every once in awhile something particularly smashing comes up on eBay and I get all giddy about it. These...
American Duchess
Tagged: Shoes Victorian