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18th c. Shoes: Why Silk Fabric and not Leather?

18th c. Shoes: Why Silk Fabric and not Leather?

For those of you following along with the American Duchess 18th c. shoes that are currently being developed, you may be wondering why I've decided to make them out of...
American Duchess
Tagged: Shoes
Regency Wardrobe Planning for the Jane Austen Festival, July 2011

Regency Wardrobe Planning for the Jane Austen Festival, July 2011

My but don't I have a lot of work to do. My best friend Maggie moved to Tennessee this past December, and has already been enjoying the wonderful Regency era...
American Duchess
Tagged: Regency Research
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
Porcelain Dogs, Silver Pheasants, Salt & Peppers - Vintage Lovelies New in the Boutique

Porcelain Dogs, Silver Pheasants, Salt & Peppers - Vintage Lovelies New in the Boutique

I went antiquing today, and came back with a few lovely things I'd like to share with you. These are all listed in the American Duchess Boutique on Etsy (click...
American Duchess
Costumers and Costume Bloggers: Abby Needs Your Help!

Costumers and Costume Bloggers: Abby Needs Your Help!

Abby from Stay-ing Alive would love your help in filling out a survey about costuming, blogging, and costume blogging. It's an in-depth survey that will provide her vital information for...
American Duchess
Tagged: Shoes
Magazine Treasures of 1916

Magazine Treasures of 1916

Recently I lucked into the acquisition of real honest-to-goodness primary source material, courtesy of an old friend of mine from high school, Corinne. Her dear mother was getting rid of...
American Duchess
"October Foxhunt" 18th c. Inspired Coat - now on a person (me!)

"October Foxhunt" 18th c. Inspired Coat - now on a person (me!)

Okay, that was maybe a cheesy title, but I just wanted to share with you my excitement about the coat that arrived over the weekend. This is the coat I...
American Duchess
Tagged: Miscellany
A Few of my Favorite [Vintage] Things ... in Ye Merry Old Etsy Shoppe

A Few of my Favorite [Vintage] Things ... in Ye Merry Old Etsy Shoppe

I've finally gotten to the cleaning, the polishing, the brushing, the matting, and the photographing of a handful of new vintage products that are now listed in the American Duchess...
American Duchess

Name Those Shoes! (please vote!)

From the Bata Shoe Museum It's time to play... Name Those Shoes! With the new 18th century shoe prototype expected by the end of January, we need to find a...
American Duchess
Tagged: Shoes
All That Glitters: White, Light, and Bright Gowns in the Past

All That Glitters: White, Light, and Bright Gowns in the Past

1784 Robe a l'Anglaise (source? is this The Met?) In my travels around the Land of the Internet lately I have noticed countless white (or some version thereof, like creme,...
American Duchess
Olympe's Stays - More Progress

Olympe's Stays - More Progress

Not too much exciting to show you, just some progress on Olympe's creme and goldenrod stays. Both sides are fully boned, with the grommets punched into the fronts, backs, and...
American Duchess
18th c. Shoes - Survey Results

18th c. Shoes - Survey Results

LACMA 1780s I thought you all would be interested to know the results of the survey you all took a little while back. I'm still getting responses (which is awesome,...
American Duchess
Tagged: Shoes