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Butterick 18th C. Stays - In Progress "Glamour"

Butterick 18th C. Stays - In Progress "Glamour"

For all the corset and bodies I've made, the 18th c. version, called "stays," is new to me. I picked up a Butterick (B4484) pattern some years ago and have...
American Duchess
Tagged: Undies
The Top 5 18th c. Costume Blogs On the Web

The Top 5 18th c. Costume Blogs On the Web

The time has come for the first official "Duchess Awards" to be given out for five of the best costume blogs around, covering 18th century costuming. These sites, updated and...
American Duchess
Tagged: Shoes
I'm NOT Crazy! - Examples of Incredible Feather Gowns

I'm NOT Crazy! - Examples of Incredible Feather Gowns

Holy Mackerel! Look what I found wandering the interwebs! This is an Yves Saint Laurent gown made of pheasant and vulture (vulture!?) feathers. It's GORGEOUS!! I don't have access to...
American Duchess
Hair of Great Enormity - a Practical How-To...

Hair of Great Enormity - a Practical How-To...

Get ready ladies. This is the post you've all been waiting for! A step-by-step guide to creating 18th c. monster hair from a long synthetic wig.So by now you've got...
American Duchess
1795 Open Robe: The Sheety Toile

1795 Open Robe: The Sheety Toile

The time has come to create the pattern for the 1795 Open Robe! I printed out my scan of the Janet Arnold "Patterns of Fashion" robe and was pleased to...
American Duchess

A Great Place For 18th c. Hats...

While recently perusing the love Duchess of Devonshire blog, I ran across a link for a site selling period straw hats, both men's and women's, called "Just Two Tailors." I...
American Duchess
Tagged: Accessories Hats
The Amazing CraftHat Pt.1 - shaping

The Amazing CraftHat Pt.1 - shaping

Ever wander through the fun-filled aisles of the craft store and notice the straw hats? They come in many sizes, from large sun hats to miniature doll's hats. The kicker,...
American Duchess
18th Century Wig-stravaganza Pt.1

18th Century Wig-stravaganza Pt.1

Hooray, my wigs have finally come and are in my clutches! After ripping open the box and hastily pulling my two wigs out of their packages, I stuffed the first...
American Duchess
Wig Ransom

Wig Ransom

My wigs arrived today! Unfortunately they are being held hostage in the apartment complex office. I will likely pick them up tomorrow evening, in exchange for the ridiculous amount of...
American Duchess
GREAT Hats of the Late 18th c.  ... [what are they and where do I get them?]

GREAT Hats of the Late 18th c. ... [what are they and where do I get them?]

...That's "GREAT" as in Great Dane, Great Blue Herron, and the Great Wall of China. With mountains of hair exploding from the tops of ladies' heads throughout the 18th century,...
American Duchess
Cross-Over Necklines - 1795

Cross-Over Necklines - 1795

Here's an awesome page choc full o' information on Regency everything, from which all these pics today have come. People nowadays tend to think in terms of decade and/or sometimes...
American Duchess
Tagged: Regency Research
I Can See Your [Regency] Underwear...

I Can See Your [Regency] Underwear...

As noted in a previous entry, undergarments are quite possibly the single most important part of your costume. They provide the foundation upon which your dress will be built, and...
American Duchess
Tagged: Regency Undies