American Duchess Historic Shoes Blog
The Quilt of A Thousand Vintage Fabrics
This past Christmas, I received a lovely gift from my mother. She won at auction, a few weeks before, a beautiful hand-made, hand-tied quilt created entirely from fabrics of the...
And The Next AD Shoe Is...
Thanks to everyone who voted in the poll to help determine what our next shoe release is. I'm happy to announce that the winner, by a landslide, is Gettysburg! We'll...
Please Vote - Which Historical Shoe Shall Be Next?
Hi Lovelies! It's time again to vote for your favorite new historical shoe style, to help me determine which to open for pre-ordering next. The winner of this vote will...
My 2014 "Shoe Year's" Resolutions...
And so starts a whole new year...of shoes! I have so many plans for 2014. Some will happen, some may not, but I'm looking at the year's developments with optimism...
My Costuming Year in Review - 2013
The very last day of 2013 is a good time to look back, as so many of us have been doing this past week. Here are the costumes I made...
My Giant Post of Wedding Photos
Chris and I tied the knot this past October, as you all know. I just recently received the photos from Matt & Jentry, the incredible photographers who shot our wedding,...
Here Comes 2014 - And a Coupon!
Let's bring in 2014 in eccentricity and style, with a merry little New Year's coupon: 14% off (yes, 14%...not 15%, that would be too expected) everything except Stratfords and Imperfects,...
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...
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...
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,...
Photo Shoot: Downton Abbey Glamour at the Cobb Mansion, Virginia City, Nevada
I've been sitting on these photos for quite some time, leaking them out little by little, but I think it's high time now for a little photo story... With Downton...
Introducing "Stratford" Elizabethan Shoes for Men and Women
I'm so happy to present to you "Stratford" Elizabethan Shoes, the product of blood, sweat, tears, and a great collaboration with Francis C. Classe, an excellent historical cordwainer (shoemaker) and...