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V102: A Quick-n-Dirty Regency Spencer

V102: A Quick-n-Dirty Regency Spencer

The other day I thought I'd pop down to the thrift store and find a little blazer to cut up and make into a functional, although not historically accurate, Spencer...
American Duchess
V101: How to Make Miniature Portraits

V101: How to Make Miniature Portraits

Awhile ago I posted about lovely little 18th century miniature portraits, and what a nice addition to one's costume they can be. Well here's how to make them! What You'll...
American Duchess
V99: Happy Easter

V99: Happy Easter

Happy Easter Day, everyone. Here's a creepy vintage Easter image... Now don't you just feel like dressing in a giant egg suit?
American Duchess
V100: Vintage Girl Scouts - Another 1912/2012 Centennial

V100: Vintage Girl Scouts - Another 1912/2012 Centennial

Did you know that 2012 is the 100-year centennial not just for the sinking of the Titanic, but the founding of the Girl Scouts? My own Girl Scout adventures aren't...
American Duchess

V98: Yellow Shoes Throughout History

Historic Threads - Colonial Williamsburg Shoes, 1775-85 English, worn in Maryland Easter is tomorrow, and I can't help thinking of all the pretty pastels Spring dresses and bonnets and stuff....
American Duchess
V97: New Elizabethan Doublet Progress

V97: New Elizabethan Doublet Progress

Remember Franken-Doublet? What was supposed to be a quick project has turned into the long-and-tedious- project, full of difficult hand sewing and problem solving, yay. It's time like these that...
American Duchess
V96: The 1780s/1910s Double-Period Hat

V96: The 1780s/1910s Double-Period Hat

A few posts ago I staked lampshade style bonnets of the 1780s against similar chapeaus of the 1910s. My idea was to see if one hat could be used for...
American Duchess
V94: The Significance of Color in Revolutionary France

V94: The Significance of Color in Revolutionary France

KCI - jacket, 1790 - revolutionary or royalist? These days, many costumers, me included, look to the fashions of the past and select items to make based on, well, their...
American Duchess

V93: Finding Inspiration Anew

I still really love this 1785 polonaise jacket and matching skirt. 1785 is a bit late for the event we'll be attending in CW ...but maybe I don't really care?...
American Duchess
V92: 1920s Sporty Skit at The Auto Museum

V92: 1920s Sporty Skit at The Auto Museum

Yesterday Lady Carolyn and I finished up our appearances at the Auto Museum's 1920s Symposium with a silly skit in which well-to-do Mrs. Carpenter (Carolyn) was going camping in Yosemite...
American Duchess

V91: Edwardian Showgirls

It's another busy day for me - I'm off to the Auto Museum again to play a ditzy maid in my 1920s bathingsuit. I'll give you a number of cool...
American Duchess
V90: 1920s Fashion Presentation at the National Automobile Museum, Reno

V90: 1920s Fashion Presentation at the National Automobile Museum, Reno

Last night Lady Carolyn and I co-presented "The Bee's Knees and the Cat's Meow: Fashionistas 1920s Style," a general survey of women's clothing and fashion trends through the Roaring '20s....
American Duchess