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More Highlights from Williamsburg and Jamestown

More Highlights from Williamsburg and Jamestown

I was quite terrible (and busy) and didn't take a lot of photos, but here are a few more from the trip... Day 1... Maggie and I arrived, dropped our...
Behind the Scenes at the Antoinette/Highbury Photoshoot

Behind the Scenes at the Antoinette/Highbury Photoshoot

Last week Chris and I worked on a new shoot for Antoinettes and Highbury. We wanted to create a ladies' boudoir space, similar to the interiors in these paintings: Francois...
American Duchess
LACMA Sacque - Done! And I Love It!

LACMA Sacque - Done! And I Love It!

Sometimes it's really does pay off to just press through the rough patches and finish a costume, even if you hate every stitch along the way. I'm glad I finished...
American Duchess
LACMA Sacque - The Home Stretch (Maybe?)

LACMA Sacque - The Home Stretch (Maybe?)

I have been working on this gown on-and-off for, gosh, a year? I'm ready for it to be done, but not willing to put in the effort to get it...
American Duchess
More LACMA Sacque-Ma Progress

More LACMA Sacque-Ma Progress

Yesterday I was worried that I wasn't going to have enough fabric to do the trimmeries on the LACMA sacque, but today, oddly enough, I think it will all be...
American Duchess
Non-Matching Trim Options for Robes a la Francaise

Non-Matching Trim Options for Robes a la Francaise

So as I bimble along on this LACMA-Sacque-ma, diligently cutting out all the many pieces, and saving every little scrap, I'm getting the feeling that I'm not going to have...
American Duchess
LACMA Sacque-ma: Beginning the Robe

LACMA Sacque-ma: Beginning the Robe

I've finally started in earnest on the LACMA Sacque-ma. For a reminder, because it's been too long since I posted about this, here's the original dress: LACMA, 1765 I don't...
American Duchess
LACMA Sacque-Ma: Operation Petti-Pouf

LACMA Sacque-Ma: Operation Petti-Pouf

Thank you to everyone who left incredibly helpful comments on yesterday's petticoat post. Last night I went for it with implementing each of the changes suggested, to see what effect...
American Duchess
LACMA Sacque-ma: The Petticoat, and Why Bigger Isn't Always Better

LACMA Sacque-ma: The Petticoat, and Why Bigger Isn't Always Better

I spent this past weekend toiling on a "simple" petticoat for my first Robe a la Francaise ensemble, inspired by this gorgeous sacque in LACMA: I thought it would be...
American Duchess
Finished Project: 18th Century Grand Panier

Finished Project: 18th Century Grand Panier

And my, what a big panier it is! I purchased the now-out-of-print Simplicity 3635 pattern on eBay a few weeks back. The package contains patterns for stays, pockets, a chemise,...
American Duchess
How Wide Should Your 18th Century Panniers Be?

How Wide Should Your 18th Century Panniers Be?

I've set out on the adventure of making a Grand Pannier to wear under voluminous 18th century apparel, and the first question that came to mind is - how wide...
American Duchess
V294: LACMA Sacque-Ma Fabric on the Way!

V294: LACMA Sacque-Ma Fabric on the Way!

So I was able to order the silk brocade fabric for my new obsessive project, the LACMA Sacque-ma. I feel like...like...I'm now part of a special club of historical costumers...
American Duchess