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My 2020 Costuming Year in Review

My 2020 Costuming Year in Review

This has indeed been a weird, challenging, rough year. I think I've left my house, like, 20 times max for 10 months. During this time I feel I sewed very...
The Annual 2019 Sewing Slump - My Tips for Self-Care in Sewing

The Annual 2019 Sewing Slump - My Tips for Self-Care in Sewing

The Letter, Pietro Longhi, 1746 It's that time of year! It seems right about this time, on an annual basis, I go into a dreadful sewing slump. I'm not motivated...
Lauren Stowell
Tagged: Miscellany
American Duchess on Patreon

American Duchess on Patreon

Hi Lovelies! I have some big news - we are now on Patreon! Patreon is a way to support creators with small monthly contributions that help us make more and...
American Duchess
The American Duchess Historical Holiday Gift Guide 2018

The American Duchess Historical Holiday Gift Guide 2018

Happy Holidays! Welcome to our big mega huge list of holiday gifts for the historical costumers in your life (or yourself!). This year we have lots and lots of goodies...
American Duchess
Tagged: Miscellany
The 7 Stages of Piecing

The 7 Stages of Piecing

There are very few historical projects I've made over the years that have gone totally smoothly. In fact, I can think of one. Every other gown I've made, and a...
American Duchess
The American Duchesses: A Tale of Two Consuelos

The American Duchesses: A Tale of Two Consuelos

Hello Lovelies! Welcome to part two of our stories of real life American Duchesses, rich stateside socialites who married into the British aristocracy. Today we have the Tale of Two...
American Duchess
A Trip to England and Wales

A Trip to England and Wales

Lauren here.... ....here in Reno, and not in the UK where I have been and would like to still be. ;-) For the first time in years (and for the...
American Duchess
Research: We See What We Want to See; We See What We Know

Research: We See What We Want to See; We See What We Know

Dress research is one of the great pleasures of the historical costuming hobby, and it's also a necessity. We all start off along this interest in old clothes knowing nothing,...
Lauren Stowell
The Great China Adventure, Or, How Jet-Lag is Evil

The Great China Adventure, Or, How Jet-Lag is Evil

Hello Lovelies! Abby here - sort of... Jet lag is evil & mean. But I'm here in body, even if that means my circadian rhythms are still totally bananas and...
American Duchess
Review: Hand Bound 18th c. Style Book by Paul McClintock, From Common Hands Studio

Review: Hand Bound 18th c. Style Book by Paul McClintock, From Common Hands Studio

Hand made sketchbook with historic marbled paper cover and tooled leather binding - From Common Hands Studio I recently received a fabulous gift: a hand-made custom blank book from Paul...
American Duchess
What It's Like to Be an Extra on a Historical Documentary, pt.1

What It's Like to Be an Extra on a Historical Documentary, pt.1

This time last year I was cast in a Weather Channel documentary on The Donner Party, filming right here in Northern Nevada where the ordeal took place. Casting It was...
American Duchess
I'm No Pinup

I'm No Pinup

The actual me: I can't draw a cat eye; I don't often wear dresses; my car isn't vintage; I'm covered in dog hair. I've been into vintage fashion a long...
American Duchess