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A Little History of Victorian/Edwardian Cloth-Top Button Boots

A Little History of Victorian/Edwardian Cloth-Top Button Boots

We'll have Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island too! Isn't it lovely to have cloth-top button boots! Built on the same last and heel as the uber-popular Tavistock all-leather boots,...
American Duchess
New Cotton Striped Stockings, Oh YEAH!

New Cotton Striped Stockings, Oh YEAH!

Storyville portrait, New Orleans, c. 1912. Portrait by E. J. Bellocq. Who doesn't love a good striped stocking? The Georgians, Victorians, and Edwardians sure did! Striped stockings of various colors...
American Duchess
An Early 1880s  "Anna Karenina" Winter Outfit via Armstreet.com

An Early 1880s "Anna Karenina" Winter Outfit via Armstreet.com

I have a slightly inexplicable love of Slavicn-inspired Victorian and Edwardian clothing. The cold weather rolls around and I just feel compelled to make something with a lot of braidwork...
American Duchess
Oh What a Beautiful Mourning - "Death Becomes Her" at the Met, Opening October 31

Oh What a Beautiful Mourning - "Death Becomes Her" at the Met, Opening October 31

On the evening of October 31, a somber shadow shall fall over the halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. For the first time in 15 years, the...
American Duchess
My 2014 Steampunk Ball Costume - Complete!

My 2014 Steampunk Ball Costume - Complete!

So the ball was ages ago, but I didn't have a good photo of my whole costume until today. As it stands, you can't see much detail in this, but...
American Duchess
Hard Lessons in Victorian Corset Making - My "Duh" Moments...

Hard Lessons in Victorian Corset Making - My "Duh" Moments...

Left side - boning, strength additions, and padding. I still have wrinkling, but it's better than it was.Right side - no boning, no strength layers, no padding. I can make...
American Duchess
The First Reno Tweed Ride

The First Reno Tweed Ride

A couple weekends ago, a group of 15 intrepid, tweed-clad cyclists gathered in Idylwild Park in Reno, and endeavored to ride their noble mechanical steeds through downtown, to the University...
American Duchess
The Reno Tweed Ride: Inspiration

The Reno Tweed Ride: Inspiration

Coming up in June, our local Steampunk group is hosting the first Reno Tweed Ride, wherein a lot of nutters dress up in, well, tweed, and ride bicycles through Downtown...
American Duchess
The 3rd Annual Steampunk Ball of Piper's Opera House, 2013

The 3rd Annual Steampunk Ball of Piper's Opera House, 2013

Liza rockin' her Victorian tail bodice with shorts and amazing stockings This past weekend Chris and I worked our tails off at the 3rd Annual Steampunk Ball up in Virginia...
American Duchess
"Real" Late Victorian Steampunk Fashions for Women

"Real" Late Victorian Steampunk Fashions for Women

The Met, 1897-99 (via) - an excellent start to a fabulous Steampunk ensemble. My favorites are the original gowns that unknowingly have that Steampunk flavor. I haven't been working on...
American Duchess
Tavistock Button Boots Steampunk Photoshoot at the Sparks Museum

Tavistock Button Boots Steampunk Photoshoot at the Sparks Museum

It's been *ages* since Chris, Angie, and I did this Victorian / Steampunk photo shoot for Tavistock, featuring the "Green Acres" gown, and, of course, our new black button boots....
American Duchess
Victorian Boots & Accessories Survey - Please Help!

Victorian Boots & Accessories Survey - Please Help!

Hi Ladies! As always, I am working on improving our historical footwear and accessories, and am in need of some information about your shapely gams. The most difficult part of...
American Duchess