Christmas Gifts

I hope you all had a lovely Festive break. I had a great day with my family and enjoyed good food, good company, and the fun of opening gifts.

I  got a lovely pair of "Virginia" reproduction Renaissance shoes for Christmas! I was very excited to receive them, and I can't wait to wear them to an event.

These shoes are produced by American Duchess, who also make the ''Stratford'' shoes that I love so much.


http://www.american-duchess.com/renaissance-elizabethan-shoes/virginia-renaissance-shoes-brown

Delightful Birthday Gifts

I had a significant birthday recently, and I was really delighted to receive a pair of Stratford reproduction Elizabethan shoes from American Duchess. The leather is beautifully worked, and so soft! They fit like a glove too. Now I just need to make some garb worthy of them!

And good news- the oxblood Stratfords are on sale! http://www.american-duchess.com/

American Duchess Sale

I just heard that there will be a sale on American Duchess 'Harlow' shoes this Friday. More information at http://www.american-duchess.com/shoes-1920s-1930s

48 Hour Sale on at November 14 at 12 pm PST

New American Duchess Elizabethan Shoes

Most of my readers will be aware of my admiration for the lovely, quality products of 'American Duchess'. Today I heard that they have developed a new Elizabethan Reproduction shoe. And what a beauty it is!

Pre-orders are being taken now: http://www.american-duchess.com/renaissance-elizabethan-shoes/

Delectable American Duchess Shoes

Images from http://www.american-duchess.com/

This week I had the opportunity to try on a pair of reproduction Renaissance shoes from American Duchess. (This company has been responsible for fostering my love of reproduction shoes.) My group of re-creationist friends have been talking about these shoes for quite a while, so I jumped at the chance to try them on. (Thanks Mandi, for being so thoughtful!)


Honestly, I expected them to be uncomfortable. I thought they would be the type of sturdy shoe that you would have to wear around the house for a few weeks or months to 'wear in' before attempting to wear them to an event.

Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. Admittedly, I only wore them for a few minutes (because the risk of tripping over my own feet in my attempts to watch myself walk in such gorgeous footwear became terrifyingly real!) but I was amazed at how buttery soft and yielding they were. So comfortable, so pretty, so perfect.

You all know how tight my budget for re-creation items is, but I am seriously thinking of investing in a pair of these shoes. They are so well made, I think they will be an integral part of my kit for many years.

Check out http://www.american-duchess.com/renaissance-elizabethan-shoes/stratford-elizabethan-shoe-oxblood to see what is available.

'Nankeen' Regency Boots

Another delectable new offering from American Duchess

Available from: http://www.american-duchess.com/shoes-18th-century/nankeen-fabric-regency-boots

Fabulous 18th Century Hair

For those with an interest in later period costuming, or just an interest in amazing hairstyles, I heard about this book which is being developed for release:

Images and more information from
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/18th-century-hair-wig-styling-the-book

I was directed to this site by the lovely American Duchess - http://americanduchess.blogspot.com.au/

Awfully tempting mules!

Check out these beautiful mules from American Duchess:

 

They really are awfully tempting! AND on special at the moment as a pre-order......



http://www.american-duchess.com/shoes-18th-century

Edwardian shoes from American Duchess

Another posting of delicious vintage shoes from American Duchess:

http://americanduchess.blogspot.com.au/

Pompadour Court Shoe

Another drool-worthy shoe from American Duchess is now available:



I'm having visions of spangled fans, beautiful fabrics, gilded everything and tons of diamonds!

Details are available from http://www.american-duchess.com/shoes-18th-century/pompadour-french-court-shoe-white

More drool-worthy shoes

Check out these wonderful 1930's Oxford shoes available on special (pre-order) from American Duchess. That store, with all those beautiful shoes, is almost enough to tempt me to branch out into costuming from later periods!


from: http://www.american-duchess.com/shoes-1920s-1930s

Yummy OP shoes from American Duchess

As you know, my preferred historical re-creation period is the sixteenth century. But the luscious shoes at American Duchess regularly make me reconsider my choice of time period. Check out their new releases at the link below. (And take a peek at their to-die-for Marie Antoinette shoes while you are there!)

‎"Gibson" Edwardian Shoes, 1900-1920 - Pre-Order February 15, 2013 - March 8, 2013 at http://www.american-duchess.com/edwardian-victorian-shoes-boots

Please share with anyone who may be interested! We're trying to sell 50 pairs of each color. If we don't meet that goal, the least popular colorway will be canceled :-(

Bean Boobs

For those of us without a duct-tape dress dummy, here is a great suggestion from American Duchess on how to make a standard dressmaking dummy more 'shapely' in the bust department:
http://americanduchess.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/v185-polonaise-jacket-of-doom-and-hell.html