To be a bit cliché, this shoemaker is a professional Web Developer and her child is this blog, but it was past time to launch what I have of a new design. All the content is still here, everything else is a work in progress (kind of like most of my sewing projects)!
Every couple of years I clean out my closet and refresh my wardrobe a bit (I hate clothes shopping). It’s that time of year again, and it’s time to say good by to my American Duchess Astorias. I haven’t worn them for over two years, so I hope someone else can give them a good home.
If you’re not a size 7, or prefer them in black, but just fell in love with their sweet style, you can buy your own Astorias from American Duchess.
I really wish I could splurge on some Kensingtons for my Halloween costume.
The links to American Duchess in this post are affiliate links, meaning I may get a bit of money if you buy their shoes after clicking one, however the above shoes were purchased with my own hard-earned cash, and the excitement is my own. The affiliate links will just help subsidize my next American Duchess purchase, I hope. If you don’t like affiliate links, here’s one that isn’t: www.american-duchess.com
I’m lusting after the new American Duchess carriage boots right now, in anticipation of winter and my denial that it is as long and as cold and icky as it probably will be. Of course, I’ll always long after impractical-for-every-day-wear Victorian boots instead of practical snow boots like the ones I have even if mine are boots with the fur and all.
In between bouts of covetousness, I realized I should mention my AD purchases this summer—one of the last pairs of ivory Gibsons (they’ve since reordered) and a pair of seamed stockings.
My wedding dress was not remotely Edwardian, but it worked. The Gibsons rocked all night long, no cliché reception flip-flops required. And, I had the perfect excuse to skip the whole bouquet/garter throwing—my garters had a real purpose. Thank you, American Duchess.
The links in this post are affiliate links for American Duchess, meaning I may get a bit of money if you buy their shoes after clicking one, however the above shoes were purchased with my own hard-earned cash, and the excitement is my own. The affiliate links will just help subsidize my next American Duchess purchase, I hope. If you don’t like affiliate links, here’s a normal one.
I’m still trying to figure out what color to dye my Astorias so I, personally, am leaning toward black or tan. Good thing I still have time!
Actually, in writing this, I am leaning toward black, since I could wear those with modern clothes and my black pumps really don’t fit properly. What color are you leaning toward?
The links in this post are affiliate links for American Duchess, meaning I may get a bit of money if you buy their shoes after clicking one, however I have spent my own money on their products and think they’re awesome. The affiliate links will just help subsidize my next American Duchess purchase, I hope. 😉 Like my dream of owning the Tavistocks. If you have something against affiliate links, here’s one that isn’t: www.american-duchess.com
I mentioned early on that I wanted to try drafting a bifurcated skirt out of a period tailoring manual. I’m still doing that, sort of. Except, I’m also kind of cheating, because I realized that if I enlarged this one:
…so that the front measurement (line C-G) was the right length for my models, it worked out that the waist was also right (in other words, the measurements I needed to draft to are pretty much correctly proportioned to the book’s draft).
For those in the reenactment/costuming/history world, this is a year of –ennials. The bicentennial of the War of 1812 (and my alma mater’s founding). The Civil War sesquicentennial’s second year. The centennial of the Titanic. And, likely other things outside of America/England.
I told you about American Duchess’ regency shoes last month. They are a very good reproduction for Regency/Jane Austen/1812 reenactors/celebrators. I fully intended to purchase a pair myself, however life and priorities got in the way and I couldn’t justify the money for only one expected wear. One of those priorities is buying their latest shoe: The Astoria (in ivory).
