Mrs. Hughes

Retro Inspired Sewing

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You are here: Home / Archives for Historical Costuming

An Early 1850’s Christmas Dress

12/17/2018

Hi there, friends! Long time, no see.  I do have a non-historical costuming post coming up next week, so for those who may not being into costumes, just know that this isn’t turning into a solely costuming blog.  I am admittedly very slow about getting blog posts written lately and I have a lot of […]

Filed Under: Historical Costuming

An 1840’s Wool Pelerine

11/21/2018

Hi Friends! *This post includes a review of a product from Organic Cotton Plus as well as a promotion for upcoming sales.  I received this fabric for free in return for a review and promotion.  These are my honest thoughts and opinions.* I hope you’re enjoying a lovely Thanksgiving if you celebrate the holiday, and […]

Filed Under: Historical Costuming

Late Victorian Underpinnings

12/18/2017

Hello friends! I meant to have this post ready a couple of weeks ago, but I’ve been busy sewing and getting ready for Christmas.  I have a few projects that are already photographed and some finished and a few in pipeline.  I’m not sure how many I will get blogged before the end of the […]

Filed Under: Historical Costuming

A Late Victorian Mourning Outfit [+ a Victorian Sorceress!]

11/26/2017

Hello friends! I have something cool to share with you!  My first historical outfit with all of the underpinnings and trimmings!  I’ll be sharing the underpinnings in my next post, but for now, here’s the exterior. 🙂 Last month we attended a Victorian fancy dress Halloween Tea with the Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild in […]

Filed Under: Historical Costuming

My Husband as Jack the Ripper (A Late Victorian Costume)

11/6/2017

Hey there, friends! Whoa! I’ve sewn something for someone other than myself!  This is a late-Victorian outfit for my husband.  I made both he and I outfits last month for a Victorian fancy dress tea in Niles, CA as part of the Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild.  It was quite an effort sewing two outfits […]

Filed Under: Historical Costuming, Sewing for Men

A 1930’s Floral Caped Dress

09/18/2017

Hello lovelies! I am thrilled to share this dress with you that I made to wear to the Gatsby Summer Afternoon this year.  This is actually the first 1930’s dress that I’ve made!  I did make a 1930’s skirt two years ago, but that’s it for my 30’s sewing.  It seems quite odd that I’ve […]

Filed Under: Historical Costuming, Vintage Patterns

The 1920’s Mata Hari Dress

09/13/2017

How’s tricks? 1920’s.  I can’t quit you.  So here’s another 20’s ensemble. 🙂  This time, it’s the Decades of Style 1920’s Tier-riffic Ensemble. I used some gorgeous hemp silk from Organic Cotton Plus, that I was given in exchange for a review.  I had never sewn with hemp before and it sounded interesting and a […]

Filed Under: Historical Costuming

The 1920’s Egyptian Revival Gown

05/17/2017

Well hello there, friends! I am supremely proud to share this post with you.  It is by far the most time consuming and elaborate project that I’ve ever taken on (and that includes sewing my wedding dress!).  This post is going to be very photo heavy as I made everything you can see in these […]

Filed Under: Costume Events, Historical Costuming

A Black Velvet 1920’s Sugar Coat

03/2/2017

How’s tricks, dames? After a marathon of sewing last week, I finished this fabulous 1920’s coat just in time to wear it to an event the next day.  Someday I hope that I won’t be doing last minute sewing the night before.  But someday has not yet come…. I wore this coat to an event […]

Filed Under: Costume Events, Historical Costuming, Retro Garments

A Red Velvet Baltimore Dress

01/25/2017

Hows tricks, dames? I’m super excited to share this dress as I’ve been keeping it a secret for a while!  This is Decades of Style’s latest 1920’s dress pattern (actually one of three in their recently released collection!) — the Baltimore Dress.  It has Art Deco styling with a beautifully draped center panel and is […]

Filed Under: Historical Costuming, Retro Garments

The Gatsby Summer Afternoon 2016

09/15/2016

How’s tricks?  The Gatsby Summer Afternoon was the bee’s knees this year! The Gatsby Summer Afternoon is an event that I look forward to every year.  It’s like stepping back in time to the Jazz Age and it’s just the most wonderful period event that I’ve been to.  I love admiring all of the dames […]

Filed Under: Costume Events, Historical Costuming, Retro Accouterments, Retro Garments

The 1929 Pansy Dress

09/13/2016

How’s tricks, dames?  I’m extremely excited to fully share this year’s 1920’s dress for the Gatsby Summer Afternoon.  I’ve been sharing my progress in making this dress on Instagram and it was a labor of love.  The Gatsby Summer Afternoon is an Art Deco picnic held at the Dunsmuir-Hellman Mansion in Oakland, CA every September.  I […]

Filed Under: Historical Costuming, Retro Accouterments, Retro Garments, Vintage Patterns

The Gatsby Summer Afternoon 2015

09/16/2015

Hey there, folks! I’m so happy to finally share the dress I made for this year’s Gatsby Summer Afternoon! This picnic, hosted by the Art Deco Society of California, is always held in September at the Dunsmuir-Hellman Historic Estate in Oakland.  This was my second time attending (although I would’ve attended last year if it […]

Filed Under: Costume Events, Historical Costuming, Retro Accouterments, Retro Garments, Things I Love

The Gatsby Summer Afternoon

09/9/2013

The long awaited Gatsby Summer Afternoon at the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate in Oakland finally arrived! This event was put on by the Art Deco Society of California and is one that I have been dreaming about going to for years now!  The attire is vintage daywear from 1920-1940 (the Art Deco era of course!) […]

Filed Under: Costume Events, Historical Costuming, Retro Accouterments, Retro Garments, Sewing for Men, Things I Love

Making a 1920’s Garden Party Hat

08/26/2013

I have been in the process of making 1920’s afternoon outfits for my husband and I for the Garsby Summer Afternoon in Oakland next month.  I have been wanting to go to this for a long time and finally am!  My outfit of a 1928 seafoam green and pale yellow floral chiffon dress is nearly […]

Filed Under: Historical Costuming, Retro Accouterments

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My Favorites

  • The 1920’s Egyptian Revival Gown
  • The Embroidered Zig Zag Dress
  • The 1929 Pansy Dress
  • The 1930’s Silk Velvet Dress
  • Sailors are My Weakness [The Dorothy Lara Dress]
  • The California Poppy Blouse
  • The 1950’s Robin Hood Dress
  • The Broderie Anglaise Birthday Dress

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Copyright 2012-2021. Tanya Maile Hughes. All rights reserved. Please do not copy or reproduce any content from this site without approval and credit. Sewing graphics by katieshoestring and California poppy graphics by DigitalDesignsAndArt

Mrs. Hughes: A retro inspired, vintage garment sewing and plus-size dressmaking blog by Tanya Maile Hughes.

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