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Taylor - Dames a la Mode

@dames_a_la_mode

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Reproduction historical jewelry business | Historical costuming | Washington DC
Tag purchases with #damesalamode for features. Vlogging on YouTube.

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Something happened here the other day and I'm still so mad about it I have to say something. The other day I posted this picture to my feed, and someone took it, fed it to the plagiarism maw, and vomited out an AI-generated image of this full dress with a different background. It felt like a slap in the face.
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Generative AI is *evil* and I mean that sincerely. It is perhaps the most damaging, degrading, wasteful invention of our time and I hate it with a visceral rage. It is consuming shocking amounts of our natural resources, poisoning communities (disproportionately poor communities, of course), and enriching terrible people, and for what? To create bland, soulless images that aren't even historically relevant. I poured hours and hours of my brain power and handwork into making this dress, and in seconds someone fed that work to a billionaire who gave them back a cursed version of me (which kindly "tuned" up my face and body to make it prettier, gee thanks).
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I cannot express how dehumanizing and devaluing this is. I don't want my creativity and labor stolen. I don't want my face tuned up to serve some vile, impossible beauty standard. I don't want to be part of this machine that is filling our world with generic slop. It can do this because it is stealing! It is stealing creativity. It is stealing labor. It is stealing our faces and our bodies and turning them into commodities. STOP BEING PART OF THIS MACHINE.
(And don't even get me started on how easy it would be for someone to say "hey grok, take off her clothes.").
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I've been on the Internet for a long time and I'm not naive enough to believe that saying this will stop anything. I know that by putting so much of myself out there I am subject to the whims of technology. But, I beg you, if you are someone who appreciates the work that we do and the art that we create, please do not consume AI generated art. It is destroying the souls of the people who make this stuff.
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And I am in NO MOOD for AI apologists on this post. I will block you immediately. Go away. by @dames_a_la_mode

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9 months ago

I've always wanted to go to TudorCon in Richmond, VA, and I'm excited to tell you there is now an at-home option if you can't get to Richmond at the end of the month.

TudorCon From Home brings the weekend to you. For $59 you get the livestream from the main room, recordings of every talk with slides to watch whenever you like, and a digital swag bag worth over $100 (Including a discount code from Yours Truly!). There's even a talk on Tudor jewelery and dress from Terry Jones, who has been a guide at Agecroft Hall since 1978. October 23 to 25, 2026. At-home access is available here (note that this is an affiliate link, and I will receive a small bonus if you purchase a ticket from this link):
https://tudorcon.englandcast.com/tudorcon-from-home/?ref=dames

Feel free to DM me and I can send you that link directly! by @dames_a_la_mode

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10 days ago

Version vs Version 2! If you've watched my YouTube video of making this Robe a la Française you'll know that I was really pressed for time finishing it so it only ended up with a little bit of trim. But after filming, I took the time to use up the rest of my fabric to add a lot more trim to this gown. I really loved the original version but I'm so glad I took the time to add more - I think it really elevates the whole thing in the most luxurious way. This gown took 12 yards of fabric and I really used up every single scrap. by @dames_a_la_mode

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2 months ago

An honest-to-goodness new YouTube video, only three years late 😂. She's a long one! by @dames_a_la_mode

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

It has literally been years since I made a YouTube video, but I'm shocked to tell you that I am actually FINALLY editing the video for the making of this Robe a la Française that I made waaaaay back in 2023! Hopefully in the next couple of weeks! by @dames_a_la_mode

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3 months ago

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3 months ago

A beautiful tangle of Renaissance necklaces! I am currently preparing for the Maryland Renaissance Garb Sale on July 18th in the Baltimore area. I love making Renaissance jewelry so it's fun to just indulge for a couple of weeks and make a bunch of fun, random stuff! If you're local I hope you'll come see me at the event, and afterwards I'll make what's left available to everyone. Keep an eye out! by @dames_a_la_mode

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3 months ago

For #silly7th a little peek behind the scenes panic sewing with @willoughbyandrose a mere THREE hours before an event and we are literally still making our dresses. I am an avowed no-last-minute-sewing stickler (I have ruined several events for myself doing this in the past) but this one got away from me AND IT WAS SO STRESSFUL AND I HATED IT but we did look extremely cute in the end and had a wearable dress even if it wasn't fully trimmed yet. by @dames_a_la_mode

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3 months ago

She's back! This is one of my favorite pieces ever and when I brought it out last year it went FAST! Very happy to say she is here again and in lots of colors! Grab one while you can!
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Based off of this portrait of Archduchess Maria Amalia of Austria (unknown artist and date, but definitely mid-18th century) by @dames_a_la_mode

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3 months ago

Very excited to share the expansion of our IRONWORK collection! In collaboration with @sewloud these designs are based off real pieces of 19th Century jewelry. Instead of Berlin Iron, Vulcanite, Jet, and Gutta Percha, we are using 3D printed resin. This preserves all of the beautiful detail of the antiques in an affordable, durable, and lightweight material. These pieces are joining the rest of the collection now! by @dames_a_la_mode

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3 months ago

So excited to share these new items from my collaboration with @sewloud 🖤. These are all based off extant historical designs and they are just so delightful. Never thought I could love a snake so much! We call him Nigel 🐍
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All available now but in limited quantities! by @dames_a_la_mode

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3 months ago