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Want to make your own Bridgerton like gowns? Try our dress up game set in the 1820s!

Even print it out as paper dolls!

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Steam Summer sale!

Hi everyone! The Widow's Boutique is now 55% off for the Steam Summer sale :D

Get your copy today! And please consider leaving a review :D

🌟✨ Discover "The Widow's Boutique" ✨🌟

Immerse yourself in a Nordic noir Visual Novel where drama, dresses, and danger await! Step into the shoes of Mrs. Sem, a recent widow in Christiania, navigating prejudice and tough times while running her inherited drapery business. Inspired by history, this game offers a thrilling blend of smuggling, espionage, and romantic pursuits.

Your choices shape the story with 15 unique endings, so choose wisely and be prepared for shady deals and social intrigue. Will you triumph or fall victim to the consequences?

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Mrs. Else Marie Strøm

A short video about Else Marie Strøm, an important woman in Norway in the 1800s.

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Women and trade in the early 1800s

Unlike today, women were not free to start their own business in the early 1800s in Norway. This was also the case in much of Europe. 

Female merchants, traders and artisans in Norway were most often widows. They had inherited, or were legally allowed to take over, their late husbands’ trade privilege in order to continue the business.

Other women could apply to the magistrate, i.e. the city authorities, to be allowed to run a business. Those who were granted such privileges, had argued that their business would prevent them from falling into poverty, and thus be a burden on society.

Between 1802 and 1839, 55 women received a craftsman’s licence, most of them in cooking (butchering, brewing, bread baking and candle making), sewing women’s clothing, but also as midwives, hairdressers and furriers.

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The Widow's Boutique

The Widow’s Boutique is a Nordic noir historically accurate Visual Novel, filled with drama, dresses and danger!

You are Mrs. Sem, recently widowed and back on the social scene of Christiania. Having inherited a drapery business from your late husband, you must maneuver prejudice as well as the challenging economic times. The game is closely inspired by history, actual persons and happenings.

In this game you must balance smuggling and espionage, with running your drapery boutique while, also navigating romantic interests.

There are 15 unique endings and all your choices matter!

Your choices may draw you into shady deals and social intrigue with dire consequences… Choose your friends wisely...

widowsboutique.com

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It is so fun ot see playthroughs of our game!! Thank you!

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The Widow's Boutique is now available on Steam!

Hi everyone!

In December I posted about our upcoming regency game and got so much support and feedback, so now I want to let you guys know it is finished and available on Steam! (https://bit.ly/widowsboutique)

We are so in love with historical costumes and know you guys will appreciate the clothing! But also the overall historical accuracy and setting! We have added more scenes, characters and artwork.

About the Visual novel game:

You are Mrs. Sem, recently widowed and back on the social scene of Christiania. Having inherited a drapery business from your late husband, you must maneuver prejudice as well as the challenging economic times. The game is closely inspired by history, actual persons, and happenings.

If you have any questions or would just like to talk about dresses or story please feel free to ask!! I would love or start a conversation about anything regency! Or other periods, I just love historical fashion!

If you want to read up on the game and backdrop we also have a website: widowsboutique.com

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1790s Wolfgang-Adam Töpffer - Family portrait

(Private collection)

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There's just not enough green velvet these days during the holidays. Fun fact, Santa originally had a host of suit colors: green, tan, red, and white. But through the persistent marketing of the Coca-Cola company, his "official" color became red in the 1880s. Probably the most impactful marketing ploy of all time.

This dress, dating from about 1900, is a perfect example of why I find silk velvet so amazing. Because of all of the tiny, tiny fibers, it both absorbs light and then reflects it depending on the cut of the fibers and the lighting. Here, there doesn't seem to be a lot of sheen, but it absolutely soaks up the light! Paired with all those gorgeous sequins, and wow.

Sequins have also been around for a LOT longer than most people think, since it's just a shiny, flat bead. This particular design is just stunning, and so very Edwardian. Plus, it's GREEN, and y'all already know how I feel about green dresses.

From Augusta Auctions.

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We are so grateful for all the support, but we still need your help!

Kickstarter:

https://bit.ly/widowsboutique.com

We have also updated the game demo!

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5 posts!

Wow

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Two weeks ago I finally got the chance to be back spinning in reenactment in Sarzana!

I've been on a long hiatus with my hobbies, but life got me lately...

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Widow Sem's Dress is an actual dress form the National Museum of Norway!

This dress is so beautiful so it had to be Widow Sem's dress, we had no other choice! And you can even see it in 360°

It is such a classic mid 1820's dress! I absolutely love it!

Her purse is also from the National Museum of Norway! It is so much fun working so closely with historical sources. I have gotten such an appreciation for musuems that put their collection online!

Link to the purse!

There is also so much more info about the 1800's in Norway on widowsboutique.com if you're interested!

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I'm still feeling in a pink mood, and it's been a hot minute since I shared a Regency style gown.

This silk damask beauty from about 1818-1820 is (likely) English has so much going on that I love. In this period we see a lot of contrasting trim like we see here, which adds additional dimension to the gown at the hem and the shoulders. Some gowns even had a kind of quilted padding on them to create a really fascinating 3D effect.

(If you hate Empire waists, I'm sorry. I love them.)

I personally love this silhouette with the long sleeves and puff sleeve shoulder (which is a harbinger of the gigot sleeves of the next decade). The silk had a lovely sheen to it, and the satin ribbon element along the high waist really brings it together. I love little flashes of satin on a dress.

From the Cincinnati Art Museum.

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I just love the regency period, so obviously I had to make my own Regency dress!

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I´m working on a historically accurate Visual Novel! It´s called The Widow´s Boutique and is about a female businessowner in the 1820s!

The Widow’s Boutique is a Nordic noir historically accurate Visual Novel, filled with drama, dresses and danger!

You are Mrs. Sem, recently widowed and back on the social scene of Christiania. Having inherited a drapery business from your late husband, you must maneuver prejudice as well as the challenging economic times. The game is closely inspired by history, actual persons and happenings.

In this game you must balance smuggling and espionage, with running your drapery boutique while, also navigating romantic interests.

Some gifs and screenshots:

And yes, you can pet the cat ❤️

Now we need your support to finish this game!

Steam

Itch.io

Kickstarter