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Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · 8d

Bringing back some Ariel photos 🧜‍♀️💖 This silicone hybrid by Haley Mermaid was my first “real” tail, and while it’s more subtle than my others, it’s perfect for Ariel. ✨

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Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · 14d

Sunset over Dallas Road 🌅✨ Always magical.
But also: a reminder. “Vancouver Island” is a colonial name. These are the traditional lands of the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth & Kwakwaka’wakw peoples. It's something I want to acknowledge not just on Truth & Reconciliation Day, but every day. 🧡

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Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · 21d

Obsessed with these photos of my 18th-century Belle gown by @ezrak.photography ✨
Now to pick the perfect Vancouver Island location for a full video. Any suggestions?

Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · 29d

Wishing everyone at the Jane Austen Festival the most splendid time! ✨ Sad to miss it this year, but I can’t wait to live vicariously through your photos. 🕰️📸

Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Sep 4

Found a little beetle on my tail after a mermaid swim 🪲✨ Not the same kind used in Victorian gowns, but the resemblance is uncanny.

Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Sep 4

Today I officially transition from summer mermaid swims & Jane Austen balls for PhD life. 📚🧜‍♀️
Summer taught me: more rest, less perfectionism (still working on that one 😂).

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Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Aug 31

Girls will be like, “I needed this”… and it’s literally just basic human rights. 🖤

I usually share whimsical content, but I can’t ignore what’s happening. As a dual citizen, watching women’s and trans rights stripped away in the U.S. has been heartbreaking.

Stay safe, and don’t stop speaking up.

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Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Aug 29

8 years, 1 husband, and a lot of stitches later… 🧵✨

2016 me thought I was making Victoria’s gown from Corpse Bride (spoiler: I botched the bodice). 2024 me? Years of research + proper underpinnings = glow-up.

Moral of the story: ditched the dress, kept the man. 💕

Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Aug 28

In March, I got an email I could hardly believe.

A novelist read my 2020 article on Craigdarroch Castle—and used it as a major source for her gothic horror book filled with sirens + Victorian settings. 👻🧜🎩

Sometimes your tiniest projects echo louder than you think.

Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Aug 26

Not every day is gowns & glitter. Most days look more like: snoozing too long, cat distractions, coffee shop laptop time, then sewing or reading at night… with a side of project stress 😂. Once I start my PhD, life will be a different kind of busy, but hopefully more structured.

Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Aug 24

Game-changing sewing hack I picked up from Bernadette Banner: pull the thread, cut along the line = perfectly straight linen edges ✂️✨ So satisfying!

Has anyone dared to try it on other fabrics? Did it work, or was it a disaster? 👀

Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Aug 23

Photo from last weekend’s Vic Ren Faire 🌿 Honestly? This costume wasn’t my best work; it was more “good enough” than “main character.” 😂 But instead of stressing, I focused on friends, laughter, and fun… and it turned into one of my favorite days!

Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Aug 15

Ever wish you could step right out of a painting? 🕰️ My top 3 tips for that “out-of-a-portrait” look:
1️⃣ Corset (instant posture upgrade)
2️⃣ Historical hair & makeup
3️⃣ Correct prints (no modern giveaways!)
Which one would you try first?

Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Aug 10

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: bring back 18th-century pockets!

Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Aug 7

New around here? I’m Ann: fashion historian, certified mermaid, musical theatre nerd, and connoisseur of all things whimsical.

✨ Follow for fashion history, fantasy, music, and unapologetic joy.

Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Aug 5

These stills from my beetle wing dress video look like they were pulled from a period drama, right?? 🎥✨

Shout-out to Matt for the DaVinci Resolve wizardry and to golden hour at Beacon Hill Park for always delivering.

Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Aug 2

Saw a similar reel by @alexaswinediary on Instagram and it cracked me up, so I had to make my own version. 😂

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Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Jul 31

Thank you, Esther White Photography, for making me feel like the queen of the jungle during our photo shoot. It was hot and humid, but I trusted the process and WOW, did she deliver!

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Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Jul 29

Some highlights from the snorkeling tour in Cozumel last month. The El Cielo sandbar totally lived up to its name: white sand, turquoise water, and stingrays drifting past every few minutes.

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Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Jul 22

It’s been almost a year since our Ariel shoot at Cadboro Bay, and in classic *me* fashion… I’m only just getting around to posting the last pic in her seafoam gown.

And don’t worry, friends. There are still plenty more tail photos to come. The Ariel content is far from over 🧜‍♀️🌊

Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Jul 21

💙 Blue ribbons, golden light, and a moment borrowed from another century…

Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Jul 14

Is it impractical? Yes.
Is it joyful? Absolutely.
This is your reminder that dressing up just for the beauty of it is reason enough. 🪲🌸

Sometimes the more layers I wear, the freer I feel.

It shouldn’t make sense, but neither does joy in a world that tries to silence it.
So I wear the wings. 🪲

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Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Jul 13

Ophelia-core meets mermaid energy at @casa.kabil 🌊💐

This is what happens when you have an M.A. in art history and a deep love of dramatic poses in the water. Pre-Raphaelite painting? No, just me channeling my inner tragic Victorian heroine with fins. 😌🧜‍♀️

Painting: "Ophelia" by John Everett Millais

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Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Jul 12

🎀 Dearest gentle merfolk,
The Bubble Ball has come and gone, but this author has finally decided to reveal the secrets behind the seams… 👗🧜‍♀️

Ann E. @annpetiterose.bsky.social · Jul 9

Did you really think I was done with Regency content? 😂
Sure, I’m still swooning over the mermaid photos from Mexico… but I have so many dreamy pics from last year’s Jane Austen Festival in Bath, and I’m not about to stop now. 💃

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