Category: Fashion History
Uncover the stories woven into garments across time.
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Queen Victoria’s Birthday Fan: The Language of Fans and 19th-Century Material Culture
Today, the fan has largely vanished from the roster of objects we regularly use. Its practical function — to cool the air in a sweltering ballroom or on a hot summer’s day — has been rendered obsolete by electric fans. Aesthetically, too, it no longer holds a place of prominence in the modern wardrobe. Yet,… Read more
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Nosferatu and the Gothic Revival
When the first stills from the 2024 Nosferatu remake were released, I was immediately captivated. The images hinted at some exquisitely rendered 1830s-inspired costumes — with their distinctive silhouettes and rich textures, they promised a feast for any lover of Gothic fashion history. Judging by the promotional photography alone, the costume department had clearly paid… Read more
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Victorian Mourning: Sartorial Symbolism in George Eliot’s “Middlemarch”
The image that most readily comes to mind when we think of Queen Victoria is that of an elderly, white-haired woman dressed entirely in black, her white widow’s cap perched solemnly atop her head. Portrait of Queen Victoria by Bertha Müller after Heinrich von Angeli, 1900. Source: National Portrait Gallery, London. This enduring portrayal of… Read more
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Why I’m Disappointed in the Kensington Palace Exhibition “Dress Codes: Decoding the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection”
When Kensington Palace announced its latest exhibition, Dress Codes: Decoding the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, I was genuinely excited. With a fashion archive said to include over 10,000 pieces spanning five centuries of court life, and the palace itself as a backdrop, there was so much potential to create something truly immersive, educational, and moving.… Read more