Category: Fashion History
Uncover the stories woven into garments across time.
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The Life of a Showgirl: From the Moulin Rouge to Taylor Swift
“Take the glory, give everythingPromise to be dazzling.” — Taylor Swift “Clara Bow” (2024) As Taylor Swift releases her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, it feels only fitting to look back at the glittering history of showgirl fashion. From the first Cancan dancers in their Moulin Rouge costumes of the 1890s, to Read more
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Decade Deep Dive: Women’s Fashion From 1800 to 1810
The first decade of the 19th century saw a dramatic transformation in European fashion. The voluminous skirts shaped by side hoops (panniers) and ornate trimmings that dominated most of the 18th century gave way to the high-waisted, columnar gowns of the Empire silhouette. Inspired by the draped garments of ancient Greece and Rome, this neoclassical Read more
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Queen Alexandra’s Coronation Dress and Its Enduring Legacy
The coronation gown of Queen Alexandra, displayed in all its shimmering splendour at The Edwardians: Age of Elegance exhibition at The King’s Gallery, strikes you the moment you stand before it: Bathed in sombre serenity and markedly different from both the coronation gowns that preceded it and those that followed. When Alexandra was crowned beside Read more
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Edwardian Fashion: Rose’s Titanic Wardrobe
James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic is one of those enduring screen stories that continues to captivate audiences. More than a century after the ship’s tragic sinking, its legend still holds a powerful grip on our collective imagination. For me, Titanic was likely one of the first period films I ever saw, and the breathtaking costumes Read more
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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