Fashion of the Future: The Impact of Covid-19 on Fashion and Dress History

As we enter a brave new world, we arrive at a time and place where there is an opportunity for transformation, a chance to remodel, rebuild, and consider what will happen next. Some may think that it is wholly inappropriate to discuss the nature of fashion and the way we dress in the midst of …

Book Review: How to Read a Suit by Lydia Edwards

'For the past four hundred years, men in western countries have used the three- or two-piece suit - jacket and trousers, often with a waistcoat - to express [...] identity, and as such it has become a universal symbol of masculinity.'[1] Menswear. For me, historically and notoriously difficult to read. I think in part, because …

Collaboration: whatgrandmawore and whatsaroxy

This post is the third in a collaborative project with Netherlands-based artist Roxy van Bemmel (@whatsaroxy). This scheme sees Bemmel interpret garments from museum collections through a contemporary and abstract eye. Historical context about the piece chosen for analysis is provided by whatgrandmawore. Painting of a woman with a 19th century evening dress from the …

Fashion History Weekly Round-Up: 2/12/19

Welcome back to the Fashion History Weekly Round-Up! Here are some of the things I've seen this week that have inspired and fascinated me... #1 - 'A Rare Glimpse Inside The Met's Costume Institute Conservation Laboratory' from Vogue A real treat - a behind the scenes insight into one of the busiest fashion and dress …

Collaboration: whatgrandmawore & whatsaroxy

This post is the second in a collaboration with whatgrandmawore and artist Roxy Van Bemmel, a project which sees Roxy visually interpret historical garments from online museum collections, whilst adding her own abstract and modern approach to object observation. Roxy van Bemmel painting of an 1818 evening dress from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection, …

Fashion History Weekly Round-Up 18/11/19

A slightly smaller summary this week - albeit still with a lot of interesting things to tell you about! # 1 - An interview with Valerie Steele - Director and Chief Curator at The Museum at FIT This article was posted as part of Fashionista.com's long running series 'How I'm Making It,' detailing the success and career …

Fashion History Weekly Round-Up: 11/11/19

Welcome to the first edition of the fashion history round-up! Each week I will be writing a summary of all the things that have inspired me during the past seven days. These could be announcements about new exhibitions or museum openings, inspiring articles I have read and book releases I am anticipating, and social media …

Underwater Wardrobe: The Uncanny Study of Tudor Clothing in Relation to the Dead in Museums

‘St Augustine says, “the dead are invisible, they are not absent.” You needn’t believe in ghosts to see that’s true […]. We sense the dead have a vital force still — they have something to tell us, something we need to understand.’ [1] The above quote was taken from Dame Hilary Mantel’s lecture The Day is For The …

Guest Post by Rachel Sayers: The History of Irish Dress 1850-1900

Our guest researcher and blogger Rachel Sayers returns to whatgrandmawore for a second post on Irish history! 'On Sundays at the Carnacun chapel the family [….] would pass by the men in knee breeches, frieze coats, and stovepipe hats; inside the church, the men sat on one side, the women hiding their faces behind shawls …

Dior Takes London: Proud Central – A Review

One could be forgiven for thinking that they were trespassing into The Dior Collection exhibition, held at Proud Central, London, from the 7th Feb – 7th April 2019. Quietly situated a close walk from Charing Cross station down a side street, The Dior Collection is held in an intimate, cosy, peaceful gallery space away from the bustle of the …