One of my first encounters with historic dress in the early 1990s was a gown similar to this, two bodices & one skirt to change its status from day to night. I remain fascinated by adaptability in dress. This is a late #1860s version of that ambition @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

⛱️ 1930s beach fashion via The John Bright Collection @jbrightcollection.bsky.social L Silk beach pyjamas R Cotton play suit For full description, links in comments.

This was one of the best (and most unexpected) things I saw at the #edfringe this year. Beautifully-detailed period costumes from movies & TV, including a bunch of Merchant-Ivory productions, Jane Austen adaptations, Downton Abbey, etc. #sewsky #filmsky #fashion

John Bright Collection@jbrightcollection.bsky.social · last yr.

Our historic collection team has interrupted its usual work to help mount star pieces for ‘Costume Couture -Sixty Years of Cosprop’ at the Fashion and Textile Museum’ #costumecouture #fashionandtextilemuseum #costumemounting #filmcostume #fashionexhibition #costumeexhibition #costumedesign

On holiday in the South of France, I, the curator of the John Bright Collection had the chance of visiting this marvellous exhibition that we’ve had the honour of giving a loan to. On until 20 September at the Musée de la Mode et du Costume, Arles. #fashionexhibition #ridinghabit #museefragonard

Ardern Holt’s book Fancy Dress Described ran to many editions in the c19th, a manual of costumes for fancy dress parties. This early #1890s survival is especially excellent, mirroring almost exactly, Holt’s suggestion for a French ‘Incroyable’ @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Hello sunshine! Two #1810s dresses although would you believe, the bright silk creation on the right is an underdress, designed to be worn beneath a pale muslin gown. I think I would prefer it on its own @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

I do love this one! That painted silk…… 😍

John Bright Collection@jbrightcollection.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Here’s one of our favourite examples, 1840s dress from 18th century painted silk. Although this might just be the first use of a ‘vintage’ material rather than an alteration of an existing dress: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/dres...

Some expert refashioning here & a woman in need of fancy dress. This is an c18th waistcoat that has been repurposed into an early 1880s costume, perhaps for a party or some dramatic pursuit. Ruched sleeves & boned shaping added by a dressmaker @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

If you thought the Hippies were the first Western movement to 'discover' the tie dye techniques of Eastern cultures, think again! This 1910s bodice by Jacques Ségal is another example of the 'artistic vibe' of avantgarde 1910s fashions that often found its inspiration in the East. #tiedye #1910s

We just found out who designed this vibrant early 1910s dress! Grace Pinder who had given up her acting career in 1906 to open the dressmaking business ’Armide’, find out more here: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/armi... #womenshistory #gracepinder #edwardianstyle #armide #historyofdress

Two of our most popular Ballets Russes costumes are out on loan, the ‘Adolescent’ from ‘Scheherazade’ and the Mazurka costume from ‘Sleeping Princess’. See them displayed in the enchanting exhibition ‘The Triumph of Neptune’ #renishawhall presented by #pollockstoymuseum ! #balletsrusses #leonbakst

There are many lovely details to this c1913 Liberty dress. The soft belt fastened with a stylised silk rose, the scrolling embroidery at the hips & chiffon infill at the neck all lend it a calming quality. It just needs a fragrant cup of tea @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Shawl & stole, Liberty & Co., late 1920s-early 1930s. The design is ‘Hera and Honesty’ also known as ‘Peacock and Honesty’, registered in 1926. @jbrightcollection.bsky.social

It’s bonnet season! Gable bonnet, c1883, straw trimmed with silk, silk ribbon & lace. Via @jbrightcollection.bsky.social

Celebrating #worldtheatreday! Appreciated as artworks in their own right, Léon Bakst's costume designs for the 1910 ballet Schéhérazade were published in various formats at the time. The drawing for our costume featured in this page from Comœdia Illustré of June 15th 1910 @gallicabnf.bsky.social

Crisp white piqué with contrasting soutache work- how could this not be a 1860s favourite for summer outdoor wear, particularly by the sea? The border of our dress and that on the illustration from 1862 AllgemeineModenZeitung combine abstract borders reminiscent of Greek meanders and floral designs.

It was clever of the dressmaker responsible for this early #1850s ensemble to choose green silk fringe as a trim. The shot silk, a warp and weft of different colours, shimmers between green and purple with some hazy shape shifting, @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Join us for a study session with some of our collection’s original extant garments that inspired costumes shown in our exhibition ‚Costume Couture’ at the Fashion and Textile Museum: fashiontextilemuseum.org/workshops/cl...

Belated Happy 250th Birthday to a lady who thankfully has created an abundance of jobs and opportunities for costume professionals like us and delights with wit and sharp observations of human folly to this day-Jane Austen! We could easily picture our dress from circa 1800 on one of her heroines!

🎁 Or perhaps a pair of classy 1960s leather gloves 🎁 @jbrightcollection.bsky.social ?

Day 9 of my Edwardian #AdventCalendar is this elegant embroidered silk dress. Dating to c. 1908, it was made by Madame Alice Manton Patrick who clearly took inspiration from the styles being produced by the Liberty department store. @jbrightcollection.bsky.social collection. #fashionhistory

It is difficult to put precise dates on #Victorian menswear. In this case, the misfortune of Ord&Purvis, the manufacturers of our tailcoat, is our luck: They opened in 1872 but declared bankruptcy in 1874. Images from 1872 ‘The Gentleman’s Magazine‘ illustrate that the cut is indeed typical.

Waistcoat, wool backed & lined in silk twill, c1890. Via @jbrightcollection.bsky.social more here: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/wais...

This #1890s tea gown comes with options. Worn loose it has the relaxed fit often a part of the ‘at home’ gown it was designed to be but there is also a more fitted choice, fastening the open robe at the waist. I’ll go for the looser version thanks @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

This tailored dolman dating to the late #1880s made by Belgravia tailor Hulbert Beach. Careful pattern arrangement ensures the paisley motifs are symmetrical. I love the deep pleats at the back which must have rippled to reveal the pattern within @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Our historic collection team has interrupted its usual work to help mount star pieces for ‘Costume Couture -Sixty Years of Cosprop’ at the Fashion and Textile Museum’ #costumecouture #fashionandtextilemuseum #costumemounting #filmcostume #fashionexhibition #costumeexhibition #costumedesign

Available now! ‘The Costume House: The Inside Story of Cosprop - From A Room With A View to Game of Thrones’ takes you inside one of the world’s most revered costume suppliers and creators. @jbrightcollection.bsky.social

I spent a long time thinking about #1840s fashion when I was writing The Dress Diary & I miss it! It is a transitional decade but the fabric techniques were amazing. This is a warp printed silk creating blurry florals bordered by silk fringe @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

I rarely post historic menswear but I just came across this fine 1835-45 silk waistcoat @jbrightcollection.bsky.social & well, how could I resist?🌹 Read about it here: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/wais...

Dress, cotton trimmed with cotton braid, c1869-70. Read its story here @jbrightcollection.bsky.social: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/dress/