Discover changing silhouettes and key fashion developments across 100 years of British and French womenswear: from a Victorian wedding dress inspired by Indian textile motifs, to an Edwardian lace day dress, and a 1930s silk evening gown designed by Charles James. Assistant Curator Claire AllenJohnstone unpicks the fascinating details of these different garments, revealing how fashions can be cyclical, often referencing the past, but with a modern twist.

00:30 Revealing the Victorian dress
01:44 Construction and key details
02:40 What is Paisley?
04:11 Queen Victoria’s wedding dress
05:07 Revealing the Edwardian dress
05:49 The ’s’bend silhouette
07:47 Construction and lace details
07:50 Signs of alterations and damage
09:07 Revealing the 1930s dress
09:32 Who was Charles James?
10:40 Historical references
11:40 Modern details
12:33 Materials: silk and plastic
13:19 Changing fashions over 100 years

Find out more in our fashion collection: https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fas...