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bows4crows.bsky.social
Alan 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈
@bows4crows.bsky.social
280 followers 410 following 850 posts
☠️ Future skeleton 🌘 Neurodivergent 🧘‍♂️ Yoga teacher 🧪 Neuroscientist 🌱 Vegetarian 🦤 He/him/they/them 🕹️ FGC 💃 Fashion
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bows4crows.bsky.social
Image from a computer game of a character resembling a block of Tofu, who is crying. There is a separate image of a stretch of pavement and some metal fencing. The words "Tofu versus slightly crooked footpath" appear.
December 4, 2025 at 1:14 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Ball gown, London, 1870s

This is a hell of a dress!
The designer, Madame Elise (Elizabeth Jaeger) did designs for the Princess of Wales, and when she stopped dressmaking she wrote books and articles on fashion/textiles. Her stuff is pure awesome.

#fashionsky #fashionhistory #TheMet #dresshistory
Museum photo of a silk ball gown in black and red. It is highly detailed and the overall impression is of a flamenco style (though it is much too big for that). The bodice is high and narrow waisted. A black underlayer, with a broad red strip of silk coming from each shoulder to the centre of the chest. It is accented with a red fabric rose in the centre, and with white lace trim at the neckline (which is a shallow curve from shoulder to shoulder). The top is sleeveless. The skirt contains many ruffles in the mid section, and multiple frill layers at the hem. It is predominantly black, with a broad red strip sweeping in a curve from the base of each hip to the other, and further strips of red below this. It is accented on the right side with more fabric roses.
December 4, 2025 at 11:39 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Fancy dress costume, House of Worth, France, 1870

This is an authentic Turkish woman's outfit, repurposed by the House of Worth for fancy dress. The trousers are original, but the bodice was completely altered into the current form-fitting style.

#fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet #fashionsky
Museum photo of a fancy dress costume. The trousers are extremely wide, loose harem trousers, in a pale blue silk. The bodice is a tight v-shape, typical of the period, tapering to the waist. However, the neckline is fairly low (also v-cut), and it it sleeveless. There is highly detailed gold embroidery over the whole of the cream-coloured bodice.
December 1, 2025 at 4:31 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Additional images.
2/2
Image 2. A period photo of a woman wearing the dress from the linked bluesky post, image 1. She is shot from the rear right side. The photo is black and white, so the dress appears pure white, but the lace detailing are very visible. The trail can be clearly seen here, extending about two foot behind her. Image 3. Close up of the lace from the dress in the other two images. we can see need bunched floral details, fronds, leaves, and berries. All done in the same gold cotton.
November 28, 2025 at 2:53 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Wedding dress, Ireland, 1870

I didn't expect to find Irish stuff! And its definitely not what my ancestors were wearing out in Roscommon, but it is seriously beautiful. An incredible, delicate design that also looks completely modern.

#Fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet
1/2
Image 1 A museum photo of a wedding dress. It is a floor length gown, or rather, the outer layer of a gown. It is made of fine, mostly transparent gold lace. There are numerous larger floral and leaf details throughout. It has a small trail, elbow length sleeves, and a narrow v-shaped collar. It is a loose fit both on the bodice and skirt.
November 28, 2025 at 2:53 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Ball gown, Emile Pingat, Paris, 1864

Another #Pingat, and this one is something else.
Would you be able to sit down, go to the loo or do handstands? No.
Would you look better than everyone else in the room? Yes.
Love it.

#fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet
Image 1. Silk ball gown in a pale yellow. The neckline is broad and low, sweeping shoulder to shoulder in a shallow curve. The gown is sleeveless. The bodice is v-shaped, with a narrow waist. There is a pleated section of fabric over the bust, fringed with dark gold trim and pale yellow feathery details. The skirt is enormous - extending very wide to the sides and rear. It is also fringed with dark gold at the hem. An interesting detail is two pennants (I have no other word for it), that hang from each hip down the front left and right of the skirt. They extend from a point at the hip to finish in a foot-wide curve, fringed with dark gold tassels. Image 2. View from the right rear of the same dress in image 1. Shows the scale of the skirt - extending about 4 foot to the rear. The rear of the skirt has three of the pennant details, in the middle, left and right.
November 26, 2025 at 10:48 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Coat, 1860-96, Emile Pingat, Paris

I'm not a fan of this style, but my kid loves it and its very impressive, so here we are.
Pingat was a really big deal - but I don't think he had a successor and so he's seems to have been forgotten.

#fashionsky #dresshistory #fashionhistory #TheMet #MaisonPingat
Image 1. A museum photo of a black silk coat. It has a very gothic look. The neckline is high, with a higher flat collar around the back and sides of the neck. There is a black bow at the throat, and black lace hanging from this point down the front. The shoulders are slightly puffed, and the sleeves are full fabric for about two thirds of the length, before transitioning into a lace layer. The hem at the bottom of the coat is complex. The solid fabric layer ends at mid-hip level, and below this there are two alternating strips of lace and solid fabric, to about the upper thigh. Further lace hangs below this point, to about mid-calf height. Image 2. Side view of the coat from image 1. This shows that the back of the coat has structural support to allow it to expand out from the lower back to the hips - presumably to accommodate the large skirts of the day.
November 22, 2025 at 3:47 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Peignoir, American, 1860

I had to look up what a peignoir is to be honest. But this is gorgeous. Imagine being so fancy that this is your dressing gown? I wonder what the rest of her wardrobe looked like...

#fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet
Museum photo of a peignoir - a type of dressing gown. It has the form of a full length, long sleeved dress (in pale yellow, with red/brown detailing). The neckline is high with a patterned alice collar. The form of the dress is loose, cinched in by a belt at the waist, and flaring out into a conical shaped skirt. There are fabric covered red buttons the whole way down the dress, from collar to hem. Key visual feature is two broad strips of patterned red and yellow fabric (about four inches wide) that go from each shoulder to the centre of hte waist, then out again from that point to a mid-point on the right and left side of the skirt.
November 19, 2025 at 7:01 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Cotton dress, European, 1860

I'm London-bound today, so perhaps I should wear something nice like this for the occasion. Not quite sure I'd fit through the door of the train carriage though.

Main takeaway from this dress - extremely cute buttons.

#fashionsky #dresshistory #fashionhistory #TheMet
Museum photo of a full-length cotton dress in a pale green. The fabric has a subtle, repeating, irregular line pattern in black. The neckline is circular and tight on the base of the neck, with a double frilly collar. The bodice has fabric covered buttons down the front, and full length sleeves with very broad openings (and a double layer of frill like the collar). The skirt is quite expansive - more conical than bell shaped. It has four layers, and four separate hems, the cascade over each other from about knee height to the floor.
November 18, 2025 at 11:16 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
I've been in the NHS for less than ten years, and am now entering my third major government-mandated reorganisation.

Do you know which health service has not changed at all in that time? The playmobil hospital. They know what they're doing, and they're not even real.
A photo of a playmobil hospital set. The hospital is open on the near side so you can see various activities within - a small baby unit, a toilet, an operating theatre, and reception area.
November 18, 2025 at 10:30 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Ball gown, 1860, 'probably American'

I really love how museums stage historic fashion. This one is great - the bows at her wrists; the matching headpiece; the casually held fan.
Its a lovely effect and really draws out the character of the dress.

#fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet
Museum photo of a mannequin wearing a full length ball gown. It is in a paisley blue, made of silk and cotton. The view is slightly to the left side. The gown has a narrow bodice, with a broad rounded neckline exposing both shoulders. Two layers of fabric and lace hang from the neckline, following its curve, occluding the top half of the bodice. The skirts expand out in a typical bell shape, to the floor. Sleeves are ver short, with blue silk frills.
November 13, 2025 at 4:39 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Wedding dress, American, 1859

Time for something nice. Another wedding dress today, in beautiful golden silk. The style is typical of the time, but I really love the detail of lace and fringing on the sleeves & bodice - gives a wonderful delicacy.

#fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet
Museum photo of a golden silk wedding dress. The skirt is very full and bell-shaped, flowing out from the top of the hips to the floor, with quite satisfying large folds. The bodice is narrow at the waist, creating a v-shaped impression. There are several softly v-shaped layers of fabric on top of this, creating a rippled effect of fabric down the bodice. The lower two are hemmed with lace, as are the short sleeves.
November 12, 2025 at 10:02 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Wedding dress, American, 1858

This is really beautiful, and also quite modern, in a way? The colour is really quite special (I don't know colours so someone tell me what it is...). Lovely lace detailing on the sleeves too.

#fashionsky #dresshistory #fashionhistory #TheMet
Image 1. A museum photo of a wedding dress. It is made of silk, and coloured ivory/cream (I'm not sure). The bodice is tight and tapered to the waist. The neckline is a broad scoop, exposing both shoulders. There is a double skirt - the outer layer going to below the knees, and the inner layer to the floor. The skirts themselves are the typical bell-shape of the period, expanding out from the hips quite dramatically. Image 2. Close up of the sleeve of the dress in Image 1. The sleeve is very short, flaring out slightly from the shoulder, and has several inches of lace extending from the hem to about the mid-upper arm.
November 10, 2025 at 8:50 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Well this is shaping up to be a great reading 😐💩💀
#tarot #tarotsky
A photo of two Tarot cards. On the left is the Death card, reversed. A figure in black is on a white horse carrying a black flag. A queen lies dead at her feet. An old woman stands patiently. A young woman looks away in fear. A child looks on curiously. On the right is The Tower. A tall tower is struck by Lightning and is in fire. One figure is falling from a window. A second is impaled on rocks below.
November 7, 2025 at 8:34 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Afternoon dress, American, 1855

Once again, does this 170 year old dress not scream Vivienne Westwood? "The Wheel of Time turns..."

The pattern is gorgeous, and the lack of embellishment on the dress really lets it shine. What a lovely thing.

#fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet
Museum photo of a full-length, silk afternoon dress. The skirt forms a bell-shaped silhouette, with a tapered bodice typical of this period. The sleeves flare out at the wrist, with openings of at least 6 to 8 inches. The outstanding feature of the dress is the fabric - a blue, orange and white plaid pattern. There are also large, black, fabric-covered buttons down the front of the bodice, and horizontal strips of the same black material at the upper arm and just above the wrist.
November 5, 2025 at 2:59 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Dress, European, 1853

The skirt is really striking - the rippled layering really adds to the volume. The fabric itself looks really delicate and has a beautiful floral pattern - almost like the light fabric you would see on a fan.

#fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet
Museum photo of a dress in silk and wool. The bodice is tapered with clear folds on the right and left of the front, creating a v-shape front. Both the sleeves and the skirt have a rippled effect. That is, there are successive layers of fabric, hanging over each other in broad horizontal layers. The fabric itself looks delicate. It is pale coloured, with a repeating floral pattern, edged in a dark blue trim.
November 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
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Child's dress, American, 1850

The use of two different fabrics is really striking here. Whether deliberate or done due to scarcity, it looks really great. And I love the detailing on the open sleeves. A really cute dress for a child.

#Fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet
Museum photo of a child's dress, in shades of yellow and cream, with red detailing. It looks like it'd fit a girl of age 7-10 or so. The waist is neatly delineated by a horizontal strip (about an inch high), with vertical folds in the bodice that seem typical of the period. It has a circle neck, and a flared skirt to mid-calf (at a guess). There are two really interesting features. The bodice and part of the front of the dress are made in a more muted fabric - darker yellow, with a floral pattern. The rest of the skirt is in a lighter yellow, with detailing of red ovals and plain circles. The effect is like that of an apron, but its one garment. The second interesting aspect is the sleeves. These are very short, with a neat cuff trimmed in bright red. However, the puffed sleeve above the cuff is actually open in several places.
October 31, 2025 at 4:28 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Making an effort to finally learn Virtua Fighter, with the launch of the updated version of VF5 yesterday. One really neat touch is that the main menu automatically plays replays from other players that you can watch right there. Really cool feature!

#virtuafighter #virtuafighter5
Screenshot of the main menu of Virtua Fighter 5: World Tour. It shows a number of options such as ranked match, training, arcade, etc. About a third of the screen is occupied by a replay of a match between two online players.
October 31, 2025 at 8:07 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Child's dress, American, 1850

Today I learned this style would have been worn by boys or girls, so that's really cool. Its such a cute little dress, and I'd guess from the proportions that its for very young kids. I welcome any better informed opinions!

#fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory
Museum photo of a childs dress. Its made in printed blue wool and skil. The bodice is relatively straight cut with small vertical folds in the front, and two horizontal strips of very detailed gold embroidery around the waist. The skirt flares out quite wide, with a further gold strip halfway down. Its difficult to tell the length of the skirt from this photo. Sleeves are very short with a big puff, and are capped at the upper arm with further embroidery.
October 30, 2025 at 3:46 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Mourning dress, American, 1848

I'm back to work after a month off, so a mourning dress seems apt. And what a beautiful one it is. The pattern reminds me of some moths' colouration (can't recall which ones). Anyway, I love everything about this.

#dresshistory #fashionhistory #fashionsky #TheMet
Image 1. A museum photo of a black silk mourning dress, with a pale cream pinstripe. It is a full length dress. The skirt flares out from the hips, and has soft folds folds throughout. The bodice is somewhat v-shaped, tight at the waist. The shoulders are bare, with a very broad open neckline. Sleeves are short, to the upper bicep, and flaring out from the shoulders a couple of inches. The mannequin also wears lace fingerless gloves, to the mid-forearm. Image 2. Close-up photo of the fabric from image 1. Showing the matt black silk and cream pin-stripe.
October 28, 2025 at 8:58 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Week 20 of watching #HollyHobbie one minute at a time.

The cafe open night is going well so far. Some witty banter was had between Holly and her bestie Amy. And Pipers really bad poem was well received by the crowd.

##hollyhobbiewatchalong
Photo of holly hobbie from the tv show, Holly hobbie.
October 26, 2025 at 10:08 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Infant's dress in 'albatross' wool & cotton, American, 1845

Isn't this an incredibly well made dress for an infant? Check out the lovely detail in the frill work at the sleeves, the piping around the collar, and the gathering at the front of the bodice.

#dresshistory #fashionsky #fashionhistory
A museum photograph of an infant's dress. It is in pale yellow throughout. The waist line is defined by a solid horizontal band around the dress. The skirt spills out to all sides from this band, in nice folds. The top is short sleeved, with frills at the sleeve ends, and a strong gather in the front of the bodice.
October 24, 2025 at 5:06 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Silk evening dress, American or European, 1842

Very tired, so not much to say. Initially unsure about this one - there's too much going on in the top, maybe? But the close up of the fabric really shows off some beautiful detail here.

#fashionsky #fashionhistory #dresshistory #TheMet
Picture 1. Mannequin wearing a full length evening dress. The base fabric is a gold/brass coloured silk, with red floral detailing on top this over the whole dress. The top has a tight bodice, tapering sharply to a point at the lower abdomen. From the shoulders, an additional layer of pleated fabric sweeps to the centreline at the front, in multiple layers (hard to describe). The sleeves are short, to mid upper arm, with red hems and black lace over the top. The skirt is clearly structurally supported beneath, extending wide from the hips and to the rear. Image 2. Close up of the fabric from image 1. The base is gold, with red threading in parallel lines across the whole thing. Unsure how to describe it. On top of this is red floral embroidery (I think).
October 20, 2025 at 10:49 PM
bows4crows.bsky.social
Silk dinner dress, American, 1841

This is really interesting, right? The shape of the skirt seems fairly typical, but the top is unusual. Short sleeves, tapered fit, high collar - make it look severe, but also youthful. Lovely detailing down the front too.

#fashionsky #dresshistory #fashionhistory
A mannequin in a golden silk dinner dress. The skirts flow subtly outwards from the hips, likely with some support beneath. The top is tapered to the waist, with a high, circular collar. It has short sleeves (to mid-bicep) and beautiful detailing down the front (pictured separately). Close up of the detailing on the front of the top in the first picture. Fan shaped details have been sewn onto the midline of the top, running all the way from neck to waist. Each is about an inch high.
October 19, 2025 at 9:20 AM
bows4crows.bsky.social
The only Kings anyone needs
Picture of the character known as King, from Tekken 8. He is a very muscular man in wrestling tights and boots with a long billowing cloak. Notably, he is wearing a realistic jaguar full-head mask. Picture of the character known as King, from King of Fighters 98. She is shown halfway through doing a high side kick. She wears scarlet slacks, a white dress shirt and black bow tie, and a short white dress jacket with scarlet detailing. She has very short blonde hair.
October 19, 2025 at 8:13 AM