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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

A wearable marigold of bright chiffon petals. A matching scarf. A layered bodice. It is Traina Norell and dates to the late #1940s which is somehow surprising, I would have guessed later, but gorgeous nonetheless #museumatfit #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A yellow chiffon dress of many layers with jagged petal like hems. It is sleeveless with a wrapped bodice and has a matching scarf

October 25, 2025 at 9:38 PM Everybody can reply

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

Weekends made for tea gowns and this is a dusky rose confection of pleats and ribbons, wide sleeves and ruffles. Some quiet at home time much needed after exhibition installation this week. Mid #1890s #AugustaAuction #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Full length view of the back of a dark pink tea gown showing the extent of the pleats centre back, the ribbon trim and the wide leg of mutton sleeves

Sleeve detail of the dark pink tea gown that shows the appliqué ribbon and bows at the cuff

Front view of the dark pink tea gown with a pink ribbon bow centre front of the bodice and the flowing pleats that gives it fullness

October 25, 2025 at 11:33 AM Everybody can reply

7 reposts 2 quotes 110 likes 3 saves

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

An evening dress that captures fashion in transition as it races towards the jazz age. Skirts are shortening, but there are echoes of the past in its aesthetic, the earlier 1900s still present in the sleeve arrangement & busy embellishment, c1918 #cincyartmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A mannequin posed as if dancing in a layered black and white evening dress. It has a wide black sash, short white draped sleeves and various metallic embellishments over the bodice

October 24, 2025 at 6:38 AM Everybody can reply

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Achronal Art

@achronalart.bsky.social

Going and looking at real historical portraits can be fascinating! I was not expecting this to be Mata Hari.

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#FashionHistory

Circa. 1916 painting of Mata Hari by the Netherlandish artist Isaac Israëls. It's in the modernist "ash can" style - a little bit impressionistic with loose paint brush strokes. The background is a plain white wall and a plain brown floor. Mata Hari is standing upright and dignified with elegantly posed feet in little black boots, wearing a high-necked long-sleeved ankle-length black coat with a flaring skirt. The coat is trimmed with black fur or plush or velvet trim on wide cuffs and hem and the high collar. She carries a big black muff which hides her hands and wears a little black hat with a black cockade or rose on the left front side.

The coat is probably held together with frog closures, but the painting style makes it a little difficult to determine.

October 23, 2025 at 7:36 PM Everybody can reply

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Achronal Art

@achronalart.bsky.social

I have found a German Renaissance dude who could pass for a modern goth.

Many details and information in the ALT text.

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#FashionHistory

1507 Portrait of Heinrich V, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1479-1552) nicknamed 'The Peaceful' but looking very Goth, unknown artist but attributed to Jacopo de' Barbari (Italian, active in Germany).

A half-length portrait of a pale young man with long curly reddish-brown hair, bangs and sideburns standing in front of a green velvet curtain, looking off to the side, clutching one lapel of his black jacket with a hand with one gold ring on the forefinger, a black gem in it.

His jacket is black with big black lapels, decorated with giant silver battle axes and grey chonks of tree trunks with silvery bark. He wears a thick gold choker necklace with a gold battle axe hanging from it. His hat is black and floppy , covered with silver studs and big silver balls on top. The whole rest of the hat has thick silver silk cord laced through and every stitch of cord has a silver finger-ring laced on to it. One ring is even hanging so it looks like he has a pierced eyebrow (He does not, but it *looks* like it). I think the hat also has a higher light grey brim but it is dim and hard to make out. It might be a ghost of something painted that he changed his mind about.

October 23, 2025 at 12:16 PM Everybody can reply

7 reposts 21 likes

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

The arrangement of the over skirt swooping around the tulle net of the crinoline of this late 1860s evening gown resembles an exotic bird mid flight, its wings captured in a freeze frame of ice blue silk over ruffled plumage #albanyinstitute #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Front view of a pale blue and white crinoline dress with open robe effect. The blue silk makes up the bodice an overskirt with a ruffled white tulle crinoline skirt. White silk bands trim the blue

Back view of the pale blue and white crinoline showing the dominance of the blue silk at the back

October 23, 2025 at 6:35 AM Everybody can reply

24 reposts 4 quotes 180 likes 4 saves

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

You need to be standing close to the wearer of this #1930s dress to appreciate the rich violet velvet. It has an interesting strap and sleeve arrangement with two little rhinestone clasps at each shoulder and another at the belt #goldsteinmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A side by side image of the front and back of a long purple velvet dress. It has shoulder straps that meet in a T shape centre back and two off the shoulder sleeves. There is a narrow self coloured belt. There are small rhinestone clasp at the shoulders and belt

Close up detail of the purple velvet and the rhinestone clasp at the belt

October 21, 2025 at 6:59 PM Everybody can reply

17 reposts 2 quotes 120 likes 3 saves

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

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 🗃️🪡

Three quarter view of a red paisley patterned wool dolman tailored with deep pleats, a fitted bag and broad sleeves

Front view of the red wool paisley patterned dolman showing the edge to edge pattern matching and the wide sleeves

Back view of the red wool paisley patterned dolman showing the position on f the pleats and the ship tailoring at the back of the bodice

October 21, 2025 at 9:43 AM Everybody can reply

17 reposts 120 likes 2 saves

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

Dior’s 1950 Debussy dress might have grown from the ocean floor, a crustacean of a dress covered in shell like embellishments and water droplet sequins. The gown for a mermaid stepping foot ashore to cast her spell on mere mortals #museumatFIT #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A detail of the bodice of a strapless evening dress covered all over with shaded purple sequins. It has a narrow purple silk belt

Full length view of the strapless purple Dior gown covered in purple sequins with a narrow purple belt

October 20, 2025 at 7:12 PM Everybody can reply

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

What lies beneath the silhouettes of the c19th is always fascinating, based on the main body garments that survive. The extremes of the #1830s are laid bare here in the structural layers consisting of chemise, corset, corded petticoats and sleeve puffs @lacma.org #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A mannequin showing the top half of some 1830s undergarments consisting of a white cotton chemise with a white corded corset and the top of the petticoats. It also has a pair of white, down filled sleeve puffs

A side by side photograph showing a mannequin wearing the 1830s undergarments alongside another mannequin wearing a white day dress of the same period complete with bonnet, purple sash and small reticule bag

October 20, 2025 at 8:34 AM Everybody can reply

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

We have some of the highest rainfall levels in the UK here on #Dartmoor in the South West. Waterproofs form a necessary and frequent part of the wardrobe, but they are nothing new. Here two #1860s gals braving the elements in proofed rain mantles. It’s only weather #FIDMMuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Two mannequins posed in long, broad crinoline style rain mantles. One is dark cream and the other is brown. Both fasten centre front. One holds a brown umbrella aloft

October 19, 2025 at 11:04 AM Everybody can reply

33 reposts 4 quotes 280 likes 11 saves

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

There have always been exceptions to expected fashion norms. This is a hand corded linen jacket that has a tailored fake waistcoat front but a robe à la française sacque back. Early 1780s, it was presumably a personal preference, evidence of the individual #KelvingroveArt #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

The back view of a mannequin wearing a white jacket and a blue quilted petticoat. The jacket has a wide Watteau pleat that fan out over the hips and elbow length sleeves

Front view of the white linen jacket and blue quilted petticoat the jacket has an open front with a faux waistcoat style bodice beneath and elbow length sleeves

October 18, 2025 at 11:07 AM Everybody can reply

23 reposts 1 quotes 170 likes 6 saves

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

Oof, pour me into a Fortuny ensemble and mix me a cocktail please. My long-ish work commute felt longer than usual today but anyway, home now and the weekend is upon us. Happy Friday to you all. Late #1920s #nasjonalmuseet #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Full length view of a green Fortuny ensemble consisting of a long pleated dress with a velvet coat worn over the top that has been hand stencilled in gold

October 17, 2025 at 6:11 PM Everybody can reply

23 reposts 2 quotes 270 likes 10 saves

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

Jean Dessès originally began to study law as a future career but in 1925 he abandoned the legal path and turned to fashion instead. Mid century design was all the richer for his decision, full of chiffon, pleats and epic drapery, #1950s @christiesinc.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

The front of a sleeveless yellow chiffon dress. It has a rolled draped neckline and a trellis work bodice that fans out into a full layered skirt

October 16, 2025 at 6:37 PM Everybody can reply

17 reposts 3 quotes 140 likes 2 saves

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

In 1999 I embarked on my MA thesis studying the dress of early women mountaineers. I spent the next 25 years hoping that this elusive object would turn up in a collection somewhere. A Burberry climbing gown. This dates to c1913. I have never found one yet….. #Burberry #research #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A black and white engraving of a woman climbing a rock face with arms outstretched and a rope around her waist. She is wearing a gabardine climbing gown made by Burberry with a matching hat

October 16, 2025 at 8:59 AM Everybody can reply

27 reposts 140 likes 6 saves

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

For leaf kicking autumn strolls this c1890 Worth dress has all of the ingredients of the season. Pumpkin coloured satin and smooth cut velvet panels with flurries of flowers dotted across the bodice and skirt @ngvmelbourne.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Front full length view of an orange satin and velvet dress with long sleeves and skirt. The velvet has floral motifs placed symmetrically across bodice and skirt. The satin skirt has bows placed in either side of each hip

October 15, 2025 at 11:00 AM Everybody can reply

23 reposts 3 quotes 230 likes 4 saves

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

I’m not sure of the exact terminology of what we are calling this but I am going with feathery peplum. Some early #1960s Givenchy whose skirt is demure and quiet whose bodice is having a proper party @metmuseum.org #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A side by side image that shows a sleeveless evening dress consisting of a long ivory satin skirt and a bodice decorated all over with pink beads, sequins and feathers

October 14, 2025 at 9:10 PM Everybody can reply

8 reposts 1 quotes 110 likes 2 saves

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

I grew up with Cicely Mary Barker’s flower fairies books and used to attempt to fashion wardrobes for wooden peg dolls out of leaves. This is a true wood nymph’s dress, c1918 Lucile, ethereal layers and embellishments @ntlmuseumsscot.bsky.social #kelvingroveartgallery #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Front full length view of a pale green silk sleeveless dress with a sheer gold overlay. It is embellished with ribbon work flowers and gold lace

A detail of the pale green dress showing the three dimensional ribbon work embellishments and gold lace

October 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM Everybody can reply

13 reposts 170 likes 3 saves

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Achronal Art

@achronalart.bsky.social

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#FashionHistory

October 13, 2025 at 8:55 PM Everybody can reply

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

This is an early Balmain, dating to 1948, a form fitting red wool dress that focuses on line rather than embellishment. Where Balmain’s later collections would feature exquisite embroidery and beadwork, this is a different approach altogether. I like it though #tuhuraotagomuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Three quarter view of a form fitting red wool dress with long sleeves and a turn down collar with three quarter button fastening. It has a high low hem

October 13, 2025 at 8:47 PM Everybody can reply

9 reposts 150 likes 3 saves

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

Muted shades in an #1840s ballgown recycled from 18th century silk brocade. The grey green silk sits quietly behind the brighter florals and foliage, fashioned into decorative bodice bows #KSUMuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Side view of the top half of an 1840s ballgown of grey green silk with multi coloured floral pattern. The bodice is decorated with silk bows and flounces with a pointed waistline

Fabric detail of the 1840s silk brocade dress showing the grey green background an colourful floral motif

October 13, 2025 at 9:44 AM Everybody can reply

11 reposts 85 likes

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

As if an encrusted silver dress was not already a lot, it has a scarlet satin coat with a matching silver lining. There is an occasion here of which I can only imagine. Late #1950s Arnold Scaasi @mfaboston.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A mannequin in a dramatic pose wearing a sleeveless silver embellished dress with a red bow over the right hip. It has a matching cot of red satin lined with the silver embellished fabric

October 12, 2025 at 9:03 PM Everybody can reply

31 reposts 6 quotes 210 likes 9 saves

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

If you were a woman in the #1890s trying to avoid other members of her household then a tea gown that blend in with the wallpaper might not be a bad idea. It is all bold voided velvet with a lace yoke in generous proportions, Jean-Philippe Worth @museumofcityny.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A mannequin wearing a purple voided velvet gown with broad skirt and big sleeves. It has a white lace yoke around the neck

Detail of the purple voided velvet gown highlighting the voided velvet pattern and the square of lace around the neck

October 12, 2025 at 12:27 PM Everybody can reply

12 reposts 110 likes 3 saves

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

This black gown with a swoop of gold lace at the hem is actually a nightgown, but honestly it seems to me a perfect night on the town kind of dress and far too glamorous to be kept indoors. Late #1930s @ngvmelbourne.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A mannequin posed in a long sleeveless silk robe with a high neck and ties fall centre back. The hem is trimmed with gold lace

October 11, 2025 at 9:18 PM Everybody can reply

21 reposts 1 quotes 230 likes 5 saves

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Kate Strasdin

@katestrasdin.bsky.social

Is it cake? Or is it an actual dress? The mid #1770s bringing confection to fashion with candy pinks, powder blues and minty greens. It even has little net bells tinkling around the hem, LACMA #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A view of the stomacher of a pale pastel shaded 18th century gown embellished with silk floss

A detail of the hem of the striped pastel 1770s dress that shows net and ribbon trimmed bells applied to the skirt

A full length view of the 1770s dress raised à la polonaise in pinks blues and greens

October 11, 2025 at 9:14 AM Everybody can reply

22 reposts 2 quotes 160 likes 3 saves

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