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 Allen-Johnstone 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10:40 Historical references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...