A mannequin posed in the style of an 1820s archery, wearing a long white full sleeved cotton dress with a braid trimmed wool vest over the top. There is a white ruff at the neck and she wears a cream bonnet. She is holding a bow

This girl is not to be trifled with. She has a keen eye, a strong bow and a quiver of arrows so beware the disrespectful suitor or the port soaked, condescending gentleman. She will have you in her sights. #1820s archery ensemble #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A green satin structured sleeveless evening dress with contoured fitted bodice and a high low hem

Few words this evening, my brain won’t quite compute after much teaching and driving so something soothing for weary heads, some #1960s structural Balenciaga #FIDMMuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A mannequin posed in the act of balancing on ice skates. She is wearing a bright mustard coloured knitted jacket with colourful bands, a cream scarf and gloves with a pale blue and cream knitted hat. Her skirt is of dark green wool

Shared recently by #FIDMMuseum this is about how I feel right now. We rarely get much snow in the South West of England but it is icy outside. With my new hip installed I find I am extra cautious which is why I am looking out at it from the comfort of home! #1910s ensemble #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

She has triumphed for the last three consecutive years and she knows that all eyes are on her as the person to beat. She crouches low and prepares to fly, #1880s #fidmmuseum 2/2

and suggests a land based skate instead. She practises a spin, fan held aloft, ready for the ‘most elegant pirouette with accessory’ element of the competition. #1890s ensemble #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡 2/2

Then she balances his favourite watch on the tee, plants her feet solidly and with a thwack sends it soaring into a hundred sparkling pieces. Golf ensemble #1890s #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Having spent the summer bowling around the village in Pa’s new motor, now she is surprising brother dear with her driving prowess. He is going to be shocked and amazed at her speed on the corners. 1910s motoring ensemble #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡 2/2

The travel agent’s window is bright with sun soaked tourists and striped bathing costumes. Thoughts of train sets and cranberry sauce drift away as she dreamily pushes open the door. Raincoat, 1950s 2/2 #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

An unusual exhibit of fashion showing a mannequin in the act of falling over wearing an 1810s ice skating ensemble. It consists of a cream pelisse and a brown velvet bonnet

It is almost that time of year again, the annual fashion history advent calendar looms & this year I shall use each day to tell a different imaginary story. Last year this #1810s skater provided the perfect tableau for a tale. Keep your eyes peeled! #FIDMMuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

An action filled photograph of a mannequin posed in an1870s winter ice skating ensemble consisting of layered skirts, a blue wide sleeved mantle with a shawl and warm hat/scarf tied at the neck

Skimming across the ice #1870s style did not have to be a dull affair. Imagine this absolute cluster of colour whizzing by, on some frozen lake past. Movement was absolutely possible too, just check out YouTube for the proof via various makers #FIDMMuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Front view of a full skirted strapless ballgown with jagged metallic motifs either side of centre front

Back view of the full skirted strapless pink ballgown with exposed back and matching metallic motifs

The pink silk of this #1950s strapless gown is softened with a white net overlayer, embellished with ferny motifs of silver spangles. It blurs the outline for a mirage effect #FIDMMuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Three quarter view of a bright orange velvet jacket which has a deep padded shawl collar, long sleeves that are full at the wrist and decorative stitching

Back view of the orange velvet jacket that shows the drape of the deep padded collar at the back, the scooped hem and full bottomed sleeves

Remaining on the theme of appropriate autumnal coats, this is a #1930s velvet number bringing all the aesthetics of a luxury pumpkin to the party. A coat padded collar and bottom covering hem for cosiness #FIDMMuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A matching floral cycling ensemble consisting of bright jacket, breeches, gaiters and pink blouse. It has a black tie and black straw boater hat

Autumn landscapes call for cycling with abandon through least lanes. Love this glorious ensemble. No it’s not Lycra, yes it is unusual, yes maybe a corset, no it isn’t what we would choose but I love its exuberance! I hope she spun down hills at top speed. Mid #1890s #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

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 🗃️🪡

A side by side photograph of a mannequin dressed in an 1890s ensemble. It is bright red with black detailing on the bodice, sleeves and hem. She is wearing a black hat and gloves

This is an ensemble that I love because it is just so unflinchingly bold. As if the mid #1890s didn’t have enough going on with the proportion of its sleeves, this gal decided to go all out in scarlet as well #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A royal blue long sleeved jacket covered entirely with gold embroidery in a scrolling design and with red and blue beads

Just something subtle and understated to shrug on if the evening cools. This encrustation of a jacket was designed by Travis Banton and Howard Greer for Marlene Dietrich c1936, to accompany a smouldering stare no doubt #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Front view of a knee length short sleeved dress. It has gathers around the bodice and sleeves with some self coloured buttons and a small standing collar

This is a garment I have shared often for its neat little details but also because it reminds me of my grandmother’s wedding dress. She told me it was blue (it was a wartime wedding) and I picture her when I see this from 1939 #fidmmuseum #FashipnHistory 🗃️🪡

A short sleeved red cotton dress with full skirt. It has a printed motif in a fifties style and a shawl style scarf collar that tucks into a wide black leather belt. A narrower strip of leather form the buckle that fastens it

Beautiful mid century print helps to date this Claire McCardell dress to the early #1950s. Its shawl style scarf tucks into the broad black belt, cinched in with a narrow buckle #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A picture of a mannequin wearing a blue halter neck swimsuit covered in sequins alongside a photograph of me swimming in the sea!

I managed to swim in the sea! Five days before my hip replacement my goal this weekend was to make it into the big blue, not in a sequinned mid #1950s Catalina bathing costume but I felt sparkly all the same #fidmmuseum

A mannequin styled in an 1890s gown with long skirt and bodice with full leg of mutton sleeves. The dress is red with a cream floral repeat and there are cream stripes across the bodice and around the hem. She is wearing a boater style hat with a black face veil

This season is all about clashing patterns but obviously there is nothing new and the #1890s offers a masterclass in the art of the mix and match. Small printed florals are overlaid with a striped trim here. As ever, the late 19th century was anything but dull #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A mannequin wearing a full sleeved floral cotton dress with a blue and white check apron. She is wearing a straw bonnet and carrying a trug full of flowers

The meditative back and forth of a lone tractor grass cutting back and forth in the fields opposite is drifting in through my window this morning. It put me in mind of this #1830s gardening ensemble, summer blooms already snipped into the basket #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A yellow silk satin corset with steel fastening busk and white lace trim top and bottom

This is technology at its most fashionable in a c1900 corset. The split busk, the steam moulded body and the machine made lace made this a marvel of the modern world and of the fast paced industry behind it, a mass produced item made by the million #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A mannequin wearing a white two piece costume consisting of full sleeved bodice and long skirt with a polka dot pattern. She is wearing a straw hat and short black gloves

I’ll be honest, I am not a summer kinda gal. I love blue skies and lush greenery but I tend to admire it from somewhere shady. I do like this mid #1890s picnic ensemble though, complete with polka dots, floral belt, jaunty hat and a natty little case #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A side by side image of a mannequin wearing a dark brown long tunic with matching under trousers trimmed with a red stripe around the edges. The other image shows a similar bathing costume in a black and white lithograph from an 1870s magazine

The evolution of the bathing costume is one of the most dramatic changes in fashion over the course of a century. An #1870s bathing costume seems far removed many swimsuits today but have a style all of their own #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Front and back view of a lime green dress with different layers of beadwork and embroidery with a fishtail style train

Stunning citrus silk that layers silk with beads with embroidery in a draped dress that dates to c1912. It was designed by Gustave Beer, a German couturier who, by 1905, had established a Parisian presence #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A side by side image of a mannequin dressed in 1970s garments including denim hot pants, roller boots and a knit halter neck top alongside a fashion drawing of two women wearing sunglasses and wearing seventies style dresses

We have made it to the #1970s in the first year fashion history survey course and so tomorrow we will be looking at creatives including Antonio Lopez who captured the era so beautifully in his drawings, seen alongside a roller disco queen #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Back view of a black wool coat with full sleeves and drape over the hips. Black soutache braid applied in symmetrical pattern across the back

How about this for a bit of high Victorian drama? The black wool jacket features the braid sleeves of the #1890s, a haughty Medici collar and some swirling soutache braid #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory

An ice skating ensemble consisting of a short red skirt trimmed with white, a pale blue knitted jumper with a red and white skirt pattern, a check cap and red gloves

A grey daschund wearing an orange jumper sits in the snow

Vincent Van Dog is quite the poseur in his neons, working beautifully with his grey fur. Dartmoor enjoyed a bit of an arctic flurry today so a #1930s ice skating ensemble fits the wintry landscape #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Front and back view of a bright red dress, full leg of mutton sleeves trimmed with black tulle around the bodice, sleeves and skirt hem

Bodice detail of the bright red dress showing a ruffle of black tulle centre front and bands of black around the sleeves

Time for a favourite with this mid #1890s ensemble. This is a lady who brooks no nonsense, and marches forth with her head high and a glint in her eye, everyone else pales into shades of grey in her scarlet wake #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A sheer tulle ensemble decorated with sequin fireworks and a high collar

It’s NYE sofa style for us tonight but how about this fantasy fireworks ensemble to usher in the New Year? Thank you for your company here in 2024, here’s to whatever 2025 has in store. Halston, 1980 #fidmmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡