Back view of a bright blue brocade fitted bodice with multicoloured floral repeat. It has shaped elbow length sleeves and a peplum style hem

Side view detail of the blue brocade bodice that focuses on the shape of the sleeve and the fit of the body

A detail of the blue brocade silk fabric used for the 1750s bodice that shows the supplementary weft floral design

The retention of vivid hues allows a window into the wearing of a garment that has survived more than 250 years. The #1750s caraco brocade bodice demonstrates the beauty of a supplementary weft allowing the flowers to float above the blue. Sold via #AugustaAuctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Ooh, slayin’ the weekend vibes with that 1940s gold satin gown—sparkly gem shoulders and all! 😎 Pair it with a shoulder cape, glittery heels, and a bold lip, and you’re ready to turn heads. #FashionHistory

What’s the occasion you’d rock this stunner for? #augustaauctions

Side by side of a long sleeveless gold satin evening dress showing a detail of the back with small buttons. It has jewelled shoulder clips

A detail of the gold satin dress strap with the emerald and diamond coloured jewelled clips

It’s Friday, it’s the weekend, so why not sashay away in some gold satin whose shoulders are trimmed with a little sparkle of gems. The c1940 evening gown just needs a shoulder cape, a glittery heel and a bright lip. Sold via #augustaauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A photograph of a mannequin wearing a bright purple long silk gown with lace insert at the neck. It has a pixelated pattern of stylised flowers in pale purple a detail of which is shown

Wrap your eyeballs around this ever so demure #1890s silk, not only the colour of the dress but the pixelated stylised florals that decorate the fabric. Is it purple enough though? #augustaauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A mannequin wearing a red wool bathing suit with cream stripes across the bust and stomach

Wool may not have performed too well in the water as a bathing suit but this #1930s example would have looked perfectly chic lounging poolside at an art deco lido. Sold via #augustaauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Back view of a long strappy blue sequinned dress with a trained hem. The shoulder straps are covered with blue beads

Not all sequins are round. The blue silk of this #1930s evening dress is covered with electric blue floret shaped spangles for a sparkling bouquet of a dress #augustaauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Side view of a beige round necked bodice with heavily ruched sleeves that are trimmed with purple velvet ribbon

Side view of the whole crinoline style beige dress with ruched sleeves and purple ribbon trim

I suspect this is not to everyone’s taste but there is something cheerfully bold about the construction choices here. Beige barège, a silk wool blend, is brightened with the liberal application of violet velvet ribbon for plenty of #1860s sleeve drama. Sold via #augustaauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Bodice detail of a grey satin dress featuring smocking and ruching across sleeve and bodice

A page of the dress diary showing colourful fabric swatches with handwritten notes

Book cover of the dress diary with silhouette of an 1840s lady against fabric swatches

I am looking forward to my guest lecture #nyulondon this afternoon, talking about Anne Sykes and her dress diary, thinking about personal histories of dress and fragmented objects. Here an #1840s dress of the sort Anne may well have worn #augustaauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Full length bright blue evening dress with ribbon lacing at the bodice and gauzy puffs at sleeve and hem

Close up of the bright blue fabric showing the coral like pattern

The entirety of this cobalt blue #1820s evening dress features a discreet coral-like pattern, a repeat that is revealed in a shaft of light or a turn of the body. Discoveries in the natural world during the early #c19th prompted these organic motifs. Sold via #augustaauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Side by side blue velvet skirt suit with gold tassels acting as fasteners centre front. There is a matching hat and belt

Perfect for winter outings, a stroll about town perhaps or tea in a cosy café, this is a crushed velvet natty #1940s number comprising a skirt and tasselled jacket as well as matching hat perched on perfectly waved coiffure #augustaauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A short sleeveless pale blue dress with short crinoline style skirt and a beaded bodice

Victor Stiebel’s career followed a broad spectrum, from designing the uniform for the Women’s Royal Naval Service in 1951 to Princess Margaret’s going away outfit. This is a c1960 pale blue silk cloqué with encrusted bodice #augustaauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Front and back view of an electric blue silk dress with slightly high waist and short puff sleeves with a matching pink-edged stole

Bodice detail of the electric blue silk dress showing signs of alterations on the fabric

Historic dress can be an unreliable narrator of its own story & it takes the quest of looking to follow traces of its past. This dress was originally made in the 1830s, its silhouette testament to origins but stitch lines & shapes offer the mark of later, 1850s, alterations #augustaauctions 🗃️🪡