A close up of the bodice of a bright purple pleated silk jersey gown by Mme Grès. It has different shaped panels around the bust

Front and back view of the full length of the purple pleated silk jersey dress showing the V neck at the front and the cowl neck style drape at the back

Close up of the front of the bodice of the purple pleated dress showing a butterfly like shaping around the bust

Detail of the pleats that focuses on the arrangement of their shape and stitch and form

In a recognisable structure, this is a classic Mme Grès evening dress dating in this instance to the mid #1940s. The rich purple ripples from top to toe. Sold via #KerryTaylorAuctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Front and back view of an emerald green sleeveless dress with a fitted bodice and full skirt. It is decorated with small self coloured bows

Tied up with little bows in an emerald parcel, a late #1950s Balenciaga gown for a weekend celebration, just the hint of a bustle at the back. Sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A mannequin wearing a long silvery layered dress with metallic embellishments. It has a pair of gauzy sheer silk wings

A movie still showing Drew Barrymore wearing the silvery dress and wings in the 1998 film Ever After

This brings back fond memories. I remember helping to mount this dress on a mannequin for a summer exhibition c2000 along with various other wonderful movie costumes. A quarter of a century ago?! Worn by Drew Barrymore in Ever After, designed by Jenny Beavan #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A close up detail of the back of a yellow satin evening dress by Balenciaga. It focuses on the tightly fitted bodice, the gathers into the waistband and the broad loop of satin that falls down the centre back

Full length view of the back of the Balenciaga yellow dress showing the sculptural construction including the long loop centre back

All of the drama in a burst of yellow thanks to #Balenciaga. The early #1960s gown is constructed from the shiniest of duchesse satins tightly gathered at the waist in pleat after pleat and with a loop de loop of fabric between the shoulder blades. Sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

The full length view of a long sculptural strapless dress patterned with a shaded green malachite quartz style pattern. It has a matching neck scarf

A close up of the bodice of the green malachite style dress showing the swirls of the pattern across its surface

An even closer detail showing one of the quartz like motifs in shaded greens that covers the dress by Jacques Fath

The ribbed silk faille from Bianchini Ferier was the perfect fabric choice to realise Jacque Fath’s vision of his 1953 ‘Malachite’ dress, a geological marvel in dress form. Sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Back view of a grey blue striped silk jacket with long sleeves, folding lapels and a high collar. It has a triangular shawl like drape to the back and a short pleated peplum decorated with self covered round buttons. It is trimmed with a multi coloured silk frayed fringe

Another favourite style of mine and here a rarity of a survival, an early #1790s ribbed silk caraco jacket. It is short and might have been described, a little hysterically at the time, as mannish. It is brilliant and beautiful. Sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

length of the skirt that reveals the knee. PS. The pictures above were from #kerrytaylorauctions, which just sold a version of this dress in June for £7,150. #YSL #dior #Fashionhistory

A pale green evening dress of silk crepe with matching bolero. The dress is embellished with different beads and sequins with a vine effect embroidered and the bolero has a matching feather trim

Sea foam green laps around the throat, thanks to the feather trimmed bolero that sits over its matching dress. The crepe dress is encrusted with iridescence with glass beads and sequins all of a sparkle. Late #1960s by Douglas Darnell, sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A long green bias cut velvet dress with ruched sleeves and a soft V neck. It has a rhinestone clasp fixing the self coloured belt and a matching purse

Such is the sheen of bias cut velvet that it almost appears like silver glistening on the surface. The #1930s gown includes a rhinestone clasp fixing the belt and a matching purse. Sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

The front and back view of a long form fitting red velvet dress with a round neckline and ruching at the hip. It has long hanging sleeves that touch the floor. It was designed by Molyneux

Always a fan of a dramatic sleeve, this is a medievalesque statement in red velvet by the #1930s designer #Molyneux. It combines the form fitting drape of the period with these floor length sleeves, strictly not for dining but for posing imperiously #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A short sleeved emerald green dress with nipped in waist and two matching bows at either shoulder with a deep collar around the back of the neck

There is subtle texture to the shantung silk of this 1958 Dior cocktail dress. There is detail in the bows, the collar and the belt with the flicker of light catching on the weave of the fabric, sold via #kerrytaylorauctions

A short sleeved long electric blue dress with crossover style bodice that has two bands of scrolling floral appliqué silk cord in a paler blue

A fashion illustration dating to 1910 showing two women in blue dresses one of which is wearing a blue dress with a crossover bodice and large picture hat

The crossover front was a popular bodice treatment around 1910, to suggest a softer more fluid style of dress. This embroidered electric blue was purchased from Liberty of London for £4 4s by a Mrs Rolls. Sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A photograph of a short sleeved yellow dress gathered in pleats under the bust with a centre front panel of embellishment consisting of gold sequins and pink beads

This floor length butter yellow crepe dress reserves all of its detail for the top half, pleats radiating out across the bust like sun rays and a scrolling of sequins and beads in a midriff panel. #1940s sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A pale purple floral damask evening dress, sleeveless with rhinestone shoulder straps that fan out centre back into four separate strands

Anyone for some lavender floral #1930s satin damask? It comes with rhinestone straps that can across the shoulder blades and a matching belt. Sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A strappy pink chiffon bias cut dress with silver beadwork radiating from the centre front

Back view of the pink dress showing the beadwork wrapping around the back

Detail of the silver beadwork panel centre front of the pink dress showing the density of beads

The House of Paquin created a complex pattern of radiating beadwork from the centre of this 1930s pink chiffon gown. The dense strands of silver beads spread outwards to wrap around the body like sparkling tentacles front and back. Sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A mannequin posed mid twirl and wearing a bright red silk full skirted dress with a silk rose at the neckline and an integral wrap

Back view of the same red dress showing the integral wrap over one shoulder

Strike a pose in a rose red gown, the structure of which mimics the unfurling of petals from a twist of the bodice to the full bloom of the skirt. It can only be fifties Dior, sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A side by side image of the back of a high waisted tartan gown with green silk trim next to a close up of the green silk sleeve trim

This is a gorgeous description for a glowing c 1817 carriage gown, made of tartan bombazine. Bombazine is a twilled fabric that typically has a silk warp & worsted weft to create a particular type of texture. The sleeve details are especially lovely. Sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Back view of a peppermint green silk gown with ruched overdress, pleated hem and fitted bodice

Bodice detail showing the close fronted centre front and fly braid edging

Detail of the ruched overdress showing the pleated robings and fly braid edging

Fabric detail of the figures peppermint green silk with fly braid

The style of this early #1780s gown was known as a ‘Circassienne’ with its ruched over skirt and centre fastening bodice. The peppermint figured silk includes fuzzy fly braid edging the robings for an indistinct finish. Sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A strapless black cocktail dress with A line skirt and two silk bows either side of the waist

Bodice detail of black cocktail dress showing the texture of the fabric and the applied details

It appears to be simplicity itself, a strapless black cocktail dress, sleek of line. Take a closer look and details abound from the texture of the ottoman satin to the rouleau bows and sprinkle of sequins at the neck. Dior by YSL ready to wear, 1953 sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Back view of the top half of a red velvet hooded coat with smocking centre back and a ruched hood

Front and back view of red velvet hooded coat coat

The light just glints off the surface of this wine red velvet coat, the chicest of red riding hoods in 1930s style. It hints at assignations, secrets and whispers #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Emerald green short sleeved dress with triangular points across both sleeves and with a soft tie belt

Sleeve and bodice detail showing the spiky points at the sleeves

Close up detail of triangular points forming the sleeves of the dress

Sleeves that prickle with tooth-like embellishments, part of Jeanne Lanvin’s 1935 emerald crepe de chine dress, bias cut with a soft wrap tie belt, swoosh of reptilian glamour #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

A full length strapless ballgown with white and burgundy silk flowers at the neckline and a full layered white and yellow skirt

Bodice detail of the strapless gown with the silk flowers trimming and yellow dress

A blaze of blooms burst forth from the décolletage of this early 1950s Madame Grès ballgown. The haze of yellow beneath a gauzy white layer lends the whole outfit a sense of a misty summer morning. Sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashipnHistory 🗃️🪡

Side by side view, front and back, of a strapless evening dress consisting of an ivory skirt, a brown bodice panel and a blue train

I suspect this might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but I love the colour palette of this mod 1950s Balmain gown. It is muted and subtle, an ivory skirt with brown satin and a grey blue faille connected in a complicated dance of fabric. Sold via #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Bodice detail showing black background with metallic green embroidered holly leaves and red chenille berries

Full length view of holly embroidered dress with fitted sleeveless bodice and fuller knee length skirt

Embroidery detail showing metallic green holly leaves and red chenille berries

It has become customary for me to share this exquisite mid 1950s holly embroidered Balmain on Christmas Day. Merry Christmas to all who celebrate but most importantly thank you for sharing the fun here. It brings me great joy 🎄♥️🎄 #kerrytaylorauctions #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡