Kate Strasdin
@katestrasdin.bsky.social
4.6K followers 110 following 900 posts
Lecturer, dress & textile history. Author of The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes. Amateur stitcher Fellow of the Royal Hist Soc
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katestrasdin.bsky.social
It took a highly sophisticated Jacquard weave to create the incredibly detailed oranges that form the fabric of of this early 1890s dress. You can almost smell the citrusy peel. There so many details to observe here, the pattern matching, the cuff trim, the drama! #V&A #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
A view of the back of an1890s dress showing the bodice with clusters of oranges woven into the fabric. It has black lace on the sleeves and a high collar A detail of the front of the bodice of the orange patterned 1890s dress showing black lace at the neckline and the detailed fruit Sleeve detail of the 1890s orange patterned dress which has a yellow silk trellis work trim with black lace Full length view of the front of the 1890s dress patterned with oranges and trimmed with black lace
Reposted by Kate Strasdin
wornonthisday.bsky.social
Worn #onthisday in 1928 by Fred Astaire as best man to jockey Jack Leach at his #wedding to Betty Darling in London. The Telegraph described the bride's gown "of ivory moussline de soie ornamented with pearl and crystal embroideries" and "chiffon-lined train of silver lace." #OTD @gettyimages.com
Reposted by Kate Strasdin
chriswoodyard.bsky.social
#TheVictorianBookoftheDead White mourning cap and veil made by Mme. G de Cler-Smit for Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. After the death of her husband, Prince Hendrik, in 1934, the Queen worn white mourning, as he had requested.
paleishetloo.nl/online-colle...
white mourning cap with very long veil
katestrasdin.bsky.social
Exaggerated proportions were never the preserve only of distant history. The big ole sleeve, super charged pussy bow and golden sparkle slacks are were designed by Norman Norell in the early #1970s. It just needs the Farrah Fawcett flick and some oversized shades @metmuseum.org #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
A mannequin posing in a gold evening ensemble by Norman Norell. It consists of a gold blouse with billowing long sleeves and a giant pussy bow at the neck. The blouse is tucked into gold sequin trousers
Reposted by Kate Strasdin
chriswoodyard.bsky.social
#TheVictorianBookoftheDead Child's mourning dress, c. 1830 with hand-drawn black ink flower trimmings, which have browned.
www.mainememory.net/artifact/10581
"Young persons...frequently wear a good deal of white…very young children only wear white frocks and black ribbons.” -The Workwoman's Guide
white dress with brownish flower patterns on hem, waist, and sleeves hem of white dress with brownish flower patterns  Sleeves of white dress with brownish flower patterns
Reposted by Kate Strasdin
julieinstitches.bsky.social
Some midweek glam 🍸
Robe du soir, Jeanne Lanvin, 1933-34, via Palais Galliera, Paris.
Reposted by Kate Strasdin
katestrasdin.bsky.social
I am enjoying the new book published by the National Trust looking at 100 of their UK textile treasures. It includes the famous beetle wing dress designed by Alice Comyns-Carr and worn by Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth in the 1880s and immortalised by John Singer Sargent on canvas #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
A mannequin posed in a long green medieval style dress with long hanging sleeves and a gold belt A portrait by Sargent of Ellen Terry wearing the green dress posed holding a crown above her head The book cover of 100 Things to Wear by the National Trust
katestrasdin.bsky.social
So much of the design of this early #1930s dress is about a trick of the eye - the trompe l’oeil - created in the illusion of pleats from the placement of the beadwork that covers the entire garment. Designed by Jean Patou it shimmers in pink and gold #V&A #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Beaded detail of a pink 1930s evening dress by Jean Patou. The photograph focuses on the gold beaded belt and the illusion of pleats Full length view of the sleeveless pink and gold beaded evening dress with trompe l’oeil pleats and scoop neckline
katestrasdin.bsky.social
It is all about sleeves in the second half of the nineteenth century, the length of which indicated the kind of event you were attending. The #1870s three quarter length here is a reception dress, evening but not a full blown party. Etiquette was everything #centraalmuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Front view of an hourglass shaped bustle dress consisting of a blue and white floral long line bodice and a ruffle and pleated blue silk skirt Side view of the 1870s blue and floral bustle dress showing the length of the bodice an the long train at the back Back view of the 1870s blue and floral bustle dress which shows how the floral bodice falls into the bustle arrangement at the back
Reposted by Kate Strasdin
laurencdeutsch.bsky.social
I posted about this dress back in 2018, one of the first years I began to do my #ootd. Even from all that time ago, I have never forgotten this dress- a 1900-05 Doucet robe a transformation. It was therefore such a pleasure to see it in person at the #PaulPoiret exhibit. Once again, it was there
katestrasdin.bsky.social
I haven’t but I will now!
katestrasdin.bsky.social
The blurred, sheer edges of this mid #1950s Lanvin Castillo dress give it an illusory quality. It is mirage-like, one spin and it might disappear in a cloud of lilac, ruffles and all @metmuseum.org #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Three quarter view of a lilac coloured chiffon strapless evening dress with a fitted bodice and full skirt. The back of the skirt uas a ruffled panel like a bustle style
Reposted by Kate Strasdin
chriswoodyard.bsky.social
#TheVictorianBookoftheDead Lady in a dress trimmed with crape. Two unusual details--the black net veil without cap or bonnet--net/lace was for second or even half mourning--and the black beads/cross (not a rosary. Glass or jet, perhaps) draped around her waist. A dramatic look. From Livorno, Italy.
Woman in black dress with beads and cross draped around her waist, net veil
katestrasdin.bsky.social
This will be forever one of my favourite garments in the V&A. It is a late #1890s coat from Marshall & Snelgrove, featuring hand embroidered sweet cicely flowers with white felt petals that float on top of blue velvet, V&A #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
A close up detail of a long velvet evening coat. This photograph shows the blue velvet background with hand embroidered florals covering the surface, including the high velvet collar Full length view of the back of the long blue velvet evening coat embroidered all over with pale sweet cicely flowers and lace inserts around the bottom half
Reposted by Kate Strasdin
wornonthisday.bsky.social
Worn #onthisday in 1922 by Princess Nagako, fiancee of Japanese Crown Prince Hirohito, to an exhibition of French art in Tokyo. "Evidently she favours Western Fashions, as she is wearing a pleated skirt, with a Kimono blouse," a British newspaper reported. #OTD @europeana.bsky.social
Reposted by Kate Strasdin
victoriamunn.bsky.social
The Consortium for History of Science, Technology and Medicine has a new working group: Beauty Studies in the Premodern World. Join our group and come along to the first meeting, @evelynwelch.bsky.social's seminar, 'Whose Hair is it Anyway? Beauty, Health and Shaven Heads in Early Modern Europe'.
Beauty Studies in the Premodern World | Consortium for History of Science, Technology and Medicine
www.chstm.org
katestrasdin.bsky.social
The emerald green silk chosen for this #1960s evening dress is shirred across the whole garment creating the crimping. It rises to a funnel neck decorated with beads & brilliants reminiscent of Ancient Egyptian splendour. Designed by Ruth Bailey @museumofcityny.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Back view of a mannequin wearing a long sleeveless silk tunic dress, the hem at the back slightly longer. It has a funnel neck of beadwork A closer view of the bodice of the emerald chiffon dress showing the shirred fabric, funnel neck and round collar shape of the green shaded beads and brilliants The front of the sleeveless emerald green evening dress showing the shape of the tunic
katestrasdin.bsky.social
Storm Amy is rolling in here today so I propose hot cups of tea all round, a good book & feet up whilst wearing a quilted dressing gown. These were made in Japan in huge numbers for the Western market, quilted & embroidered in a range of floral motifs. Both 1880s #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡 @metmuseum.org
A photograph of mannequins wearing two different quilted dressing gowns. One is brown and the other one is pale blue. Both are embroidered with floral patterns and both have silk cord waist belts
Reposted by Kate Strasdin
histassoc.bsky.social
Black History Month is an opportunity to remind people that history is broad and diverse. It is not about singling out groups its just about making sure more of the voices of the past are included, creating a fuller picture of history. www.history.org.uk/ha-news/cate...
Black History Month 2025
www.history.org.uk
katestrasdin.bsky.social
Mmmm red velvet and silk jersey make for a happy combination here. Late #1940s Mme Grès with a twist, in addition to her customary pleats, a chic sweep of velvet collar to frame some fabulous necklace #museumatfit #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
A sleeveless red pleated silk jersey cocktail dress. It has a red velvet collar that creates a V neck and sweeps over the shoulders with a matching red velvet belt
Reposted by Kate Strasdin
hottycouture.bsky.social
London Day 6: Dirty Looks at the Barbican. I can't believe no one has done this show before: fashion (and fashion-adjacent contemporary art) that's been deliberately dirtied, stained, burnt,
torn, trashed, and worse (yeah, there's a whole bodily fluids section). Fascinating if somewhat unsavory!