Comparing garment measurements to a body, mannequin or bust form The historic garment exists and a body needs to be created to fit inside it for display purposes. This could be an adapted mannequin or bust form (tailor’s garment stand) or a bespoke creation. For a successful result it is very important to understand not…
Category: Fashion and Women’s Clothing and Dress
All posts about Womens fashion, clothing, dresses, shorts and so on.
Length measurements on the body – Measurements – Interpret and Display Historic Dress
Length measurements on the body Figure 5.4 These are the vertical measurements on the body and should be taken perpendicular to the floor. © Drawing author, courtesy of Historic Royal Palaces. Description of the vertical body measurements MEASUREMENT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE VERTICAL BODY MEASUREMENTS (a) Centre front Taken at the front from the…
Measurements – Interpret and Display Historic Dress
Measurements Having established the garment’s date, placed it in its historical context and assessed its condition, you will now need to take accurate and informative measurements in order to create an appropriately shaped mannequin for display. This chapter explains the essential measurements you will need to take, where to take them and the most useful…
Silhouette timeline – Storyboards and Silhouettes – Interpret and Display Historic Dress
Silhouette timeline A person can be easily identified by their silhouette. Likewise, throughout history, the silhouette of a garment can be a good indicator of the date it was worn. To create a simple version of a timeline, imagine the silhouettes of garments seen from the distance as a series of geometric shapes like circles,…
Storyboards and Silhouettes – Interpret and Display Historic Dress
Storyboards and Silhouettes This chapter explains how you can adapt a technique used by designers today to give a visual overview of garment styles relating to a specific date. Designers use ‘storyboards’ or ‘mood boards’, to create the ‘atmosphere’ or express a ‘theme’ when designing garments for a new collection. When used in reference to…
1940s – Garment Cut and Its Relationship to Underwear – Interpret and Display Historic Dress
1940s In Britain, fashion during the Second World War (1939–45) was greatly influenced by the introduction of rationing by the government. The aim was to produce fashionable but functional clothing without wasting any resources. In 1941 The Board of Trade introduced the ‘Utility Scheme’ with strict instructions to manufacturers controlling the amount of fabric that…
1920s – Garment Cut and Its Relationship to Underwear – Interpret and Display Historic Dress
1920s By the 1920s the cut of women’s garments was at its simplest for many years. Waists were low, or ignored. Skirts were shorter, ending above the ankle at the beginning of the decade, below the knee in the mid-1920s and then lowering again at the end of the decade to between the calf and…
1900-1910 – Garment Cut and Its Relationship to Underwear – Interpret and Display Historic Dress
Petticoat design was also simpler, creating a smooth line from the waist to the hem (see figure 3. 73). However, although the basic shape was simple, the introduction of elaborate decoration in the form of tucks, frills and lace flounces all gave increased width at the hem to support the wide A-line skirts of garments….
1880-1890 – Garment Cut and Its Relationship to Underwear – Interpret and Display Historic Dress
1880–1890 As the bodice continued to lengthen, eventually joining with the skirt, the bustle gradually disappeared and by the end of the 1870s, fashionable garments were tightly fitted and slim-line, with narrow skirts often with a low train at the back. This style with no waist seam is known as the ‘princess dress’ (see figure…
1860-1870 – Garment Cut and Its Relationship to Underwear – Interpret and Display Historic Dress
1860–1870 In the 1860s bodices were generally short, ending at the natural waistline or slightly higher. The wide crinoline skirts subtly evolved with more fabric being pushed to the back. The front waist of skirts was flatter with excess fabric either being folded into large pleats or cut away, creating an A-line shaped front panel….