100 Years of Fashionable Womenswear: 1830s – 1930s | V&A

Discover changing silhouettes and key fashion developments across 100 years of British and French womenswear: from a Victorian wedding dress inspired by Indian textile motifs, to an Edwardian lace day dress, and a 1930s silk evening gown designed by Charles James. Assistant Curator Claire Allen-Johnstone unpicks the fascinating details of these different garments, revealing how fashions can be cyclical, often referencing the past, but with a modern twist. 00:30 Revealing the Victorian dress 01:44 Construction and key details 02:40 What is Paisley? 04:11 Queen Victoria’s wedding dress 05:07 Revealing the Edwardian dress 05:49 The ’s’-bend silhouette 07:47 Construction and lace details 07:50 Signs of alterations and damage 09:07 Revealing the 1930s dress 09:32 Who was Charles James? 10:40 Historical references 11:40 Modern details 12:33 Materials: silk and plastic 13:19 Changing fashions over 100 years Find out more in our fashion collection: