John Bright Collection

A slightly angled view of a purple/green shot silk ensemble that consists of a long crinoline style dress with a matching shoulder cape. Lace cuffs are just visible beneath the cape

An alternative view of the purple shot silk crinoline, this time without the cape. It shows the pagoda sleeves and the gathering of the bodice into the waist

A view of the purple shot silk crinoline from the back showing the fullness of the skirt and the length of the matching cap which ends at the waist

It was clever of the dressmaker responsible for this early #1850s ensemble to choose green silk fringe as a trim. The shot silk, a warp and weft of different colours, shimmers between green and purple with some hazy shape shifting, @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Join us for a study session with some of our collection’s original extant garments that inspired costumes shown in our exhibition ‚Costume Couture’ at the Fashion and Textile Museum: fashiontextilemuseum.org/workshops/cl...

The mending seen in the detail picture would also suit one of Austen’s protagonists. To carry carry out such work, she might have worn accessories like the apron, mittens shown in 1799 JournaldesDamesetdesModes to add practicality/warmth. With her large work bag, she seems on a needlework mission!

Belated Happy 250th Birthday to a lady who thankfully has created an abundance of jobs and opportunities for costume professionals like us and delights with wit and sharp observations of human folly to this day-Jane Austen!
We could easily picture our dress from circa 1800 on one of her heroines!

Pair of 1960s leather gloves with opulent pink roses decorating the wrists, JB

🎁 Or perhaps a pair of classy 1960s leather gloves 🎁 @jbrightcollection.bsky.social ?

Day 9 of my Edwardian #AdventCalendar is this elegant embroidered silk dress. Dating to c. 1908, it was made by Madame Alice Manton Patrick who clearly took inspiration from the styles being produced by the Liberty department store. @jbrightcollection.bsky.social collection. #fashionhistory

It is difficult to put precise dates on #Victorian menswear. In this case, the misfortune of Ord&Purvis, the manufacturers of our tailcoat, is our luck:
They opened in 1872 but declared bankruptcy in 1874.
Images from 1872 ‘The Gentleman’s Magazine‘ illustrate that the cut is indeed typical.

Waistcoat, wool backed & lined in silk twill, c1890. Via @jbrightcollection.bsky.social more here: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/wais...

Front view of a full length open robe tea gown consisting of a pale green over robe embroidered at the lapels an a pale floral patterned under dress

An alternative view of the long pale green tea gown showing the outer robe fastening at the waist for a different fit

Back view of the pale green tea gown showing the decorative long sleeves and the Watteau pleat style loose fitting back

This #1890s tea gown comes with options. Worn loose it has the relaxed fit often a part of the ‘at home’ gown it was designed to be but there is also a more fitted choice, fastening the open robe at the waist. I’ll go for the looser version thanks @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Three quarter view of a red paisley patterned wool dolman tailored with deep pleats, a fitted bag and broad sleeves

Front view of the red wool paisley patterned dolman showing the edge to edge pattern matching and the wide sleeves

Back view of the red wool paisley patterned dolman showing the position on f the pleats and the ship tailoring at the back of the bodice

This tailored dolman dating to the late #1880s made by Belgravia tailor Hulbert Beach. Careful pattern arrangement ensures the paisley motifs are symmetrical. I love the deep pleats at the back which must have rippled to reveal the pattern within @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Our historic collection team has interrupted its usual work to help mount star pieces for ‘Costume Couture -Sixty Years of Cosprop’ at the Fashion and Textile Museum’ #costumecouture #fashionandtextilemuseum #costumemounting #filmcostume #fashionexhibition #costumeexhibition #costumedesign

Photo of 'The Costume House' book which shows a peach period style dress on the cover against a dark blue background

Available now!
‘The Costume House: The Inside Story of Cosprop - From A Room With A View to Game of Thrones’ takes you inside one of the world’s most revered costume suppliers and creators.

@jbrightcollection.bsky.social

Side view of the upper half of an 1840s cream silk gown. It has a warp printed floral pattern in red and green and the edges are trimmed with cream silk fringe. It has a short matching shoulder cape

I spent a long time thinking about #1840s fashion when I was writing The Dress Diary & I miss it! It is a transitional decade but the fabric techniques were amazing. This is a warp printed silk creating blurry florals bordered by silk fringe @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡

Double-breasted men’s silk waistcoat woven with an allover design of roses, 1835-45, JB

I rarely post historic menswear but I just came across this fine 1835-45 silk waistcoat @jbrightcollection.bsky.social & well, how could I resist?🌹
Read about it here: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/wais...

Dress, cotton trimmed with cotton braid, c1869-70. Read its story here @jbrightcollection.bsky.social: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/dress/

Front view of Horrockses printed cotton sun dress with short matching jacket, early 1950s. Bright yellow & white alternate as grounds for delicate stripes & flowers executed in short black hatched lines, JB

😎 ‘Horrockses Fashions’ printed cotton sun dress with short matching jacket, early 1950s. Background information, full description & additional images via @jbrightcollection.bsky.social here: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/sun-...

Front/side view of Paul Poiret coat. c1921. The silk fabric has an overall quilted effect to its weave, is scattered with medallions in lustrous thread, JB

Close up showing label on the c1921 coat which reads ‘Paul Poiret à Paris’, JB

Coat by Paul Poiret, Paris, c1921. More here, including additional images, via The John Bright Collection: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/5054/

Front view of mid 1840s one piece day dress, cotton calicos printed in purple a popular choice for practical day dresses, JB

Close up view of print, a simple design of small purple flowers on trailing stems on a ground of lighter mauve jagged-edged vertical stripes, JB

Mid 1840s one piece day dress made of white printed cotton with a simple design. Read more @jbrightcollection.bsky.social www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/dres...

Front view of late 1950s printed cotton sun dress, Horrockses Fashions. The trimming at the centre of the bust has been added later, JB

This week’s Friday treat comes via @jbrightcollection.bsky.social Cotton sun dress, late 1950s, Horrockses Fashions. Read more here: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/dres...

In their free time, our assistant curators Sage & Annie have come up with an exciting project. Follow them and their collaborators on instagram at @uncovering.dressmakers to learn more! #19thcenturydressmaking #whomademyclothes #historyofdress #historyoffashion #victorianfashion #vintagelabels

Worn #onthisday in 1931 by Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, at a dinner for the African Society at London's Mayfair Hotel. She accessorized the gown of gold mesh woven with floral motifs and turquoise beads over silk chiffon with her Diamond Palmette Tiara. #OTD @jbrightcollection.bsky.social

How exciting to learn which tiara she is wearing in the picture with our dress!

We are excited that our dress now graces the cover of this new book:

Thrilled that our collection items feature in the new book ‘Artistic Dress at Liberty&Co’ @yalebooks.bsky.social - including the one on the cover: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/turquoise-dress-by-liberty/. #bookrecommendations #libertydress #artisticdress #fashionhistory #1910sfashion

This fancy dress from our collection is presumably based on this ‚Pierrette‘ fashion plate from January 1884 ‚Der Bazar‘ that was also featured in ‚La Mode Illustrée‘ as ‚Folie‘ (Folly). #1880sfancydress #historyofdress #costumehistory #victorianfancydress #fancydressinspiration #cosprop

Mid 1920s wedding outfit. On the left, crêpe de chine underdress, on the right fashionable contemporary cream satin wedding dress with matching veil, headdress & shoes, JB

Close in view of 1920s cream wedding underdress or petticoat, showing crocheted cotton yoke, JB

Mid 1920s wedding outfit, dress, underdress, veil, headdress & shoes @jbrightcollection.bsky.social. Detailed description & additional images here: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/wedd...

Russian art critic and ballet impresario Serge Diaghilev was born #OnThisDay in 1872. He staged The Sleeping Princess in 1921, in which this velvet and crepe de chine dress with laced bodice and patterned skirt was worn by a Village Maiden. John Bright Collection. #fashionhistory

A little bit of #Frockingfabulous #fashionhistory by #Liberty, 1913. Via the John Bright Collection.

'Her riding habit almost swept the ground' - so Charlotte Brontë describes Jane Eyre’s rival, implying the elegance of overlong skirts. Our 1900 habit skirt and the 1898 patent show a new concern for safety over 'dangerous elegance'. More here: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/riding-habit/

Thanks for sharing, it was lovely to see this concept used recently by the designer Alex Byrne on her fabulous production of Emma, we made several outfits at #cosprop for the show that made use of this inspiration from our collection.