Throughout the 20th century cross-cultural and historical influences had a profound impact upon fashion design. The styles, designs and materials of other times and cultures became more accessible to designers as improved travel and communications enabled continents to be crossed with ease.
Introduction to 20th-Century Fashion
A look at 20th century fashion through the many ways in which historical fashion has influenced it.
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Corsets in the Early 20th Century
Corsets in the early 20th century tended to be shaped low around the bust line but by 1910 designers were beginning to reject what had been the starting point for dress des…
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Interactive: Pink Velvet Evening Gown, by Worth, 1900
This silk velvet dress, trimmed with diamante, was worn by Princess Nicholas of Greece. Her grandson, the Duke of Kent, gave it to Sir Cecil Beaton, who was then collecting…
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Four Haute Couture Dresses by Madeleine Vionnet
These four evening dresses were designed by Madeleine Vionnet (1876-1975; active 1912-1939) and purchased by Lady Foley (circa 1888-1968) between 1929 and 1938. Minoru Fole…
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Powerdressing: Zoot Suits
Despite being worn by a relatively small number of people, who themselves formed part of a minority in early 1940s America, the zoot suit occupies a conspicuous place withi…
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The Corset in Late 20th-Century Fashion
The corset in 20th century fashion has appeared and reappeared seemingly linked to the cyclical changing of female shapes. By the 1980s it had become an 'object d'art', no …
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British Asian Style: Fashion and Textiles
South Asian textiles have shaped British fashion and dress for centuries, from the fashionable chintzes of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, t…
Buy nowEvent - Susan Rumfitt: Wearing 20th Century Jewellery
Mon 24 June 2013 18:30
Jewellery has been an essential fashion accessory throughout the twentieth century and has close links with designers including Chanel, Dior and Versace.
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