Corsets & crinolines in Victorian fashion
Changes in body shape throughout the Victorian period were facilitaded by new attitudes and technology. From cage c…
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Manchu horse-hoof shoes: Footwear and cultural identity
The Qing dynasty (1644-1911), the last empire in Chinese history, was ruled by the Manchus, a nomadic group that ca…
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Sex & Sexuality in the 19th century
Male anxieties in relation to both physical and mental health in the Victorian era often seem to have concentrated …
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David's fig leaf, perhaps by D. Brucciani & Co., about 1857
In 1857 a plaster cast of Michelangelo’s ‘David’ was presented by the Grand Duke of Tuscany to Queen Victoria, who …
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Movement in stage costume
Dance costume is a highly specialised field and as well as having to reflect the overall concept of the work, body …
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Audio: Early 17th-century costume
Theatre designer Jenny Tiramani discusses early 17th century costume.
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Hairstyles and cosmetics reading list
A brief reading list of hairstyles and cosmetics.
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Dating old photographs from clothes worn in the 1930s
During the 1930s fashionable women wore skirt suits or day dresses accessorised with hats and fur stoles. Evening dresses were cut on the bias to cling to the body, and trimmings were kept to a minimum. Casual dress was popular for men, including knitted cardigans and tank-tops and clothing inspired by sportswear.
Organisation of the V&A
The Victoria and Albert Museum is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and is a charity exempt from registration under the Charities Act of 1993. It operates at arm's length from the Government and is governed by a board of Trustees appointed by the Prime Minister.
Photographs by Liang Yue
Liang Yue is a photographer whose work deals obliquely with the pace of change in contemporary China. Liang Yue made the Morse Code series in Beijing during China's recent, and ongoing, economic boom. Part of a larger body of work called Several Dusks, the photographs were taken during the sand storms that blow in from the desert.
Touring exhibition: Undressed: 350 Years of Underwear in Fashion
This exhibition looks at the history of private and intimate clothing - from corsets to court mantuas and boudoir wear to bustles - exploring underwear's function in decorating and manipulating the body.
Figures & Fictions: Contemporary South African Photography
In 2011, Figures & Fictions: Contemporary South African Photography highlighted the work of 17 South African photographers
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