Dating old photographs from clothes worn in the 1840s
1840s fashion for women was dominated by voluminous skirts, low pointed bodices, and sloping shoulders. Fashionable men wore frock-coats, with tight trousers and waistcoats…
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Dating old photographs from clothes worn in the 1850s
The 1850s were characterised by women's bell-shaped skirts, supported by round crinoline petticoats. Deep bonnets were popular and hair was swept into buns or side coils fr…
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Dating old photographs from clothes worn in the 1860s
1860s women's dress featured voluminous skirts with tight bodices and lace collars and cuffs. It was fashionable for men's coats and jackets to be single-breasted and semi-…
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Dating old photographs from clothes worn in the 1870s
In the 1870s, voluminous skirts were gathered up into bustles, decorated with flounces and rosettes. Men's coats and jackets were thigh-length and semi-fitted, worn with ta…
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Dating old photographs from clothes worn in the 1880s
During the mid 1880s the bustle was so pronounced that fashionable skirts extended horizontally from the small of the back. Hair was worn piled on top of the head in tight …
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Dating old photographs from clothes worn in the 1890s
Women wore tight bodices with high collars and narrow sleeves, and from around 1893 the leg-of-mutton sleeve became increasingly fashionable. For men, lounge suits were pop…
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Dating old photographs from clothes worn in the 1900s
During the 1900s, women wore skirts that were fitted at the hip and fluted towards the hem, with pouter-pigeon shaped bodices. Hats were distinctively wide brimmed and heav…
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Dating old photographs from clothes worn in the 1910s
During the 1910s frilly, puffed blouses and long fluted skirts were popular, as were tunic style tops and jackets. Skirts were A-line or 'hobble' (tight at the ankle) style…
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Dating old photographs from clothes worn in the 1920s
In the 1920s fashionable young women wore straight, tubular dresses to knee-level. Hair was worn bobbed, often with a distinctive tight-fitting cloche hat. Men wore slim lo…
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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 tri…
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Dating old photographs from clothes worn in the 1940s
As a result of World War II (1939-45) there were fabric shortages which lasted throughout the decade. For women, skirts were below the knee and straight, whilst tops were b…
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Dating old photographs from clothes worn in the 1950s
The 1950s continued the late 1940s style, with very full skirts, cinched waists and sloping shoulders. Another popular silhouette was the narrow pencil-skirt look. Men's fa…
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Dating old photographs from clothes worn in the 1960s
In the 1960s, fashionable young women wore mini-skirts or mini-dresses, often cut in a simple A-line. They emphasised their eyes with pale foundation and heavy kohl eyeline…
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Dictionary of Children's Clothes: 1700s to Present
Over the last 300 years, children's clothing has witnessed a gradual shift from dressing children to adult requirements, in multiple layers and formal…
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