Fashion and Gardens: Intertwining histories

Join us as we explore how fashion and gardens influenced each other in past and present times. Since classical antiquity, gardens have played a key role in the well-being of individuals. From providing plants for medication, to food, to essences for perfuming the body, a garden can be a feast for the eye, a trigger for the imagination, a place to think and love. It is no wonder that gardens have made their way onto clothing over the ages, and at the same time clothing has adapted to being worn in the garden. 

The study day morning session will be dedicated to the past: beginning with the perspective of the garden historian who will take us through the magnificent, intertwining history of garden and fabric design. This will be followed by two sessions where dress and textiles historians will explore the fascinating ways in which garden plants made their way onto dress and accessories in the Italian Renaissance and Stuart England. The afternoon session will explore how dressing for the garden became a distinct fashion and how garden plants and flowers continue to play a key role in high fashion still today. The day will close with a presentation by a professional fashion embroiderer.

For more details, see V&A Academy questions.


> Prefer the flexibility of online? Book now for  Fashion and Gardens: Intertwining histories (online)

Please note, the study day will not be recorded.  Suitable for participants aged 18 or over.