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jbrightcollection.bsky.social
John Bright Collection
@jbrightcollection.bsky.social
340 followers 78 following 22 posts
Reference collection of historical costume at film,TV & theatre costume house Cosprop. Online collection funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk
www.cosprop.com
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jbrightcollection.bsky.social
John Bright Collection @jbrightcollection.bsky.social · Feb 2
Gustav Klimt’s soft pink brushstrokes conjure up a dress similar to our silk plissé bodice in his 1897-1898 portrait of Sonja Knips. When cataloguing the bodice from our reference collection, we were immediately reminded of it. #gustavklimt #klimtandfashion #historyoffashion #1890sfashion
Reposted by John Bright Collection
katestrasdin.bsky.social
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 🗃️🪡
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
October 21, 2025 at 9:43 AM
jbrightcollection.bsky.social
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
September 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Reposted by John Bright Collection
yalebooks.bsky.social
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
Photo of 'The Costume House' book which shows a peach period style dress on the cover against a dark blue background
September 9, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by John Bright Collection
katestrasdin.bsky.social
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 🗃️🪡
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
September 8, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by John Bright Collection
julieinstitches.bsky.social
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...
Double-breasted men’s silk waistcoat woven with an allover design of roses, 1835-45, JB
August 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Reposted by John Bright Collection
julieinstitches.bsky.social
Dress, cotton trimmed with cotton braid, c1869-70. Read its story here @jbrightcollection.bsky.social: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/dress/
August 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by John Bright Collection
julieinstitches.bsky.social
😎 ‘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 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
July 17, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by John Bright Collection
julieinstitches.bsky.social
Coat by Paul Poiret, Paris, c1921. More here, including additional images, via The John Bright Collection: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/5054/
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
June 15, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Reposted by John Bright Collection
julieinstitches.bsky.social
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 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
July 9, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Reposted by John Bright Collection
julieinstitches.bsky.social
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...
Front view of late 1950s printed cotton sun dress, Horrockses Fashions. The trimming at the centre of the bust has been added later, JB
June 20, 2025 at 2:29 PM
jbrightcollection.bsky.social
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
May 31, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Reposted by John Bright Collection
wornonthisday.bsky.social
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
May 13, 2025 at 11:03 AM
jbrightcollection.bsky.social
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
May 4, 2025 at 3:10 PM
jbrightcollection.bsky.social
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
April 23, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by John Bright Collection
julieinstitches.bsky.social
Mid 1920s wedding outfit, dress, underdress, veil, headdress & shoes @jbrightcollection.bsky.social. Detailed description & additional images here: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/wedd...
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
April 16, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Reposted by John Bright Collection
vickyhaddock.bsky.social
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
March 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by John Bright Collection
madamegilflurt.bsky.social
A little bit of #Frockingfabulous #fashionhistory by #Liberty, 1913. Via the John Bright Collection.
April 3, 2025 at 9:38 AM
jbrightcollection.bsky.social
'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/
April 10, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Reposted by John Bright Collection
katestrasdin.bsky.social
The effect of a coloured under dress worn beneath a sheer white muslin gown is demonstrated to good effect here, bright yellow satin muted by the sheer layer on top. The cotton is sprinkled with metallic sprigs & braid for additional sunny sparkle @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Two mannequins, one wearing a white high waisted embellished gown on the left and the other in a bright yellow underdress on the right
March 11, 2025 at 11:56 AM
jbrightcollection.bsky.social
Cheerful stripes swing gracefully as a lady turns towards her friend in a plate from 1831 'La Mode', illustrating how our bodice might have looked before its skirt was cut off. www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/bodice-and-inner-sleeve-supports-2/#1830sfashion #1830sdress #costumehistory
March 4, 2025 at 4:16 PM
jbrightcollection.bsky.social
The abundance of satin stitched flowers around the pocket flap of our #1790s court dress coat reminds us that #mensfashion was not always as restrained as it should become from this time onwards. www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/court-dress-coat/ #historyoffashion #embroidery #1790sfashion
February 24, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by John Bright Collection
katestrasdin.bsky.social
The black and brown horizontally striped background, all sombre shades, allows the floral foreground to zing so that the red flowers almost glow. It is an example of the new print technologies that revolutionised the era, late 1840s @jbrightcollection.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Bodice detail of a long sleeved floor length dress with dark horizontal stripes overprinted with leafy tendrils and red flowers
February 13, 2025 at 2:29 PM
jbrightcollection.bsky.social
Almost certainly based on the Lily Window in St. Catherine's church in #Oppenheim on the Rhine, our #1850s skirt pattern is linked to both the #gothicrevival movement and the 'Romantic' Rhine tourism that had become popular earlier in the century. www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/skirt-3/
February 10, 2025 at 3:20 PM
jbrightcollection.bsky.social
Three dimensional flowers blossom on Louise-Marie de France's stomacher in her 1763 Drouais portrait, as if her dress's floral silk had come alive. Our stomacher from a rich British farming family illustrates how widely the styles of the French aristocracy were copied across Europe. #fashionhistory
February 8, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Reposted by John Bright Collection
julieinstitches.bsky.social
This striped silk gown, 1775-80, is a new addition to The John Bright Collection website. Full description & additional images here: www.thejohnbrightcollection.co.uk/costume/dres...
Striped silk gown with non original petticoat, 1775-80, JB
December 26, 2024 at 4:02 PM