Kate Strasdin
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katestrasdin.bsky.social
Kate Strasdin
@katestrasdin.bsky.social
5.1K followers 110 following 1.1K posts
Lecturer, dress & textile history. Author of The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes. Amateur stitcher
Fellow of the Royal Hist Soc
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katestrasdin.bsky.social
All of the bells, bows and whistles were deployed in the fashioning of this ballgown, c1960 by Worth, London. Designer Owen Hyde-Clark created a glittering bodice with hand embroidery and teardrop shaped glistening diamanté with a dramatic belt and bright satin skirt #VandA #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
A close up photograph of a yelling w satin bodice with narrow satin straps embroidered with gold leaf motifs and teardrop diamanté embellishments An alternate view of the yellow satin ballgown bodice showing the satin strips running from shoulder to waist and a hint of the oversized buckle belt A side by side photograph of the front and back of the yellow satin ballgown. Beneath the broad belt is a long full satin skirt with self coloured bows appliquéd around its circumference
December 9, 2025 at 8:33 PM
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Day 9 - Beatrice carefully selects a five iron and swings it lightly. She smiles to herself as she reflects on the Christmas gift that she had received from Gordon. A laundry basket! She muses on the letters that she found in his jacket pocket and swings lightly again. 1/2
A mannequin wearing a red golfing ensemble consisting of a long red skirt and broad sleeved jacket. She is wearing a knitted cap in stripes and carries a wicker golf bag with clubs inside
December 9, 2025 at 11:48 AM
katestrasdin.bsky.social
Day 8 - Leaving the jazz club after an uproarious evening, Josephine and her merry band of revellers happen upon the most awful snarl up of festive traffic. Motor cars are honking and tempers are fraying. 1/2
A mannequin wearing a pink velvet flapper style dress with black and gold stylised floral embellishment at the hem and side of the dress. It has an oversized gold lamé lined knot at the shoulder
December 8, 2025 at 5:51 PM
katestrasdin.bsky.social
German born Gustav Beer first established a fashion house in Vienna & moved to Paris where he was described as ‘the greatest creative genius in the dressmaking field today.’ He is less well known now but these two examples c1912 are real sparklers! #thekyotocostumeinstitute #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
A sparkling beaded sleeveless dress with a silver fringed skirt and green bodice panel. It has a long silver train. It is photographed against a blurry white background creating an ethereal setting A black and white photograph, c1912, showing a model wearing an evening dress not dissimilar to the surviving beaded gown. She has a feather in her hair
December 8, 2025 at 11:45 AM
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Day 7 - Having shrugged off her coat and draped it over the spare bed, Jacqueline adjusts her columnar dress and proceeds downstairs. The invite clearly stated that it was A Colourful Christmas Party and a Plus 1, 1/2
A long black silk form fitting dress with long sleeves and a narrow draped waist sash. It just sits off the shoulders with a notch cut out centre front of the décolletage
December 7, 2025 at 7:06 PM
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Embroidered Japanese silk was fashioned into a tea gown in the late #1870s, the addition of blue silk panels shaping it into the bustle style silhouette. The exquisite-ness of the stitch means that I would take absolutely no refreshments whilst wearing. Sold via #coraginsburg #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Partial view of a white silk gown embroidered with multi coloured floral motifs and with pale blue silk panels Side view of the embroidered silk robe with hanging sleeves and blue silk panels which have helped to shape the bustle at the back
December 7, 2025 at 12:37 PM
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Party season is here (if parties are your thing) and what joyous colour there is in Anne Lowe’s evening wear. Her early #1960s turquoise and black ensemble combines plain silk with black floral lace, structured in such a way as to make the fabric the star of the show #NMAAHC #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
A mannequin wearing a long pale turquoise silk dress with black lace trim at the bodice and a black lace coat over the top lined with the same turquoise silk A photograph of designer Ann Lowe sitting looking at the camera and behind her is a model wearing the turquoise and black lace ensemble
December 6, 2025 at 7:49 PM
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Day 6 - Sitting on a pile of luggage on the station platform, Lucy looks this way and that as she waits for the London train to steam into view. She has pulled her cap low over her eyes and can barely contain her excitement as she awaits her brother’s arrival for Christmas 1/2
A seated mannequin wearing a tan coloured motoring coat buttoning centre front. She is wearing long brown boots and gloves and a motoring cap
December 6, 2025 at 12:28 PM
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Day 5 - The party is still in full swing, glasses chinking, the drinks a-flowing. Marjorie passes Ginny and smiles, a hand on her arm as she spins away. They each smile and laugh as they make their way gradually to the door of the drawing room 1/2
Two mannequins wearing 1930s evening gowns, one slim and backless in gold and the other fuller with a sheer skirt and silver circles
December 6, 2025 at 12:36 AM
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Just look at the little fans of fabric that decorate the hem of this c1820 gown. Each one has been folded by hand with a piped seam around the edge before being stitched into place. With the blur or warp printed fabric it is so striking @metmuseum.org #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
A side by side image of a pale green and cream striped gown with a blurry warp printed pattern repeat. There is a detail of the pleated fan hem decorations applied at the bottom A partial view of the back of the striped silk Refency gown showing some fullness gathered at the back, the long narrow sleeves with appliqué decorations at the shoulders A close up image showing the fabric pattern, the narrow stripes with close repeats of blurry motifs that are warp printed
December 5, 2025 at 9:40 AM
katestrasdin.bsky.social
Day 4 - Emmeline freezes as she hears footsteps in the hallway outside the dining room. She waits for a moment, inwardly grumbling at her horrid party dress that means she is more visible than in her usual old frock. Silence. It seem the coast is clear 1/2
Full length view of a child’s 1860s dress of cream wool with red accents it has ruching at the bodice and sleeves and red edged tabs over the skirt
December 4, 2025 at 10:20 PM
katestrasdin.bsky.social
Well this is exciting! Book News klaxon & I am so thrilled to share this beautiful cover of my new book Dressing the Queen: 200 Years of Makers & Monarchy which will be published in April 2026. A huge thank you to #ChattoBooks for this most lovely volume. #aitkenalexander
An image of a book cover Dressing the Queen which features different elements of dressmaking from a fashion sketch to some embroidery and a photograph of a woman spinning silk
December 4, 2025 at 10:11 AM
katestrasdin.bsky.social
Day 3 - Trudging through the rain, bumping shoulders with other harried Christmas shoppers, Patricia stops suddenly in front of a glowing window. As raindrops blur the long shopping list in her hand, she opens her fingers and lets it drift soggily into a puddle 1/2
A mannequin wearing a red dress with a transparent raincoat over the top belted with a black belt. Her hood is up and she is wearing red rubber rain boots as well as carrying a yellow umbrella
December 3, 2025 at 4:29 PM
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Day 2 - An ominous silence greets Margot as she bursts forth into the Christmas party ballroom with gusto and a flourish of her fan. She did think that perhaps the ship was, well, a bit much but her heart sinks as she surveys the scene before her 1/2
A mannequin dramatically posed in a pink and white silk gown with broad hip paniers. She is holding a fan and has a tall white wig with a miniature sailing ship balanced on the top
December 2, 2025 at 2:46 PM
katestrasdin.bsky.social
Day 1 - Madeleine can hear the guffawing of supremely confident men from the other side of the door. She can detect the brittle tones of her mother and the giggle of her sisters. She takes a deep, restorative and bracing breath, steeling herself for what is inevitably to follow 1/2
A mannequin posed with her arms folded and eyes raised to the ceiling. She is wearing a cream chiffon and silk satin dress with beaded sections and narrow straps Front view of the cream chiffon and satin dress with a high low hem, beading and narrow straps Back view of the cream chiffon and satin dress with its beaded sections. There is a large satin bow sitting at the hips centre back which drapes to the floor
December 1, 2025 at 6:58 PM
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Madame Grès aka Alix Barton aka Germaine Krebs, one of my favourite designers, was born on this day in 1903. Known for her pleated silk jersey, she also experimented with all sorts of other drape techniques from the thirties to the eighties. Just a few here #SCADFASH #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Two silk jersey dresses photographed side by side. One is a pale lilac seen from the back with a drape of silk centre back. The other is a pale lemon with pleating at the bodice and with a draped asymmetric skirt Three bright yellow dresses of different styles and decades. One is long sleeved and pleated around the bodice. Another is sleeveless with cut outs around the torso and a bare midriff and the third pleated with diagonal strips of yellow velvet A black pleated evening dress with a variety of cut outs around the torso and a long draped and pleated skirt
November 30, 2025 at 8:18 PM
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The techniques used for this fabric have created an ethereal, dreamlike effect across an expanse of skirt. The plain weave silk taffeta is warp printed, hence the blurry butterfly effect, then finished with a moiré surface. Pure #1860s magic @lacma.org #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
The back of an expansive dove grey silk crinoline gown with a short sleeve bodice and a wide bell shaped skirt. The fabric is printed with a blurry pattern of butterflies and foliage A side view of the butterfly patterned crinoline which shows the shape and size of the skirt front and back and the tassel trimmed sleeves A close up of the air of the bodice of the butterfly patterned crinoline which focuses on the ivory coloured silk tassels that dangle from the edge A detail of the butterfly patterned silk from which the broad crinoline dress is made. It shows the blurry effect of the warp printing
November 30, 2025 at 11:48 AM
katestrasdin.bsky.social
Actually heading out out tonight to a party no less. If I had a fantasy wardrobe I might choose Jean Dessès’s earl #1950s strapless cocktail dress consisting of overlapping scallops of silk. I don’t though. Sadly #V_and_A #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
November 29, 2025 at 5:27 PM
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She is an ice blue queen in her fur trimmed bustle dress, palest blue satin and a frosted lace effect for the front of the skirt and bodice. The mid #1880s did embrace a lavish trim. @metmuseum.org #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Back view of an 1880s pale blue satin reception dress. It has long sleeves, a dom fitting bodice and a skirt with a long train trimmed with white fur around the hem Front view of the 1880s pale blue satin reception dress showing the fur trimmed neckline and lace effect skirt. It has a swagged panel of silk at the hips
November 29, 2025 at 11:49 AM
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This has been a favourite #1920s dress for a long time but I had never before seen the more detailed images of the arrangement of the beaded shapest. I have a whole new appreciation for Poiret’s design choices and the hands sewing the beads #museumatfit #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Full length view of a shaded orange yellow flapper style dress with a tab shaped hem. The tab shape is repeated up the skirt in beaded motifs, the heads matching the colour of the silk A detail of the hem of the 1920s evening dress with tab shaped hem which is beaded and trimmed with black A portion of the skirt of the 1920s shaded orange dress showing the extent of the beading that loops in tiered motifs A closer detail of the cream glass bugle beads that run around the motifs of the 1920s evening dress in a tiered pattern
November 28, 2025 at 8:52 PM
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Described as light orange crepe with light orange tulle this sounds like a festive dessert. It was designed by Mainbocher in 1946 and includes an integral jewel positioned at the neck @chicagomuseum.bsky.social #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Back view of a pale orange crepe dress with small cap sleeves, a fitted bodice and skirt and a bustle like ruffle centre back of the skirt Front view of the pale orange crepe dress with small cap sleeves and plain front other than a teardrop shaped orange gem centre front of the neck A close up of the teardrop shaped gem that decorates the neckline A detail of the ruffle that decorates the centre back of the skirt
November 27, 2025 at 7:43 PM
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It is almost that time of year again, the annual fashion history advent calendar looms & this year I shall use each day to tell a different imaginary story. Last year this #1810s skater provided the perfect tableau for a tale. Keep your eyes peeled! #FIDMMuseum #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
An unusual exhibit of fashion showing a mannequin in the act of falling over wearing an 1810s ice skating ensemble. It consists of a cream pelisse and a brown velvet bonnet
November 27, 2025 at 11:55 AM
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Schiaparelli’s 1937 evening coat represented true artistic collaboration. The illusory, surrealist motif was designed by artist Jean Cocteau, the embroidery was undertaken by Lesage and the garment was the vision of Schiaparelli herself #VandA #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
A view of the top half of the back of a black long sleeved evening coat which focuses on the ribbon embroidery fashioned into pink roses across the shoulders and a vase effect which also looks like two red lipped faces opposite each other The full length view of the back of the long black evening coat showing the placement of the embellishment and the relatively plain lower half Front view of the long black evening coat which is entirely plain apart from a single large asymmetric button fastening
November 26, 2025 at 7:37 PM
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I like her style! Such lustre to this bottle green satin which is the backdrop to the whisper of black feathers that pattern the cloth. The house of Worth was famous for fabulous fabric and never was this more apparent than in this early #1890s gown. Sold via #KerryTaylorAuct #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Back view of the bodice of a bottle green satin dress with a pattern of black feathers. This view shows how the pattern matching was executed centre back A side by side image that shows the front and back of the bottle green satin dress that she was a flash of white chiffon centre front and the long train at the back A detail of the back of the bottle green satin dress that focuses on the bottom of the bodice as it sits over the skirt
November 26, 2025 at 11:30 AM
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When Dior’s H line launched in 1954 there was some editorial debate around whether it stood for ‘Heavenly’ or ‘Horrid’. This Pérou dress from that collection is all Tudor inspired but heavenly or horrid? #VandA #FashionHistory 🗃️🪡
Bodice detail of a square necked strappy evening dress of dark gold silk embellished all over with a Tudor inspired geometric pattern of beads and embroidery A full length view of the dark gold knee length cocktail dress with square fitted bodice and a fuller skirt covered in embroidery A closer detail of the dark gold evening dress that shows the arrangement of the embroidered Tudor style pattern in silver and gold
November 25, 2025 at 8:27 PM