Gold Wedding Dress, 1926
This was worn by Mary Ellen Barks when she married her husband Mr Simon Salt on 16th June 1926.
This is a gold or 'champagne' coloured georgette and lace wedding dress.
It is knee length, with a ...
Lion Fur Stole, c.1933
This stole is made of an unusual type of fur - that of a lion.
The stole was given to Mrs Sumnall by her employers in the early 1930s.
Apparently a member of her employers family had shot the ...
Fox Fur Cape, c.1940-1950
Presently fur is associated with luxury and cruelty, resulting in its decline along with the invention of faux fur.
This cape was produced when fur clothing was incredibly popular and the middle class ...
Victorian White Petticoat
The petticoat had a dual role as underwear and a structural garment, as it helped to shape the dress and mirrored the cut of the skirt.
It also protected the dress from sweat and provided the wearer ...
World War One Voluntary Aid Detachment Uniform
This uniform belonged to Emily ‘Queenie’ Baker (nee Pond) who joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD’s) during the First World War.
She worked in military hospitals in London, Enfield Cottage Hospital, ...
Victorian White Chemise
The chemise was one of the first undergarments a Victorian woman wore, as it protected the skin from the corset and vice versa, as it was much easier to launder than a corset and cheaper.
We believe ...
Victorian White Pettipants
Pettipants were popular female underwear in the nineteenth century, and were usually made out of cotton and lace with ruffles on each leg. They were worn underneath clothes for modesty and comfort. These ...
Combinations, c.1870-1900
Combinations are chemise and drawers together in one seamless article of clothing.
During the 1870’s the fashion was for the silhouette to be tight, so combinations were invented to reduced the amount ...
Strodex corset, c.1950
This is a 1950s foundation garment and was made by the 'made to measure' corsetiere company Strodex in the 1950s.
Black Corselet, 1940s - 1950s
Corselets are a combination of bra and corset.
The corselet came about in around 1914 as women did not want to wear both a corset and a bra.
This is a later example from the 1940s or 1950s when they ...
Full Slip
Slips were first invented to produce a more flattering silhouette, as it was meant to prevent the display of underwear and to prevent the outline of the legs showing through clothes in bright lighting. ...
Excelsior Pink Bullet Bra, c.1950
The bullet bra was first invented in the 1930’s but did not become popular until the 1940’s after ‘sweater girls’ pin up girls and celebrities started to wear them.
This bra still has the original ...
Edwardian Pink Petticoat
The petticoat had a dual role as underwear and a structural garment, as it helped to shape the dress and mirrored the cut of the skirt.
It also protected the dress from sweat and provided the wearer ...
White Corset, 1950s
This corset was specially designed and made to be worn under a wedding dress.
Victorian Girls Drawers
These would have been worn by an older Victorian Girl.
Combinations, c.1870-1900
Combinations are chemise and drawers together in one seamless article of clothing.
During the 1870’s the fashion was for the silhouette to be tight, so unnecessary bulk was discarded.
Combinations ...
Edwardian Green Silk Dress
This Edwardian period dress is typical of the era.
It is full at the chest creating the ‘pigeon breast’ effect and slopes down at the back and front with a narrow waist that is emphasised by the black ...
White Bra, 1920s
This is an early example of a bra; it is thought to have been made in the 1920’s as the bra is made out of rayon (which was first produced in 1925).
This bra has some numbers applied to it '36/254/N61 ...