Mirror, mirror, on the wall.. On this episode of Silhouettes, we reflect on the fascinating and often fragile history of mirrors. Starting with polished glass, to scientific developments in treated glass, mirrors hold up a reflection to our societies; dictating when, why and how vanity, self-styling and personal care have become important throughout time. Examples include use in Greek mythology, their importance in Roman culture, cultural impact across high society and the important role of...

Dressing Up by Elizabeth L Block chronicles how wealthy American women--as consumers and as influencers--helped shape French couture of the late nineteenth and examines the couturiers' influential clientele--wealthy American women who bolstered the French fashion industry with a steady stream of orders from the United States.  Countering the usual narrative of the designer as solo creative genius, Block shows that these women--as high-volume customers and as pre-Internet influencers--were...

Happy Halloween! In this Halloween special episode, I’m joined by Katie Godman, author of Gothic Fashion: The History to talk all about her wonderfully Gothic book, as we trace Gothic fashion history from barbarians to haute couture and delve into the long, fascinating and sometimes unexpected evolution of all things Gothic. How Gothic fashion has evolved from its ancient roots to the Victorian Gothic, all the way to the Goth subculture movements of more recent history. Katie’s book Gothic...

The imagery of a wicked witch is one we all know well: flowing black robes, pointed black hat, pointed boots and a wooden broom- but have you ever wondered why these specific accessories have become synonymous with the image of a witch? In this episode I will delve into how, why and when this distinctive attire evolved, tracing the ancient origins of witchcraft to depictions of the green faced wicked witch of the west. Join me on a spooky, magical journey as we learn about the intricate,...

From Buffy, to Bram Stroker, to Twilight - Vampires have had a fascinating journey in the public eye. In this episode of Silhouettes, we discuss the iconic vampire image that has inspired Halloween costumes across the globe, tracing the routes of the vampire's origins, to Dracula and his famous incarnations in cinema, from Universal Studios and Hammer Horror, and vampiric influence on Goth culture the world over. Happy Spooky Season! Join the Behind The Seams family to support the podcast...

In today’s episode of Silhouettes I’m chatting with Isabella Rosner, host of the Sew What? Podcast, curator of the Royal School of Needlework and research consultant for Whitney Antiques. She also runs the Instagram page Historic Embroidery, and is a wealth of knowledge on everything to do with historic embroidery and needlework; from the 16th century onward. On this episode we discuss how studying historic embroidery can teach us about lives of teenage girls, the transition of girlhood, how...

Fashion History is often overlooked for it's importance in conversations about the past, but in this episode of Silhouettes we take the podcast on the road for the first time and look behind the curtain of one of the UK's only standalone Fashion Museums; Blandford Fashion Museum. I was lucky enough to be invited out to the South-Coast of the UK to Blandford explore everything the museum has to offer with their wonderful body of staff and volunteers. In this episode I speak with Operations...

History is not short on women who've been robbed of their reputations, be that in their lifetimes or the years that followed, and in this episode I'm joined by Grace of the Wicked Women Podcast to discuss exactly that. We delve into the fashion of some of history's most notorious women and how they weaponized the clothes they wore to either dismantle or enforce the reputations society had given them. Thanks to Grace for joining me on this episode. Listen to the first part of our...

Hello, and welcome back to Silhouettes ✨ The knights in shining armour are some of the most iconic images when it comes to general knowledge, and depictions, of the medieval times. From Lancelot to Galahad, Knights feature in endless epic tales and legends, and it is undoubtably their armour that has allowed them to stand out from their medieval peers- but what did a knight in shining armour ACTUALLY wear, and were they as chivalrous, and as decorated, as media and legend has had us believe?...

From hennins to accessorised weapons, in this third installment of our Medieval Fashion series, I delve into the the royal, and upper class, fashion of late medieval Europe. From Queens and Kings, to fascinating women of the religious orders like Christine de Pizan, listen now to find out what power dressing looked like throughout Europe from the 12th to the 14th centuries ✨ Become a Patreon subscriber to support the podcast and gain access to bonus content:...

She’s been a teacher, an astronaut, the Prom Queen, a Cali Girl, a Gogo Dancer, and now the star of the latest Hollywood Blockbuster (!), but what makes Barbie the icon that she is, and how valuable is she as a figure in Fashion History? Today on Silhouettes we discuss some of Barbie's most iconic fashions throughout the last 60 years - as well as some of her faux pas, her varying public perception throughout the eras, and her unforgettable hot-pink space suit... This episode is a...

From weaving with gold thread to telling stories through fashion, the world of medieval embroidery is a wonderful one, and in this episode, I take you through the fascinating world of medieval mythology; mermaids to lionesses to griffins to... seamonks..? and how we can trace these histories, weird and wonderful, through fashion 🧜‍♀️🦁 Become a Patreon subscriber to support the podcast and gain access to bonus content:  https://www.patreon.com/silhouettespodcast** Become a Spotify...

The history of the early Middle Ages is long and complicated and spans Europe, England, Ireland, and Scotland, from Constantinople to Viking territory, with a great deal of cultural, artistic and scientific innovation defining these periods, and of course, the fashion the these earlier time periods was no stranger to these changes. This episode also discusses the controversy surrounding the term ‘The Dark Ages’ and how it has come to define our opinions towards the fashion and culture of...

From tunics to steeple caps, this episode is the first in the start of a new series all about Medieval Fashion, as requested by you! I focus on the story of the “dark ages”, the Middle Ages, ending with the the Italian renaissance, travelling throughout Europe and the UK to delve into the diverse, fascinating and detailed fashion of the medieval times, from the 5th century all the way to the 15th. This episode is just a short introduction to the fashion, politics, and the complicated...

This week I am joined by guest, Sarah Somerville, Visitor Services Officer at at the historic Shaw House in West Berkshire, England, to delve deep into the how, what, why and who of the fashion-focused exhibition ‘Dressed for Shaw’ currently held at Shaw House. Dressed for Shaw, an exhibition exploring the key moments in Shaw House's history through clothes, delves into the more personal stories and secrets of those who energized the House over the last 400 years. Through period dress,...

Fiction can be a historian's greatest source of contemporary information if used correctly, and the study of fashion history is no different... Bridal fashion in particular! In this episode of Silhouettes I explore: How and why we can use fiction, books, short stories, poems and more to get first-hand accounts of what people were wearing in history. The ways we can use these same skills to explore the wedding fashion of eras from the 18th century all the way to the mid century, from...

How fashionable was the real Queen Charlotte, and did she love the gossip of the town as much as the woman we see in screen? With the new Bridgerton series ‘Queen Charlotte’ looming, it was time to dedicate an episode to the real life of the fascinating woman the series' star is based on. So let's explore the story of the REAL Queen Charlotte - botanist, scientist, composer - and compare her story to that of the glittering Queen depicted in Bridgerton. This is a preview of a Silhouettes:...

Weddings and traditions go hand in hand, and in today's episode I take you around the world to explore exactly that! Including: The first documented mention of a wedding dress The formal costume of weddings across the globe Wedding fashion and customs in the ancient world, from ancient Babylon to Athens Some of the origins of our most famous wedding sayings- why DO we wear 'something blue' 💙 and does the phrase ‘tying the knot’ have anything to do with clothes? and much,...

Have you ever sat down and pictured your wedding, the table plan, the flowers, the dress…. If you’re anything like me and my childhood friends, you’ve even designed your own wedding dress more times than you’d like to admit. And, the chances are, that you imagined yourself in a white dress.  But, why? On this episode of Silhouettes, we discuss how and why we have got to the point in western society of defining a bride by the colour of her dress, uncovering the misunderstood origins of the...

Become a Patreon subscriber to support the podcast and gain access to bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/silhouettespodcast This is just a little update episode to announce my new venture, Silhouettes: Behind The Seams, which will be available exclusively to Patreon and Spotify Subscribers. As a British person asking for, or even suggesting, money's involvement doesn't come very naturally to me, but after a number of people expressed and interest I'm excited to give it a try! I'll be...

In this very exciting episode, myself and dress historian Kate Strasdin continue our conversation, now turning our attention to the wider world of Fashion History.  It's importance, the misconceptions and stereotypes of the subject and ways people interested in the field can get their foot in the door.  Kate Strasdin is a dress historian who has been fascinated by old clothes since she was a child.  She is a lecturer in Cultural Studies at Falmouth University and is a freelance consultant...

In this very exciting episode, myself and dress historian Kate Strasdin delve deep and explore the secrets of a Victorian woman's wardrobe through the autobiographical pieces of fabric she left behind in a mysterious scrap book over 200 years ago... Kate Strasdin is a dress historian who has been fascinated by old clothes since she was a child.  She is a lecturer in Cultural Studies at Falmouth University and is a freelance consultant for dress and textile exhibitions and has appeared as an...

With a history spanning from as early 3150 BC, running all the way until mid-600 AD, the colossal reign of The Ancient Egyptians is an era in little need of introduction.   Their instantly recognizable look is one known the world over- for good reason, Despite the truly ancient nature of this culture, we as historians are fortunate with the immaculate condition so many artifacts of this era have been preserved in, offering us a uniquely in-depth insight into a civilization founded over 5000...

Without a doubt, one of the most recognizable eras of fashion is the Romans.  The unmistakable toga and laurel crown combination represent an era that spanned over 1000 years of human history... but have we got it all wrong?   What if the stark white togas we all know, and associate with this time in history, weren't common place at all.  In this episode of Silhouettes Iconic Eras series, we travel back to as early at 476CE to explore Ancient Rome, their early influences, the simplicity of...