I spent a lazy Sunday catching up on the many posts I am unable to read during the week. Imagine my delight when I landed on Madame Guillotine’s blog and read her impressions about her visit to the Fashion Museum in Bath. With increasing excitement, I viewed her close up images of several of the most beautiful 18th and early 19th century gowns imaginable. Melanie graciously allowed me to showcase her posts. (I concentrated on the early 19th century examples.) Do rush over and view all her photos. They are simply amazing.
I have just got home after an amazing couple of hours spent studying some of the eighteenth century dresses in the vast collections (I think they said they have 80,000 pieces in their archives) of the Fashion Museum in Bath.
English, silk, 1770-73.
It was amazing seeing the hook and eye arrangements that they used to do up the bodices, the neat seam work and even the staining beneath the armpits which serves as a reminder that these are the real deal and not just mere costumes!
French, sacque gown, 1760-63. Image @Madame Guillotine
They were really keen on combinations of pink and green during the eighteenth century – a colour combination that seems to have vanished from fashion, alas.
A floral printed muslin from 1793-97. Image @Madame Guillotine
[This dress] is really is lovely – very floaty and romantic with a pretty floral print. You can really imagine Marianne Dashwood in this one!
Muslin dress, 1813-20. Image @Madame Guillotine
This dress was so beautiful but really worryingly see through! You forget this about muslin when you see them in period dramas…
Patterned muslin dress, 1815-20. Image @Madame Guillotine
This is the sort of thing that a Heyer heroine would have worn.
These images are just a foretaste of the many photos that Melanie took at the Fashion Museum. To read both her posts, click on the two links below:
Jane Austen's World 
Those dresses and the fabric are amazingly beautiful. I love the colors….pinks and greens are favorites of mine. The colors, textures, delicacy etc. are just stunning. Thanks so much for sharing the links and these pics
Just amazing – so delicate. Pink and green still exist in brighter hues in Lilly Pulitzer.
Wow! That was a fascinating and diverting trip back in time. Thanks for putting that out there. I’d never heard of Madame Guillotine before so thanks for the introduction. The dresses were beautiful.