Silhouettes: A Fashion History Podcast

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 Manager Katie Godman about the history of the collection and it's origins, Funding Manager Kathrine about the importance of her role, you'll join me as we take an audio tour of the museum's exhibitions, through all the rich, wonderful historical fashions on show - from Regency bonnets to 1950s cocktail dresses - as well as the spaces you've always wanted to visit... behind the locked doors, secret rooms and attic archives!

More information on how to support Blandford Fashion Museum as well as a myriad of information on talks, lectures and the events they offer, can be found on their website: blandfordfashionmuseum.co.uk

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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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 conversation via Wicked Women HERE

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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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? ⚔️

Listen now to find out how long it took for a knight to be dressed, how their armour was designed, formed and smithed, and how heavy a suit of armour ACTUALLY was…🗡️

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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 ✨

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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 re-upload, originally posted August 31st 2020.

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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 🧜‍♀️🦁

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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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 these earlier centuries.

This is a detailed, long and information heavy episode- so grab a cup of tea, get comfortable and travel back in time with me to the early Middle Ages: from the year 400 to 1066 for a true deep-dive into the fascinating, fashionable history of the early Middle Ages 📚

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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 religious and social history of what is now known as the Medieval Times, to give you the ‘how, what and why’ of the history of fashion throughout Europe, from the Norman's to the Anglo Saxons, explaining the political backdrop of fashion changes, the social expectations on all classes throughout the centuries, and most importantly, I explain why it is virtually impossible to do a detailed episode of medieval, history, all hundreds of years of it, in one short episode ✨

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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, from the Farthingale's of the 1580's, to the breeches of the 1640's, frills of the 1730's, and the weathered wool of the 19th century - this exhibition works to better understand how these items shaped the history of Shaw House.

Shaw House is one of the best-preserved Elizabethan mansions in England, and over the centuries has welcomed royalty, seen action during the Civil War, housed soldiers during World War Il and schooled generations of local children and has a rich and fascinating history: and it’s fashions are no stranger.

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Shaw House is free to visit on weekends and during school holidays. More information on the house and this wonderful exhibition, can be found here: ⁠https://www.westberkshireheritage.org/shaw-house⁠

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 fictional weddings to fictional brides.

• The wedding fashion some of fictions most iconic brides; from Miss Havisham to the Bride of Frankenstien, in both their true novelized icarnrtions to their modern media re-imaginings.

“Our mad dream is only half realized. Alone, you have created the man. Now, together, we will create his mate.” Bride of Frankenstien, 1935

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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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: Behind The Seams episode - listen to the whole thing and much more bonus content by supporting the show at the links below ✨

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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, much more!

Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone! ✨👰‍♀️💋

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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 white wedding gown and it’s perceived originator 💍👰‍♀️

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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 doing regular, shorter episodes with a mix of themes, such as interesting findings while researching an episode or little-known fashion history facts that deserve to be discussed, but don't quite fill up enough to make a full episode.

By joining Behind The Seams, you'll not only be supporting the podcast directly and helping to keep creating new and exciting content for you, but you'll also gain access to all of the bonus content we'll be uploading there too. The first of which is available to listen to now!

Spotify listeners can also now support the podcast in just a few taps of their screen by following this link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/silhouettes/subscribe

Once again thank you so much for all the support you've offered this podcast so far, I can't wait to share even more with you in our bonus episodes. See you on Patreon!

Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

Follow the show on Instagram @Silhouettespodcast for more updates

"If we were all wearing the same thing or if we're all wearing nothing at all you might say it doesn't matter, but we don't and it does."

In this episode, I am again joined by dress historian Kate Strasdin, this time 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, hiw and why Fashion History should never be considered 'just for women' and how Kate got her start in working in the world of fashion history.

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. She has appeared as an expert on The Great British Sewing Bee.  In 2016 she was given an anonymous album full of annotated dress swatches that had been kept in a trunk for over fifty years, its original keeper unknown... She spent the next six years unlocking its secrets.

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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-- 

"The hidden fabric of a Victorian woman's life - from family and friends to industry and Empire - told through her unique textile scrapbook.

In 1838, a young woman was given a diary on her wedding day. Collecting snippets of fabric from a range of garments she carefully annotated each one, creating a unique record of her life and times. Her name was Mrs Anne Sykes.  Nearly two hundred years later, the diary fell into the hands of Kate Strasdin, a fashion historian and museum curator. Strasdin spent the next six years unraveling the secrets contained within the album's pages.  Piece by piece, she charts Anne's journey from the mills of Lancashire to the port of Singapore before tracing her return to England in later years. 

Fragments of cloth become windows into Victorian life: pirates in Borneo, the complicated etiquette of mourning, poisonous dyes, the British Empire in full swing, rioting over working conditions and the terrible human cost of Britain's cotton industry.  This is life writing that celebrates ordinary people: the hidden figures, the participants in everyday life. 

Through the evidence of waistcoats, ball gowns and mourning outfits, Strasdin lays bare the whole of human experience in the most intimate of mediums: the clothes we choose to wear."

The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes: Secrets from a Victorian Woman’s Wardrobe is available to buy now (Penguin Vintage/ Chatto & Windus)

In this very exciting episode, myself and dress historian Kate Strasdin 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... We delve into the power fabric has to tell us about people of the past, class, geography, the misconceptions surrounding Victorian fashion and thE unexpected history of fast fashion.

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. She has appeared as an expert on The Great British Sewing Bee.  In 2016 she was given an anonymous album full of annotated dress swatches that had been kept in a trunk for over fifty years, its original keeper unknown... She spent the next six years unlocking its secrets.  

"The hidden fabric of a Victorian woman's life - from family and friends to industry and Empire - told through her unique textile scrapbook.

In 1838, a young woman was given a diary on her wedding day. Collecting snippets of fabric from a range of garments she carefully annotated each one, creating a unique record of her life and times. Her name was Mrs Anne Sykes. Nearly two hundred years later, the diary fell into the hands of Kate Strasdin, a fashion historian and museum curator. Strasdin spent the next six years unravelling the secrets contained within the album's pages. Piece by piece, she charts Anne's journey from the mills of Lancashire to the port of Singapore before tracing her return to England in later years. Fragments of cloth become windows into Victorian life: pirates in Borneo, the complicated etiquette of mourning, poisonous dyes, the British Empire in full swing, rioting over working conditions and the terrible human cost of Britain's cotton industry. This is life writing that celebrates ordinary people: the hidden figures, the participants in everyday life. Through the evidence of waistcoats, ball gowns and mourning outfits, Strasdin lays bare the whole of human experience in the most intimate of mediums: the clothes we choose to wear."

The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes: Secrets from a Victorian Woman’s Wardrobe is ⁠available to buy now⁠ (Penguin Vintage/ Chatto & Windus)

.

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

Follow the show on Instagram @Silhouettespodcast for more updates

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 years ago.  

In this episode of Silhouettes, we explore this fascinating culture, learn more about some of the misconceptions of the era, consider the impact that the icons of the time period such as Queen Cleopatra and Tutankhamun had on the world and what the way they dressed themselves tells us about society 5000 years ago. We also investigate the intriguing way make-up was viewed in this part of history and it's unexpected health benefits.  There's a lot of ground to cover in this episode (almost 3500 years of it!) so let's get stuck in to The Fashion of Ancient Egypt. 

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This episode is part of our Iconic Eras series.  Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

Follow the show on Instagram @Silhouettespodcast for more updates. x

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 we travel back to as early at 476CE to explore Ancient Rome, their early influences, the simplicity of their iconic look, society's disdain for flashiness and how the world has remembered them through mosaic all these years later.  We also touch on many of the forward-thinking beauty routines many of the women of Roman society upheld, the colour purple's significance and the unexpected way people of the time regarded trousers.  There was so much history created in the millennium the Romans ruled and there's a lot to explore in this episode - so let's get into it!

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This episode is part of our Iconic Eras series.  Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

Follow the show on Instagram @Silhouettespodcast for more updates. x

Black beard, Captain Hook, Captain Jack Sparrow… The image of the decorated ‘Pirate’ has pervaded general media for years, made up of a select few recognizable characters, dressed in a select few recognizable garments and accessories, who have come to define our idea of the pirate.  But how true is his image really?  Was this what pirates, captains and seamen actually wear during their time at sea?  In this episode you can expect to hear all about the fashion pursuits of the swashbuckling men and women who sailed the seas in the 18th century ⚓️

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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Bombarded to any historian in the UK through their schooling, we take a trip to the 16th century to examine the pieces that work together to make up the instantly recognizable Tudor silhouette.  As well as this, we explore the mystery behind Anne Boleyn's true identity, asking if she was really the style-icon she is famed to be… and what she truly looked like.  

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This episode is part of our Iconic Eras series.  Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

Follow the show on Instagram @Silhouettespodcast for more updates. x

In this episode, myself and Izzy (from the What The Austen? Podcast) discuss the iconic, diverse fashion styles of the Regency Era, the way fashion is depicted in Jane Austen novels, and just how much fashion from this time period can define an individual, particularly in the regency famous stories of Jane Austen.  Tall, dark and handsome Mr Darcy, we’re looking at you!  

Our last Regency episode has been the most popular to date, with thousands of you tuning in (thank you!), so I couldn't leave you high and dry in a series about ‘iconic eras’ and NOT talk about some more empire waist lines and bonnets 💕

Thanks very much to Izzy from What the Austen?  

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This episode is part of our Iconic Eras series.  Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

Follow the show on Instagram @Silhouettespodcast for more updates. x

This episode features Susan Jonusas; author of “Hell’s Half Acre”, an incredible book focusing on the murderous, infamous Bender family of the American Frontier.  Susan is an expert on the history of the American Frontier, and during the extensive research of her 2022 book encountered a huge amount of fascinating information of the fashion, clothes and imagery of 18th Century America.  

We discuss how, why and where the ‘Cowboy’ style became so recognizable and deep-rooted in our idea of the Americana West.  This is one for fans of fashion, American history and grisly true crime… Yeehaw!  

Additionally, this collaboration episode marks the first in a new series: a deep dive into the fashion of some infamous periods in time, and their ICONIC styles.  From Cowboys, to Regency, to Pirates… this will be a fun ride!

“Hell's Half Acre” (Simon & Schuster UK, 2022) can be purchased from all major retailers 🤠 

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

Follow the show on Instagram @Silhouettespodcast for more updates. x

From poison hats to deadly dresses, history is fraught with fashions and beauty fads that maim, poison, blind and even kill!  In this Silhouettes Halloween Special we explore all the gory, grisly details of deadly styles and their fashion victims.  It's to die for (literally!) 

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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Though commonly perceived as a very modern thing, the history of sportswear is vast and varied, with the yoga pants we know today having roots in the turn of the century.  Through the lens of Tennis, Golf, Football and more, this episode explores what sportswear represented politically and socially, how the idea of leisure time re-defined how we wore clothes and what this all meant for the emancipation of women.

I also dig into the fascinating history of household name brands like Nike, Adidas and Puma to explore the story of how one family's Nazi routes went on to shape active wear forever.  

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This is the final episode our Modern Sentimentalities series.  Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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Fast fashion is seen as a very modern ideal, with the introduction of the internet, social media and the current way of consuming, buying and wearing clothes… but is it?  In this episode we investigate how far back the history of fast, off the rack, ready to wear fashion actually goes and how we can try to combat the steadily growing moral and ethical issues, that are unfortunately pervasive when it comes to this way of consuming clothes, using the methods of the past.

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This is Episode 2 of our Modern Sentimentalities series. Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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Fashion for the larger woman is not just something we have today, but has a long, often tenuous, history.  People have always been curvy, fat, plump (or stout as the term used to be) and how these are not words to shy away from, then or now!  Plus-size fashion has always been along for the ride for generations of gorgeous, gorgeous girls, and in this episode we discuss it's origins, including the unexpected role Amelia Earhart has to play.

-Mild TW for this episode, as I do briefly go into the history of diet culture and ideas towards fatness-

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This is the first episode in a new series focusing on the history behind what many would consider 'modern' fashion trends.  Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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This is one for all you Downton fans!  After the release of the new movie, I decided I HAD to give you all a deep dive into the glorious, sumptuous period costumes seen in Downton Abbey.  This episode will explore the accuracy of the costumes of this iconic series and how much research and effort actually goes into the detailed designs of the fashions worn by the Crawley family, as well as some discussion on the stand out looks from each season. 

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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Is all fashion cyclical?  The similarities between the fashions of the 1920s and 1960s are unbelievable apparent and seems like a topic no one's discussing.  Did you ever notice?  If not, then you certainly will after listening to this episode, in which myself and expert in the field Summer Lee compare and contrast the most iconic looks from both eras, analyzing their very distinct similarities.  We also discuss how music inspired the look in these eras, how youth culture shaped fashion in the post-war world and some of the standout figures of the eras.

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Lois Barnett was awarded her PhD by SOAS in 2020, funded by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and the British Association for Japanese Studies.  Her thesis is entitled 'Consuming the "West": Audiences, Industries, Film and Fashion in Japan (1923-1939)'.  She holds a BA in Japanese Studies and an MA in Global Cinemas and the Transcultural, both from SOAS.  Her work examines the interaction between the consumer-as-audience-member and Japan's transnational film and fashion industries, taking an interdisciplinary approach which considers the role of dress and the cinema in articulating modernity.

Themes that appear in her work include the Modern Girl and Modern Boy, the effect of the onset of sound cinema on costume in the Japanese cinema and the role of body image in marketing sportswear onscreen in the 1930s.

Follow Lois on Instagram @loisjelise

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

Follow the show on Instagram @Sillhouettespodcast for more updates. x

From Palaeolithic times all the way to 1960s Australia, tattoos have been a huge part of human life (and fashion) longer than anyone really knows.  In this Short History episode we delve into the past of these culturally important and iconic body modifications and their significance the world over, and how they quietly crept their way from outsider art to contemporary fashion.

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The cravat, the jabot, the kipper tie, the neckerchief; call it what you will - the humble tie started its life in the military hundreds of years ago, and has a long and fascinating story- from the fashion fad started by a boy prince, to the staple of men's fashion we know today.  In this episode we talk all about the social expectations surrounding traditional male fashion, the idea of ’sharp dressing’ and the connections the tie has with status and the perceived importance in gender identity.

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

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Berets, top hats, deer stalkers... choose your fighter.  Hats, headwear and helmets are a staple part of so many areas of fashion in history, particularly in the west. But they have, and still do, come in a huge and fascinating array of forms.  In this episode I trace the origins of the hat, the variety of diffierent styles, the importance (both socially and politically) of certain types of headwear, as well the story and origin of some of history's most cultural iconic pieces.

Turns out Sherlock Holmes perhaps didn't have a penchant for the famous deerstalker... you'll have listen to find out.

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

Follow the show on Instagram @Sillhouettespodcast for more updates. x

The 2000s really were the Wild West of fashion.  From jeggings to popcorn shirts to Paul’s Boutique bags, everything was seemingly either diamante'd to oblivion, or somehow head-to-toe velour.  

In this episode of Silhouettes I am joined by UK-based influencer Hannah Dorman; TikToker, YouTuber and vat of knowledge on teen fashion today.  We discuss the highs and low of the era, our memories of the what we were ACTUALLY wearing in the 2000s (compared to the much more classy version that’s coming back into fashion today) and the Internet's impact on the clothes we wear.  We touch upon topics like gender expression pre-2011, gendered ideals in fashion towards masculinity/femininity of the late 2000s and the rigidity of choice for fashion in our teens years, circa 2005 to 2010.

This episode is for the nostalgic types looking for a hit of that Y2K magic.  Go book your slot on the phone, connect to the dial-up and get ready for some low-rise memories. 

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.

Follow the show on Instagram @Sillhouettespodcast for more updates. x

Something wicked this way comes!  This week we take a dive into the early influences of Halloween (or All Hallows’ Eve), how costuming evolved, how they can be used as a snapshot of time and the history of trick or treating.  Friend of the podcast & historian Dr. Nick Ellsworth returns to shed some light about the institution of Halloween in the United States.

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Thanks for listening, and stay spooky everyone.

Follow the show on Instagram @Sillhouettespodcast for more updates. x

The world is obsessed with Jane Austen and her representation in media.  In today's episode we discuss the elaborate side of early 19th Century era fashion, everything right and wrong with Bridgerton and... empire-waist hoops skirts?! 

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.  

Follow the show on Instagram @Sillhouettespodcast for more updates. x

Warfare, sex appeal, height; what do you most associate with heels?  This trio of Micro-History episodes concludes with a deep dive into the past of the high-heeled shoe and it's complex, fascinating and somewhat surprising history.  From it's functional beginnings in the military, via it's impact in royal court, all the way through to it's runway debut.  

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.  

Follow the show and get in touch on Instagram @Silllhouettespodcast for more updates. x

From Cleoptra to Queen Elizabeth, we look at some ancient history; of the Egyptians, The Greeks, the Ancient Sumerians, and their relationship will lip colouring, as well as the story of lipstick and it’s social, political and religious development in the west.   Our micro-histories series continues this week with something no make-up bag is complete without: lipstick.  

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.  

Follow the show and get in touch on Instagram @Silhouettespodcast for more updates. x

We're starting a new series this week I'm calling “Micro Histories”, in which I’ll dip my toe into some of the most specific areas of fashion hsitory, looking at what they tell us about wider contexts, and what we can learn from how they develop and change.  First up, something I think most are familiar with, but few know much about: Corsets.

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.  

Follow the show and get in touch on Instagram @Silhouettespodcast for more updates. x

She’s been a teacher, an astronaut, the Prom Queen, a Cali Girl and a Gogo Dancer, but what makes Barbie the icon that she is?  In this episode I go through some of Barbie's most iconic fashions throughout the last 60 years, as well as some of her faux pas, her perception throughout the eras, and her unforgettable hot-pink space suit...

*A PSA as always,  I am by no means a Barbie or fashion doll expert, so I hope I don't offend anyone with any errors or mis-steps I may take!  Barbies fashion repertoire is immense for her 60 years, and it's almost impossible to educate yourself to them all (1000s!) in the space of 2 weeks. But, in my eyes, that what makes her such an amazing figure for study!*

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Thanks for listening, and stay fab everyone.  

Follow the show on Instagram @Silhouettespodcast for more updates. x

Today's episode is about the hugely important Black is Beautiful movement;  which is as important to discuss now more than ever.

I discuss fashion as a political statement, the Black is Beautiful movement, and Black Dandy-ism -among a host of other fascinating experiences I read about during my research.

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Enjoy, educate yourselves and stay fab everyone.

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This episode is all about "Fashion on the Ration''; A well loved topic in the Fashion History community.  We delve into how and why women retained femininity during World War 2,  how they carved out identity,  how uniform became fashion, and, of course, boot polish mascara...

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Enjoy, and stay fab everyone. 

Follow the show on Instagram @Silhouettespodcast for more updates x 

Hello!  I’m Belle and welcome to Silhouettes: a fashion history podcast all about the importance of the clothes we wear.

Why fashion history?  Is it important, is it relevant, is it worthy of study?  In a nutshell, yes!  Fashion history is all about identity, about individuality and about being human.  The past is full of iconic looks that visually represent eras in ways that other areas of study never could.  Fashion reflects a lot more than we may initially assume and I'm excited to share my love of fashion with all you lovely lot.

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Subscribe to be updated when new episodes release and/or follow along on instagram at @sillhouettespodcast
Stay Fab everyone, and enjoy x