FASHIONS 300 YEARS OLD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17353, 19 May 1924, Page 9

FASHIONS 300 YEARS OLD.

Where do the fashions for women originate? A “ Daily Chronicle ” representative has discovered that some of them, at least, originate in the costume galleries of the ietoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, where specimens of gowns and dresses worn during the last three centuries can be seen. Dress designers from tho most fashionable West End milliners’ shops call at the galleries from time to time, sketch a bodice or the fall of a skirt worn by a long dead beauty, and develop it into “ the latest style.” It is amusing to for instance, that the up-to-date panel skirt was worn in Queen Elizabeth's time, and that the nanniered dress, now seen in every dance room, was popular through the eighteenth century. “ Not only dress designers on the lookout for a new idea come to the galleries,” said an attendant. “/We have a'lot of stage people here, too. When a play of the old times is being put on, they study the costumes. Artists who want to paint a historical scene sketch the details from our dresses ”

There is little- difference between shoes of three centuries ago and those fashionable to-day, while tortoiseshell side-combs worn by proud beauties of George ll.*s time would excite little comment if worn now.