Позволю себе процитировать запись из ЖЖ-сообщества antique fashion. Безумно красивые платья из музея Виктории и Альберта

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Mantua, detail of back drapery. Silk embroidered with coloured silks and
silver-gilt thread in a pattern of flowers and urns on a diaper border.
England, 1740s
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Corset. Silk and satin. France, 1890.
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Coat & Skirt. Linen. France, c.1894-95.
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Mantua, detail of cuff. Spitalfields silk, brocaded with coloured floral
sprays on a white damask ground, edged with blonde lace. England, 1750s.
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Dating from 1775-1780 this flower pattern gown is made from Chinese painted
silk and silk taffeta. Lined with linen, the gown is hand sewn and has been
altered at some point in the late 1800s.
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This unusual brown and cream dress dates from circa 1888. Made from satin
with machine embroidered panels and collar, cuffs and front made from silk,
the dress has a pattern of vertical warp-figured stripes which are carried
through onto the collar.
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An elaborate off the shoulder white court dress made from silk and silk
tulle. The dress is trimmed with hand and machine embroidered silk
openwork, and silk ribbon in a red rose pattern. It is lined with silk and
reinforced with whalebone.
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This brocaded purple and pink silk gown dates from the late 1700s. Complete
with petticoat, it is trimmed with a fly fringe, lined with linen and
hand-sewn.
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Open robe, detail of cuff. Figured silk in a pattern of flowers and leaves.
England, 1750s.
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Mantua Dress, view of inside train, by unknown designer. Dress. England,
c.1730
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A woman's wedding day will always be her greatest opportunity to indulge
herself with the most beautiful clothes and adornments that she can afford,
and the situation was no different in the mid 19th century. A wedding
bonnet such as this one in white satin, trimmed with sprigs of imitation
orange blossom, would have made many a prospective bride's head turn. It is
fashioned in the classic coal scuttle shape and finished with white
netting.
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This 18th century mantua and petticoat are examples of the very grandest
style of court dress. The wide skirt sits over pannier hoops and though it
forced the wearer to go sideways through doors, it had the advantage of
displaying a large area of lavish decoration. This mantua is made from
cream silk and has been embroidered with coloured silk and silver threads.
Elaborate flower designs such as these were typical of the rococo style of
the 1740's and 1750's in England. Not only designed to impress the
beholder, they were also botanically very accurate.
И еще ссылки на кое-какие картинки в боьлшом разрешении.
http://picasaweb.google.ru/ternovnik/HistoricalFas...artV/photo#5113694139122942514
http://picasaweb.google.ru/ternovnik/HistoricalFas...rtIV/photo#5143141426398705042
http://picasaweb.google.ru/ternovnik/HistoricalFas...rtIX/photo#5113681494739222386