The research blog for all things dress history.

Have you ever heard the song Yankee Doodle and wondered what the opening lines could possibly mean? To find the answer we must travel back to a world of French chateaus, Italian piazzas and Viennese coffee houses to find a group of young men who pushed the boundaries of fashion and style in 18th Century Britain and eventually gained the name of ‘Macaroni’.

When asked to imagine a spy, what springs to mind for you? Perhaps it’s the classic trench coat and newspaper, or maybe you’re more of a 007 fan. Whilst characters like James Bond tend to take the approach of ‘hiding’ in plain sight with a sharp suit and martini in hand, how much do we really know about the costumes and disguises used in 20th Century espionage?

When asked about the 19th Century many people’s minds will immediately jump to the period drama staples of Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott and the Brontë sisters. Others may lean towards Elizabeth Gaskell’s industrial towns or Mary Shelley’s gothic debut. The century, full of rapid changes in technology, science and trade saw many changes in society, culture and, of course, fashion.