‘Spanning five centuries, this is the largest and most comprehensive collection of dress in the world. Key items include rare 17th century gowns, 18th century ‘mantua’ dresses, 1930s eveningwear, 1960s daywear and post-war couture.’ vam.ac.uk
Ok so! Completely and utterly obsessed with this room in the V&A. Not only is this a great place for life drawing and people watching (lolol), it is the perfect place for me to find costume and story ideas. As discussed in my presentation on ‘historical accuracy in animation’ I think that while it can vary on a case by case basis, historical accuracy in the costumes is a lovely element to commit to. Even if its just small details such as silhouettes of the time, popular colours or a particular length of skirt I think historically accurate costumes can add an immersive element to a design.
The following dresses can be found in Room 40 of the V&A: