With their elaborate mourning rituals and overt memorialisation of death, the Victorians embraced the concept of a better life in heaven. Death was not a tragedy, but to die and not be properly mourned was a deep fear. Funerals and events attached to the burying, immortalising, and remembering of the dead took on enormous importance. […]
In a felicitous display of fabulosity, the latest exhibition at London’s Fashion and Textile Museum – Zandra Rhodes: 50 Years of Fabulous – plays host to the lifetime’s output of its colourful founder and resident, Dame Zandra Rhodes. The largest presentation of her work yet showcases a design for every year of her career, and […]
There was a time when hats were expected, not just on formal occasions, but for everyday wear. In the 1950s, a woman without a hat was less likely to be served in a shop and was highly unlikely to be seen in a church. Hats are no longer considered a vital part of an outfit, […]
Descending a staircase adorned with trademark fashion illustrations to a narrow entrance area featuring Dior’s New Look, I realize this is likely to become a bottleneck for visitors, though probably not as uncomfortable as being squeezed into the 19-inch waist of the silk Shantung jacket from the Bar suit that has come to epitomize the house of Dior’s Corolle silhouette.
No one would have guessed that the Great Pottery Throw Down would make for compelling television entertainment, let alone that BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour would be running its own craft competition to celebrate the programme’s 70th anniversary. Likewise, few could have anticipated the rise and rise of craft, at a time when ‘authenticity’ is everywhere, […]
Whether you go to London’s new Design Museum to see the architecture or the exhibits, you are unlikely to be disappointed. Hailed by original founder and inspirational octogenarian, Sir Terence Conran as, “a cathedral of design,” and “the most important moment of my career in design… so far,” the museum brings to life a dream […]
The V&A’s new show is much more than just an exhibition – it’s an emotional journey, and a truly mind-blowing experience. Give yourself at least half a day to see this, as there is so much to take in, including news stories, sociology, fashion, films, music, art, design and material culture. The history of this […]
Apologies for the digital downtime, but we’ve been working on Visuology Issue 5. The new issue will be out soon. Meantime, we are going to make our posts here brief and photo heavy – there will be plenty to read in the magazine. As well as giving you a sneak preview of the magazine on our […]
Peacocks are known to be aggressive. A London boxing gym is even named after the pugnacious bird. But peacocks are nothing to be scared of – they have appeared in art and fashion throughout the ages. In China, peacocks are a manifestation of the mythical phoenix and linked to fame, luck, divinity, rank power and beauty: […]
No one bats an eyelid if you mention bums, boobs, or any other ‘b’ words describing ‘sexualized’ parts of the anatomy today. It was different in Victorian times, which is why the word bustle was invented. Victorians were as obsessed with their bodies as we are now. Women wore bustles with corsets to fill out the rump […]