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103 Historical Garments That Would Break The Internet If Anyone Wore Them Today (New Pics)
Fashion cycles often mean that looks which were cool, say, 20 years ago, come back into style. The overarching lesson is that good looks are eternal. But fashion still keeps evolving, since preferences change and technologies develop that allow us to create with newer and more interesting materials and patterns.
However, that doesn’t mean that newer is always better. We’ve gathered some of the coolest and most interesting garments and accessories from the past. Get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments section down below.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Audrey Hepburn Wearing Hubert De Givenchy For Film "Sabrina" In 1954
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#2
A Peacock Feather Necklace, Made Of Blackened Gold, Sapphires, Diamonds And Emeralds. Made By Boucheron In 1889 Ce [2560x4044]
#3
Court Dress With Bodice, Skirt And Train Of Embroidered Silk And Silk Tulle, Made In Great Britain, Circa 1860-1865
#4
Button Front Black Silk Faille Ball Gown With Contrasting Bright Pink Silk Lining Designed By Pierre Balmain, Circa 1950
#5
Balmain Haute Couture. Black Velvet Cocktail Dress, Circa 1953
#6
Dress Designed By Madame Grès To Be Worn By Actress Danièle Delorme For Her Appearances In Jean Anouih's Play "Antigone", Made Of Silk Jersey, 1944. Kyoto Costume Institute
#7
Gown Worn By Queen Victoria Of Sweden, Made Of Silk Satin, Decorated With Silver Thread Embroidery, And Pleated Tulle, 1906. Statens Historiska Museer
#8
Evening Dress By Edward Molyneux, 1924
Mrs Irish Mom 7 months ago
Wow 😍 this is my favourite one on the list so far. For a dress so far back as 1924 its so timeless and the details and shape are just stunning
#9
"Little Horses" Flapper Dress, Made Of Soft Green Silk Crepe Fabric Cut On Bias, Decorated With White Glass Beads In A Grecian Style, Designed By Madeleine Vionnet In C. 1924
#10
1920's French Royal-Blue Beaded Silk & Metallic Gold Lamé Lace Flapper Dress
#11
Dress, Petticoat, Wool-Blend Cloth With Appliqué Embroidery In Art Nouveau-Style Flowers, 1898, Paris, Created By Coguenhem & Co
#12
Grace Kelly's Blue Silk Chiffon Dress In To Catch A Thief (1955)
#13
J'adore Dior For Valentine’s Day
#14
Grace Kelly At Her Wedding 18 April, 1956 Designer: Helen Rose. Perhaps The Most Beautiful Wedding Dress Of All Time
#15
Woman's Gown, Circa 1780-85, Scottish (Sewing), Cream Silk Lustring Painted With Sprays Of Flowers, Butterflies, British (Painting); Silk, Linen, Hand-Woven, Hand-Painted, Hand-Sewn
#16
Ballet Costume Worn By Anna Pavlova For "The Swan", C. 1910s-1920s
#17
Empress Elisabeth’s (Sisi, Austria) Court Dress Of Black Moire Silk With Lace Trim And Rich Jet Bead Embroidery, Circa 1885 Created By Fanni Scheiner
#18
French Evening Dress, Cotton And Metalic Thread, Circa 1805-10
#19
A Rare Pierre Balmain Couture Ballgown, 'Soir À Chambord' Model, Summer 1961
#20
Us Actress Maude Adams On Her Outfits For The Theater Play "The Eaglelet" 1900. 3 Piece Black Suit
Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47) 7 months ago
"Maude Adams, was an American actress and stage designer who achieved her greatest success as the character Peter Pan, first playing the role in the 1905 Broadway production of Peter Pan; or, The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up. Adams's personality appealed to a large audience and helped her become the most successful and highest-paid performer of her day, with a yearly income of more than $1 million during her peak." <-- Wiki
#21
Women Of The 1950s And Their Neckline Styles
#22
Coat Made Of Silk, With A Gorgeous Peacock Design On The Back, Made In Japan, C. 1900. The Met
#23
Marilyn Monroe's Crème And Blue Ombre Satin And Tulle Gown By Travilla From There's No Business Like Show Business. (1954)
#24
"Lily" Evening Gown (1896) By The House Of Worth, Worn By Elisabeth De Caraman-Chimay, Comtesse Greffulhe, Original Photograph By Nadar
Sara Frazer 7 months ago
Am I the only one who thinks the front and back of the dress shown under looks completely different..?? I mean both are stunning, but it would be valuable information if any changes/alterations were made
#25
Dance Dress From The Duchy Of Alba (1896)
#26
Silk Tulle Dress By London Couturier Hardy Amies, 1960
#27
Evening Dress, 1919, Gustave Beer, House Of Beer, Kyoto Costume Institute
#28
Gala Dress Of Queen Maud, Circa 1937
#29
Model Ivy Nicholson Wearing Two Intricately Sculpted Evening Gowns By The French Couturier Jacques Griffe (1952-1953)
#30
Evening Dress By Bruyère CA. 1953
#31
A Rich Deep Blue Silk Velvet Afternoon Dress By Nanna Bagge (1890)
#32
Mantle, Spanish CA 1804
#33
Pair Of Silk Knitted Stockings Embroidered With Sequins And Beads, France, 1900 [4320 X 4320]
#34
Evening Gown, By Charles James, CA. 1948-1949
#35
Unknown Woman From The Mid Xix Century In This Beautiful Black Dress (Or Maybe Just Dark Colour)
#36
My 88-Year-Old Grandpa In Ss2000 Issey Miyake Men By Takashi Murakami X Naoki Takizawa
Mrs Irish Mom 7 months ago
Looks like super Mario mushroom pj's but hea he is pulling it off, he looks fab, love his model pose
#37
The Bar Suit - Dior - 1947
Nicole Weymann 7 months ago
I can't decide if I like it or not with that weird mannequin wearing/misrepresenting it.
#38
Evening Dress, Jean Dessès Fall Winter 1953-54, French, Silk
#39
Ball Gown By Jacques Doucet, Silk Velvet, Silk Satin, Circa 1890s
#40
Evening Dress, French, Circa 1913, Designed By Jeanne Victorine Margaine Lacroix, Silk, Metal, Gelatin
#41
Drew Barrymore's Costume As Danielle In The Film 'Ever After: A Cinderella Story', 1998 Designed By Jenny Beavan
#42
Teal And Gold Chiffon Evening Ensemble By Peggy Hoyt, American, Circa 1921
#43
Actress Janet Leigh With Her Daughter Jamie Lee Curtis, 29 Of September 1979
#44
Cristóbal Balenciaga Fall Winter 1950 Haute Couture, Pink Silk Tulle And Satin Evening Dress With Silver Metal Embroidery. This Dress Was Worn By Dovima In Harper's Bazaar 1950 Photographed By Richard Avedon
#45
11-13 Of February Of 1903, "Winter Ball" Of The Russian Empire
Pieter LeGrande 7 months ago
If only they had colour film in those days. Probably a riot of colour, but this just looks quite sombre.
#46
Lauren Bacall’s Evening Set By Norman Norell; Gold Sequined Camel Silk Jersey "Mermaid" Sheath Dress And Cashmere Straightline "Subway Coat" With Sequined Lining
#47
Pink Brocade Ballgown By London Couturier John Cavanagh, C. 1958
#48
A Serpentine Evening Dress Of Crêpe Backed Silk Satin (1932)
#49
Hand Embroidered & Sequinned Pink Silk Cheongsam Dress, 1920s
#50
Cape For A Child, Burnous, Twill-Weave Woollen Cloth In Peacock Blue Embroidered In Cream Silk Thread And Tassel, Anglo-Indian, Circa 1860-70
#51
A Jeanne Lanvin By Antonio Castillo Couture Evening Dress, Autumn-Winter 1956-57
Sara Frazer 7 months ago
The one on the left looks like a scamazon reproduction of the dress...the designs/length/straps???! don't match up....
#52
Dark Red Silk Brocade Day Dress, Circa 1881
#53
Vivienne Westwood Designs Made With Carpets From Brintons Carpets For The 1995 Vw X Bc Collaboration
#54
Women's Boots With Red Lacing, CA. 1900
Stephanie Did It 7 months ago
I don't even want to know how long it took to put those on and re-lace them.
#55
American Women Workdress For Outside Labour, Hand Sewn Cotton Denim Jacket, Circa 1850
Lyone Fein 7 months ago
I’m glad they included this one. It’s a good reminder that all the rest of these clothes were out of reach for the overwhelming majority of women.
#56
Woman's Dress Ensemble, Portugal, C. 1845
#57
Evening Dress Designed By Pat Rogers From Maison La Petite Melbourne In 1956. The Dress Was Worn By Model Anne Chapman And Photographed By Athol Shmith
#58
A Black Family In The Early 1900s, Dressed To The Nines!
#59
House Of Worth Wedding Dress, Circa 1869
#60
The Wedding Dress Of King George Iv’s Daughter, Princess Charlotte Of Wales. 1816
Sara Frazer 7 months ago (edited)
Uh, HOW OLD WAS SHE? Edit: ah, she was 20, but the style/angle (?) of this dress makes it look very small....she passed in 1817 at age 21, in childbirth
#61
Charles James, Tree Evening Dress, 1957
#62
Ensemble Consisting Of A Casaquin, A Stomacher, And A Skirt, With Large Motifs, Including The Tree Of Life Inspired By Indian Chintz
#63
French Evening Dress, Created For Queen Alexandra Of United Kingdom For Her Use During A Period Of Half-Mourning For The Passage Of Queen Victoria
PrettyJoyBird 7 months ago
" Half-mourning was the final stage of Victorian-era mourning, acting as a transition from strict, all-black "deep mourning" back to normal life. Lasting typically three to six months, it involved wearing muted, respectful colors like lavender, mauve, grey, or white, alongside black, while allowing for more elaborate jewelry, such as pearls or jet. " (google)
#64
Princess Diana Arrives At The Premiere Of "A View To Kill" 24 Of May 1985 On A Silver Lame Dress
#65
Evening Ensemble By Unknown Creator. Hand-Painted Silk Crepe, Chiffon Crepe, Silk Faille, Silver Bouillion, Mercury-Lined Glass Beads & Glass Disks, 1899/1901
#66
1930s Wedding Dresses
1. Callot Soeurs, 1930. Dress made of silk, plastic, linen, and leather with a show-stopping cathedral-length train
2. Ivory satin spencer wedding jacket with long ruched train, 1931. Designed by Jeanne Lanvin
3. Elizabeth’s wedding dress in Frankenstein (1931). Costume design by Vera West
4. Wedding ensemble by Jacques, Chicago, 1933
#67
Pepa Flores's Wedding Dress (I Love That Hooded Veil, Is Inspired By The Mallorcan Mantilla)
#68
French Evening Dress Designed By House House Of Patou, Circa1947-49
#69
Woman's Dress, England, Circa 1830
PrettyJoyBird 7 months ago
The waist bow sash/ribbon and bottom pearl jewel detailing are wonderful.
#70
Regency Burgundy Silk Velvet Jeweled Cutout Back Bias Gown With Train, 1930s
#71
Ball Gown Designed By Christian Dior And Worn By Swedish Baroness Suzanne Palmstierna, Made Of Silk Crêpe De Chine Overlaid With Ivory Guipure Lace, 1950 ✨
PrettyJoyBird 7 months ago (edited)
a see thru short cape/shawl for shoulders would be perfect
#72
Evening Dress By Unidentified Artist, Created Between 1908 And 1913
#73
Unknown Young Woman From The Mid Xix Century
#74
Lady Ashburton (1866-1904), Née Mabel Edith Hood. At The Devonshire Ball, 2 Of July Of 1897
#75
France Silk Velvet Evening Dress By Madame Grès, Fall Winter 1956-57
#76
Womens Evening Dress By House Of Worth
#77
The Ringlet Victorian Hairstyle
#78
White Striped Reception Gown, American Or European, Late 1860s
#79
A Very Mackie Christmas
Liliana Spiro 7 months ago
Bob Mackie- the designer behind Cher's and Elton John's most outlandish garments. This piece is (as per a quick web search) from 1989 and was designed for the San Francisco Opera's production of 'Lulu'. Sadly, the trimming is fox fur :(
#80
Evening Gown, House Of Worth, 1910-12
#81
Nena Von Schlebrügge (Uma Thurman's Mother) In A Two-Piece Velvet Dress By Larry Aldrich 💎 Vogue, 1961
PrettyJoyBird 7 months ago
Wow her daughter looks identical. Not seen photo of her mom before.
#82
Ensemble, American Or European, Circa 1855, Silk
#83
Silk Moiré Evening Dress Ballgown By Ww Ullberg And Company, Circa 1865, Worn By Countess Anna Fridica Wilhelmina Von Hallwyl
PrettyJoyBird 7 months ago (edited)
Google says this was year she got married 1865 so maybe a wedding dress. She was 21 years of age. She was Swedish married a Swiss Count Van Hallwyl. She founded the Hallwyl Museum in Stockholm.
#84
Kodachrome Slides Of Kimonos In The 1950s. The Colours And The Silk Just Pop
#85
Silver Metallic Crochet Evening Gown By Kostio De War (CA. 1938)
#87
Woman Mountanier Stops At The Top Of A Glacier To Look While Using Sunglasses To Proecte Her From Snow Blindness, 1890s. Probably The Alps
#88
In Honor Of Olivia Hussey's Death, One Of The Gowns She Wore In The 1968 Romeo & Juliet
#89
Hot Pink Corset Of Satin With Hand-Made Bobbin Lace, Possibly Made In England, 1890-1895
Liliana Spiro 7 months ago
I don't think I've ever seen a corset from that era in such a vibrant color.
#90
White Ball Gown, Cotton With Blue Silk Sash And Bow, French, CA. 1860, Worn By Alexandra, Princess Of Wales
#91
Student Fashion At Smith College 1948
#92
British Silk Pliad Dress Circa 1830
#93
Dance Dress, Probably Lucile Ltd., New York, Silk, Fur, Metallic Thread, 1939
#94
Court Dress, British, 1750
#95
American Ball Gown Circa 1820
#96
Austrian Actress Marie Schleinzer (1874-1949) In Her Excentric "Bat-Woman" Dress, Made With Real Taxidermy Bats. Circa 1900s
Kiki Likes Sweets 7 months ago
The woman at the bottom is thinking " oh god, shes wearing the bats again, isn't she?"
#97
American Woman Wearing Black Taffeta Dress And Lace Shawl, 1847-1853
#98
Legendary Olympic Track Athlete Florence Griffith Joyner Was Considered As Much An Athlete As A Fashion Icon
#99
Paco Rabanne - 1960s
#100
Green Silk Dress, American Circa 1868
Bored Jellyfish 7 months ago
I feel like this was the inspiration for Scarlett’s curtain dress.
#101
Evening Coat, House Of Worth, Designer: Jean-Philippe Worth, 1901
#102
Light, Flowy, Tinny Waist 1900's Gown
#103
Today A Novelity, But When First Came Into Public, Photos In Fabric Kind Of Exploded, 8 Of December 1947
Sara Frazer 7 months ago
Imagine having a dress of your own face....omg the bottom reminds me of "waifu" pillows 💀
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What do you think ?
Gingersnap In Iowa 7 months ago
Thank you! I love posts like this because I'm a girly girl at heart and played dress up. My younger self imagined I looked as beautiful as the women who wore these clothes.
Bored Jellyfish 7 months ago
Seeing what’s being worn to various acting/music award events, I’m a 100% sure none of these here would “Break the Internet”.
Mike F 7 months ago
Thank you. I figured I better hurry before this breaks the internet. 🤪
Load More Replies... Gingersnap In Iowa 7 months ago
Thank you! I love posts like this because I'm a girly girl at heart and played dress up. My younger self imagined I looked as beautiful as the women who wore these clothes.
Bored Jellyfish 7 months ago
Seeing what’s being worn to various acting/music award events, I’m a 100% sure none of these here would “Break the Internet”.
Mike F 7 months ago
Thank you. I figured I better hurry before this breaks the internet. 🤪
Load More Replies...
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