Author Archives: Jonathan

About Jonathan

Jonathan Walford is a fashion historian and co-founder of the Fashion History Museum in Cambridge, Ontario. The FHM maintains a collection of nearly 12,000 artifacts dating from the mid 17th century to the present. Jonathan has authored various books and museum catalogues, including The Seductive Shoe, Shoes A-Z, Forties Fashion, 1950s American Fashion, and Sixties Fashion.

Mystery object — Indian Chair, Cleveland Ohio, c. 1860?

Posted on 2019-01-15 by Jonathan

This object was transferred to us from another museum. It was identified as a photographer’s posing stand, which appealed to me because some day I will do an exhibition about how Victorians dressed for the camera. However, I am not … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcements | 2 Comments

Look Away Vegans…

Posted on 2019-01-10 by Jonathan

Posted in Photos | Tagged fur | 2 Comments

My Favourites from the Golden Globes

Posted on 2019-01-06 by Jonathan

I don’t watch any of these awards shows anymore, but I do like seeing the clothes. These are my favourites from the still pictures I found online of tonight’s Golden Globes. I thought they were the best fitting, most flattering, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged 2019 | Leave a comment

Sea Silk

Posted on 2019-01-05 by Jonathan

Sea silk is a rare textile made from byssus, silky filaments made of proteins hardened upon contact with seawater secreted by mollusks to attach themselves to the sea bed. The Pinna nobilis (aka pen shells), which can be up to a metre in length … Continue reading →

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Film Costuming – The Favourite

Posted on 2019-01-01 by Jonathan

The Favourite is a beautiful looking film set in c. 1705. There are stunning wide angle shots especially of scenes at the sprawling Jacobean Hatfield House that stands in for Kensington Palace where the real story took place (Kensington was … Continue reading →

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As Seen In – 1912 Paquin dress

Posted on 2018-12-30 by Jonathan

French evening dress by Paquin from the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Berlin, and the cover of the May 1912 issue of Les Modes with the same model being worn.

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100 Years Ago – The World and Fashion in 1919

Posted on 2018-12-26 by Jonathan

In the wake of the end of the Great War and with the Spanish influenza pandemic in retreat, there must have been great relief to see 1918 come to an end and great hope for 1919. However, the new year … Continue reading →

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Dry Cleaning – Pearl Laundry

Posted on 2018-12-25 by Jonathan

I am often asked “How did they used to keep their clothes clean?” Various forms of dry cleaning have been around for centuries, and many garments such as wool suits were wet washed that today we wouldn’t consider washable. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Canadian dress, Vintage Cleaning tips | Tagged dry cleaning | 5 Comments

The Year in Fashion – 2018

Posted on 2018-12-18 by Jonathan

Fashion in 2018 was more about politics than style. Every fashion headline seemed to be about somebody making a statement or offending someone by their sartorial gaff. Nobody knows this better than Melania Trump whose controversial olive green Zara jacket with “I … Continue reading →

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Fashion in Song – Pucci u say Love (1991)