One of the biggest fashion events of the year took place this week. Celebrities showcased their interpretations of “Tailored For You” at the Met Gala 2025. As always, there were some hits and some horrors on the red carpet. The aim of the dress code was to complement the Costume Institute's spring 2025 exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” Each year, the Institute pays homage to a person, era or style that has shaped the face of fashion. And this year, we were transported back to the 18th century "Black Dandy" era.
In keeping with the fashion history trend, Bored Panda found it fitting to take a trip down the runways of time. We happened upon an online community dedicated to showcasing "historical garments, past patterns, illustrations, demonstrations, perukes, petticoats, hoops, codpieces, houppelandes, hennins, restorations and recreations from long ago." r/FashionHistory has more than 120,000 members and a wall of iconic designs. We've put together a list of their best posts. Keep scrolling for some good-old-fashioned fashion, and don't forget to upvote your favorites.
#1 Callot Soeurs Fall Winter 1928, This Dress Was Designed To Resemble A Long Silk Scarf Draped Around The Body. Expert Embroidery Enhances The Illusion Of A Draped Scarf
Image credits: mish-tea
#2 Sequined Silk Tulle Evening Dress, Ca. 1905-10. Worn By Queen Maud Of Norway And In The Collection Of National Museum Of Art, Architecture, And Design, Oslo
Image credits: mish-tea
#3 Evening Dress By Sadie Nemser 'Secret Garden' 1920’s
Image credits: Melodic-Law-3863
#4 Dior ‘Flamant Rose’ Gown, 1948
Image credits: Melodic-Law-3863
#5 Evening Dress, Capelet, Belt And Slip, Circa 1933, French
Image credits: mish-tea
#6 Madame Gres Evening Dress, 1944
Image credits: Hooverpaul
#7 'la Primavera' Dress By Rosa Genoni, 1906. The Dress Was Inspired By Flora's Dress In Sandro Botticelli Famous Painting 'Allegory Of Spring'
Image credits: mish-tea
#8 Silk Evening Dress Designed By Charles James, 1938
Image credits: WistfulHush
#9 Queen Alexandra's Purple Silk Chiffon Dress By Maison Doeuillet, 1910, With Lavish Embroidery In Silver Thread, Bugle Beads And Diamante. Fashion Museum Of Bath, Prais
Image credits: mish-tea
#10 Tsarina Maria Alexandrovna Was The First Wife Of Tsar Alexander II And Wore This Silver Silk And Brocade Dress For Her Husband's Coronation In 1856, Russia
Image credits: mish-tea
#11 Christian Dior Spring Summer 1950 “Debussy” Sequined Evening Gown Worn By Margot Fonteyn, One Of The Most Famous Ballerina Ever
Image credits: mish-tea
#12 Silk Evening Dress & Coat By Pierre Balmain 1952
Image credits: mish-tea
#13 Evening Dress By House House Of Worth Circa 1898–1900
Image credits: mish-tea
#14 Silk And Lace Dress, Circa 1886-7
Image credits: anon
#15 Evening Dress, 1926, Callot Soeurs. (Drexel University)
Image credits: Hooverpaul
#16 "Beetlewing Dress" Worn By Ellen Terry As Lady Macbeth In The Lyceum Theatre Production Of "Macbeth", 1888 & "Ellen Terry As Lady Macbeth", Painting By John Singer Sargent, 1889 ✨
Image credits: KatyaRomici00
#17 1960’s Beaded Flower Power Cocktail Dress
Image credits: Hooverpaul
#18 Grace Kelly's Gold Dress In The Film '' To Catch A Thief '', 1954
Image credits: Haunting_Homework381
#19 A 4500 Year Old Egyptian Dress
It was painstakingly reassembled from approximately 7000 beads which were found in an undisturbed tomb (G7442, Shaft Z), at Giza and not put together for more than 60 years after it was discovered in 1927
Image credits: TN_Egyptologist
#20 Evening Dress, 1909, By Callot Soeurs, Paris, Silk Mesh Embellished With Celluloid Sequins And Paste Gems
Image credits: mish-tea
#21 A Beautifully Embroidered Ball Dress By Pierre Balmain (Ca. 1953-1954)
Image credits: _sara_rose
#22 Three Piece Ball Gown With Straw Embroidery, Circa 1865, Silk, Cotton, Straw, Hand Sewn, Hand Embroidered
Image credits: mish-tea
#23 Gorgeous Gown And Cape Worn By Michelle Pfeiffer As Titania In The 1999 Film Adaptation Of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”,designed By Gabriella Pescucci
Image credits: mish-tea
#24 Evening Gown Circa 1930s, Made Of Purple Velvet Trimmed With Small Silver Studs And Crystal Beads
Image credits: mish-tea
#25 Costume Designed By William Travilla For Marilyn Monroe For The Movie "There's Is No Business Like Show Business" 1956 (Swipe Left To See The Dress In Movement)
Image credits: mish-tea
#26 Evening Dress, Circa 1810, England, Silk Net, Embroidered With Red Chenille Thread, With Silk Ribbon, Hand-Sewn
Image credits: mish-tea
#27 Evening Dress, French And American, Designer Mainbocher, Circa 1938
Image credits: mish-tea
#28 Ballgown, 1890. House Of Worth
Image credits: Hooverpaul
#29 Evening Ensemble 1954
Image credits: blooturtletoo
#30 Tea Gown, Worth, Circa 1895. Indoor Dress Owned By The Countess Greffulhe
Image credits: anon
#31 Costume Designed By Walter Plunkett, Worn By Vivien Leigh As Scarlett O'hara In Gone With The Wind 1939. The Gown Was Made Of Silk Velvet, Glass Beads And Ostrich Feathers
Image credits: mish-tea
#32 Transformation Dress With Bee Motif By Jacques Doucet, Paris, Circa 1900-1905
Image credits: mish-tea
#33 Evening Gown Designed By Norman Hartnell, 1957
Norman Hartnell was renowned for his exemplary couture creations for The Queen in the 1950s and 1960s. Worn by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth for a lavish dinner at the British Embassy
Image credits: mish-tea
#34 “Antonia” Evening Dress By Pierre Balmain , Spring Summer 1954 Collection
Image credits: mish-tea
#35 House Of Worth Haute Couture Beaded Butterfly Motif Silk Gown & Headpiece, 1912
Image credits: Persephone_wanders
#36 American Evening Dress:bodice, Skirt And Underbodice, Silk Brocade, Cotton, Linen, Lace, Circa 1850
Image credits: mish-tea
#37 Mountaineering Ensemble, Circa 1890
Image credits: mish-tea
#38 Evening Silk Dress, Circa 1865-68 With Brussels Lace Overskirt. Musee Du Costume Et De La Dentelle
Image credits: mish-tea
#39 Russian Court Dress By Worth Ca. 1888, Indianapolis Museum Of Art
Image credits: anon
#40 Wedding Dress, By Norman Hartnell, Circa 1933. Worn By British Socialite Margaret Whigham, Later Duchess Of Argyll, For Her Marriage To Charles Sweeny
Image credits: mish-tea
#41 "Mexique" Evening Dress By Christian Dior Autumn Winter Haute Couture 1951, The Longue Collection
Image credits: mish-tea
#42 Evening Dress
Made of pattern-woven light blue silk damask with motifs of lilies of the valley and leaves, decorated with wavy pleated silk borders, pearl borders and pearl embroidered flowers with large pearl pendants, 1860s. Gothenburg City Museum
Image credits: KatyaRomici00
#43 Madam Hayward "Going-Away" Dress Worn By Elizabeth Holms-Kerr After Her Wedding. Made Of Sapphire Blue Wool And Velvet, With Soutache Embroidery
Image credits: mish-tea
#44 Dramatic Red And Black, Crinoline, Tassel Embellished Day Dress, Circa 1865-1868
Image credits: mish-tea
#45 Velvet Ensemble With Gilded Silver Thread Embroidery And Coral Beads, Circa Mid 17th Century
Image credits: mish-tea
#46 Fancy Dress Costume Consisting Of Embroidered Silver Satin Dress And Lace Ruff Worn By 'Duchess Of Savoia', England, Early 1897
Image credits: mish-tea
#47 Evening Dress By Sadie Nemser 'Midnight Garden' 1920’s
Image credits: Melodic-Law-3863
#48 Evening Dress And Shawl With Jewel Beetle-Wing Embroidery, While Mull, Silk, Circa 1850, India (?)
Image credits: mish-tea
#49 Court Dress Of Empress Maria Feodorovna (Sophie Dorothea Of Württemberg), 1820s. State Hermitage Museum
Image credits: mish-tea
#50 French Ball Gown, Silk, Designed By Emile Pingat, Maison Pingat Circa 1864
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Image credits: mish-tea
