For those of you who can't afford the trip to London... or can't afford the V&A book... or can't find the book... or forgot to draw sketches...
Of course, some pictures are extremely dark, colours have suffered, and some are disfigured by reflections, but if you've ever squinted at the exhibits of any decent costume museum, you'll know to appreciate the work of my 30-year-old camera.
If you want to take pictures yourself, do not use a flash. Apart from the fact that light damages textiles, the light would be reflected by the glass. The pictures here have been taken with 400 film, 1/30th sec.exposure and at f-2,8. I recommend 800 film or a didgital camera, which is what I plan to use upon my next visit. The original pictures are, of course, much better than these scans and enough to work by. Better pictures of some items are in the V&A book (see Recommended Books).
| Lace collar on doublet of beige watered silk with parchment lace, 1600-1605 | 
| Doublet, breeches, cloak of yellow slashed and braided satin, 1630s | 
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| Baldric of red velvet with silver-gilt embroidery, 1630s | 
| Slashes and needle lace, 1630s | 
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| Needle lace on boothose and boot (both replica), 1630s | 
| Closeup on needle lace of boothose | 
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| Woman's Jacket, 1630 | 
| Embroidery in dark red wool on linen lady's jacket, c. 1635 | 
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| Shoes: Pigskin with silk ribbon, 1660s (left) and shoe of brocaded satin with protecting clog, c. 1720 | 
| Bodice of beige silk with parchment lace, 1660s | 
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| Coat, breeches and cloak, 1670s | 
| Dress coat of red wool, c. 1700, and Manteau of light blue silk brocaded with metal thread, c. 1720 | 
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| Dress coat of brown wool embroidered with silver-gilt thread, 1700-1720 | 
| Embroidery on sleeve of same coat | 
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| Metal thread embroidery on waistcoat, late 1720s/early 30s | 
| Cravat of Bruxelles bobbin lace, 1720s | 
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| Dress coat of sprigged red silk velvet embroidered with silver-gilt thread, purl and sequins, 1760s, and red silk Manteau with silver embroidery, 1740s | 
| Pleats in back of same manteau | 
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| Embroidery on above
manteau: upper part of petticoat and bow of train (at right edge) sketch of back and train | 
| Wedding manteau of ivory silk embroidered with coloured silk and silver thread, 1744 | 
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| Lady's shoe of leather with silk and satin braid, 1748 | 
| Man's shirt - note sleeves. 1750s | 
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| Stomacher and sleeve of Contouche of brocaded blue silk with silver bobbin lace, feathers and artificial flowers, 1755-1760 | 
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| Shoe of painted kid, 1760s | 
| Pleats on contouche of chiné silk | 
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| Corset and paniers, c. 1770. In the background, mid-19th-century corset with flat-front crinoline | 
| Suit of cut silk velvet with voided grund, 1770s | 
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| Detail of Unmade Waistcoat, 1772-1775 | 
| Contouche of brocaded silk, 1772 | 
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| Embroidery on waistcoat of cream ribbed silk, 1772 | 
| Contouche of cream silk satin with sprig embroidery, late 1770s | 
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| Garniture on above contouche | 
| Pleats on top of petticoat and sleeve of above contouche | 
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| Machine Embroidery on 1870s wedding dress | 
| Dress of brown satin with machine lace, 1879-81 | 
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| Corset, 1883 | 
| Same corset from side, with folding wire bustle | 
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| Summer day dress of white cotton, 1885 | 
| Promenade or travel suit of linen, 1895 | 
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I didn't bring enough film for the later periods...and the fabrics there are darker, too.
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