The nineteenth-century Italian aristocrat Virginia Oldoini, Countess de Castiglione, has been cast in many lights: narcissist, courtesan, spy, exhibitionist. In the photo studio of Mayer & Pierson, she played all these parts and one more-the role of self-portraitist. For decades, Oldoini helped conceptualize and starred in more than four hundred portraits so experimental and expressive that they have drawn comparisons to works by Claude Cahun and Cindy Sherman.
Twelve weeks after coming on the market, the Surrey house used to portray the home of actress Maggie Smith's character, Lady Violet Crawley, found a buyer and recently closed along with several adjacent properties for nearly $9 million. Known as Dower House on the TV series, it was built around 1686.
They let us shoot in places people weren't allowed to normally, like Marie Antoinette's private theater. They were like, 'This is your home.' The Versailles exhibition will screen several scenes from Coppola's film in the very rooms where they were staged, highlighting the deep connection between these storied grounds and her acclaimed creation.
A magnificent leather and golden silk slipper believed to have once been worn, then lost, or given away by King James II, is going on display at Killerton, a mansion in Devon which houses the National Trust's costume collection. He is said to have worn the slippers when visiting Coventry in in 1687, where a grand banquet was held in his honour, and may have given them to one of his hosts.
If you're looking for a low-effort way to make over your bedroom, switching out your duvet cover is the easiest way to go. Maybe it's the Sagittarius in me, but I change mine constantly, so I'm always on the lookout for stylish, colorful covers that make my bedscape the main attraction. When I found this Toile Duvet Cover Set while browsing on Urban Outfitters, I knew I had to have it. Just look at the antique floral pattern - it looks straight off the Bridgerton set! Plus, it's on sale right now.
It's nearly 200 years since the birth of a British aristocrat who became the first Muslim member of the House of Lords. But few have heard of Lord Henry Stanley, who "defied convention and his family's wishes" when he converted to Islam in 1859, according to historian Jamie Gilham. Little remains of Stanley's letters and diaries "which is really frustrating but adds to the idea that he was a private man," he said.
That past is his - it is the 20th anniversary of his label, and accordingly he decided to embrace, engage, even embed himself in his own history. Which, in and of itself, is a history of histories - Moralıoğlu's office is peppered with random 1930s portraits (the ones his husband, the architect Philip Joseph, won't let him keep in their Bloomsbury home) and old, time-warped issues of Vogue, as well as overflows of books on everything from Merce Cunningham to Alfred Hitchcock.
The corporate neckwear is the everyday counterpart to the traditionally more luxurious cravat a voluminous neckscarf that conjures up images of opulent dinners aboard a yacht sailing through the Mediterranean. President Abraham Lincoln wore cravats, as did Hollywood actor Cary Grant and the extravagant entertainer Liberace. In more recent times, the garment has been popularized in the American mainstream by the likes of Madonna and the late Diane Keaton.
An excavation in central London has uncovered the remains of a boys school complete with artifacts from the students' schoolwork and their playtime. The objects include a slate tablet used as an erasable notebook to practice handwriting, a slate pencil and several ceramic alleys marbles made of decorated white ceramic from the Victorian era. Artifacts related to children's lives are less frequently found than ones relating to adults, so these objects give us a special glimpse into the lives of schoolboys.
With alcohol abuse being blamed for widespread poverty and social issues at the start of the 1800s, reformers began turning against booze. Temperance societies appeared in the 1830s, formed by people who committed themselves to a life of abstinence, while also helping those affected by drink and advocating for restrictions on alcohol. Over the century millions would sign the same pledge as part of attempts at self-improvement, turning the Temperance movement into one of England's largest social campaigns of the time.
Looking back at 'em through rose-tinted glasses, the 2010s seemed like they were a much better time. London hosted the Olympics, Sherlock was on the telly, and everyone was wearing Joni jeans and tea dresses from Topshop. Could things be returning to the simpler days when all you had to worry about was how tight your skinny jeans were and how to get the perfect side parting? Maybe, because Topshop is making a comeback to British high streets.
Fashion and dress in Mesopotamia - clothing, footwear, and accessories - were not only functional but defined one's social status and developed from a simple loincloth in the Ubaid period (circa 6500-4000 BCE) to brightly colored robes and dresses by the time of the Sassanian Empire (224-651). Styles changed, but the essential form and function remained the same. As in any civilization, the upper class and nobility wore more expensive clothes of higher quality.
I first visited The Fall Bride for my best friend's first wedding dress appointment, and immediately fell in love with the space. Squirrelled away in the Dalston backstreets, this bright, soothing store is the ultimate go-to for brides looking for elegant, hand-picked dresses from a series of world-renowned designers. So, as soon as I got engaged, I booked an appointment for myself - and it didn't disappoint the second time round.
There are shifts in fashion that arrive without noise. They don't demand attention, yet they gradually reshape the way people dress with surprising clarity. The renewed presence of women's suits fits into this kind of quiet transformation. It isn't about looking back or reviving old dress codes. It reflects a growing appetite for clarity, intention and proportion - qualities that feel increasingly valuable in a moment defined by constant visual stimulation.
For the past few years I have planned my outfits around my obsession with pleated trousers, or my latest experimental jean shape. Or I have worn dresses. Sometimes I have ended up in a skirt, but the skirt was kind of an afterthought. For instance, at one point last year when it was chilly and I needed to look smart as well as cosy, I picked out a sweater and a pair of knee-high boots,
In the weeks leading up to the film's release, the actress has been method dressing as her character Catherine Earnshaw, with the help of her go-to stylist, Andrew Mukamal. As expected from the duo responsible for the iconic Barbie press run (and, in turn, making pink a mainstay color trend for years), her new promo circuit is leading to a buzzy new trend: Brontë-core.
Embroidery is a historic mainstay of traditional clothing in Asia or the Middle East, as well as Western Haute Couture, but it is increasingly present in Paris, Milan or New York on modern men's shirts, bomber jackets or blazers. Designers at Dior, Dolce Gabbana, Kenzo or Gucci have adopted it in recent runway shows, while Louis Vuitton's celebrity rapper-designer Pharell Williams dedicated his entire June collection to India after visiting the country.
Starting as an Instagram account focused on body confidence, Lemonade Dolls is one of my favourite lingerie brands because of its inclusive sizing, quality fabrics and designs that prioritise you. This pink bralette is a brand signature, with a flattering plunge neckline, and made with recycled nylon and stretch lace that feels light against the skin. It's available in both standard and fuller-bust fits, with the latter (D-DD to FF-G) subtly adjusted to offer more support without ruining the style,