Ballgowns to Bumsters Full-Day Experience

The British often don’t get their fair share of attention in fashion histories, so this tour aims to illuminate how much British dressmakers and designers have shaped women’s fashion from the Victorian period right up to the present day. You will explore a wide range of contemporary fashions and understand how they connect to the styles, designers, and influencers of previous eras. Along the way, you’ll visit numerous designer shops and learn about the origin and significance of the women’s suit – a garment that, decades before Coco Chanel.

The journey continues through the fascinating history of London couture houses before, during, and after World War II, highlighting designers such as Norman Hartnell, Hardy Amies, Charles James, and Jean Muir. The glamour of these times faded with the swinging sixties, making way for London street fashion, popularized by figures like Mary Quant and Foale & Tuffin, whose creativity sent shockwaves through the fashion world. The tour also explores how Vivienne Westwood gave Punk its outlandish style and the ongoing influence of Alexander McQueen.