Vintage magazine drawings of 5 women in Victorian era stylized dress, yellow, green, pink, blue, and teal. Represents fashion for March 1846!
March 1846 fashions, image bachelor here

Ready to strut the Spring rails? Break those Leap fashions out or become. . .VINTAGE! Hither'southward a photo of 1846 mag fashions in ISU's Digital Collections to style yourself on!

Is information technology similar what y'all wear at present?


Welcome to Apr'southward showtime #FashionFriday post! Today'southward illustration takes us back to the fashion of Apr 1848, as we render to the Mary A. Barton Fashion Illustration Drove.

Fashions for April, illustrating a loose fitting coat and 4 dresses all with fitted bodices and full skirts. Top left dress has jewel neckline, 3/4 length, ruffle cuffed sleeves, and net mitts; top center has a jewel neckline, 3/4 oversleeves with wrist length, pleated undersleeves, and brooches pinned to waist; top right has a 'V' neckline with an attached lace capelet with center front bow and ruffle cuffed, 3/4 length sleeves; all top views have lace caps. Left coat dress is simple and fitted with a fold over collar; long, fitted sleeves, and a bonnet. The coat fits loosely over the body and is approximately knee-length with 3/4 sleeves, but the dress has long sleeves; worn with a lace and flower trimmed bonnet. (Published for The New Belle Assemblee: a Magazine for Literature and Fashion)
Image from ISU Digital Collections. Materials from RS 21/7/9 Mary A. Barton Mode Illustration Collection.

Feel way history at home with the digitized way plates via ISU Digital Collections. Brand sure to check out our other posts about this about this collection for more of our favorite illustrations.


Here'due south another #FashionFriday post, featuring the Mary A. Barton Fashion Illustration Collection. Brand sure to bank check out our other posts nigh this nearly this collection for more of our favorite illustrations.

Today's illustration depicts a group of women in different colors and styles of twenty-four hour period dresses. The illustration is captioned "Godey'due south Fashions for May 1867".

Colorful fashion illustration on yellowing paper. The paper is torn in the bottom right hand corner. The text reads "Codey's Fashions for May 1867" and depicts a group of five women in luxurious day dresses.
Image from ISU Digital Collections. Materials from RS 21/7/9 Mary A. Barton Fashion Analogy Collection.

Experience style history at home with the digitized mode plates via ISU Digital Collections.


It's another #FashionFriday! Let'southward revisit the stunning designs of the Mary A. Barton Fashion Illustration Drove. This week we are looking dorsum at some of the mode illustrations from 1813.

We oasis't look at much men's style in these posts so hither is a bit of a treat! Below is an illustration of an 1813 Gentleman's Frock Coat.

1813 Admirer's Frock Glaze fashion illustration from collection RS 21/vii/ix.

As always, feel free to check out the digitized fashion plates via ISU Digital Collections to get a taste of history from home.

Make sure to check out our other posts about this near this drove for more than beautiful illustrations.

Images from ISU Digital Collections. Materials from RS 21/7/9 Mary A. Barton Mode Illustration Drove.


Welcome back to Cardinal Tales for another #FashionFriday. This week's postal service features a long-time favorite: the Mary A. Barton Fashion Illustration Collection. I was scrolling through the digitized style plates via ISU Digital Collections, and the colors of these dresses really defenseless my heart. Relish!

Above are two illustrations of dropwaisted mean solar day dresses from May of 1921. Below is an illustration of some vibrant twenty-four hours dresses from August of 1919.

1919 Twenty-four hour period Dress Analogy RS 21/vii/ix Mary A. Barton Mode Illustration Drove.

Images from ISU Digital Collections. Materials from RS 21/seven/9 Mary A. Barton Style Illustration Collection.

Make sure to check out our other posts virtually this about this collection for more beautiful illustrations.


Let's revisit the Mary A. Barton Mode Analogy Collection for this #FashionFriday! We take posted nigh this collection a few times before so feel costless to check out those posts after this one. This drove is e'er a joy to explore, and this analogy of Kensington Garden Dresses from 1807 was no exception.

Image from RS 21/7/9 Mary A. Barton Fashion Illustration Collection Box one.

Very excited to return to the Mary A. Barton Fashion Illustration Collection for this #FashionFriday! Nosotros've posted about this drove a few times before but the beauty of this drove never ceases to surprise me.

While browsing through box 12 of the collection, I constitute a variety of eye-communicable illustrations, each a dazzler to behold. One analogy that actually defenseless my middle was on a page from McCall's Magazine, dated June 1914.

The beginning folio is titled "For the Day of Graduation", and depicts three women in blackness and white with a pop of orangish in the background. The adult female on the far right of the epitome is holding a diploma.

On the other side of this page, there's information on the different patterns available to create these outfits, along with information on the materials required.

I honey beingness a student employee in Special Collections and University Archives. Not merely because of the amazing people I've met here, but for the collections I've been able to explore. Information technology is the nearly incredible experience to exist handling materials from over a hundred years ago, and sharing them via social media.


Mary A. Barton, an Iowa State Alumni, has been regarded as 1 of the best quilt makers of all time. Special Collections now stores her collection of fashion illustrations from years 1776 – 2008. I was very excited to explore this collection, and share some highlights with yous all. Yet, due to the massive corporeality of these gorgeous manner illustrations, I've decided to focus this blog mail service only on the ones from 1800-1810. Of course, there are still so many lovely illustrations from this ten-year flow that this post will be featuring just a few of my favorites.

All of the materials in this mail can be institute in box 1 of the Mary A. Barton Fashion Illustration Collection, RS 21/vii/ix. Experience gratuitous to stop into the reading room to view these incredible artifacts, and many more, in person. Or view some of the digitized fashion images from this collection in our digital collections.

Additionally, we take posted a few other things from this collection, and then check out those posts equally well.


The almanac Way Show event, currently put on past the Department of Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management (AESHM), has provided students a take chances to evidence off their designs to an eager audition for 37 years. Over the years, this student-run event has highlighted countless beautiful outfits designed by Iowa Land students. Here are some of our favorite outfits from shows of the 1980s!

1982 Mode Show

1983 Fashion Show

1985 Fashion Show

1987 Fashion Prove

1988 Fashion Show

All of these images (and much more data on fashion shows of the past) tin be found in Special Collections RS 29/two/iv Fashion Show Records (1982-2017). There are several  boxes in this drove only everything featured in this post can exist constitute in box 1.

What a wild ride! 80s fashion is always worth looking back on. Which outfit was your favorite?


Bridesmaid, wedding, day and two visiting dresses all with large bustles. (published past Les Modes Parisiennes:Peterson's Mag 1883)

June is a perennially popular calendar month for weddings, so today we are taking a glance at the wedding attire of days gone by. Today'due south Throwback Thursday image is from our fashion plate collection and is from an issue of Peterson's Magazine in 1883. The ii dresses on the far left are a bridesmaid'due south dress and a wedding dress. As yous can see, the tradition of wearing a white dress must date back from at least the late-19th century. It looks like it was also pop to have the bridesmaids wear a brightly colored dress for the occasion.

If you're interested in seeing more fashion images, please visit our digital collection. You tin also visit the athenaeum to see the originals in the Mary Barton Style Illustration Collection.