Document Of The Month – Dedicated Followers Of Fashion

The style of the clothes that we wear is constantly changing. What once was the height of fashion is soon last year’s trash and it’s on to the next big thing.

It’s almost a guarantee though, that what is considered unhip or un-cool now will one day become super stylish again (perhaps with the exception of flares and shell suits!).

To get a flavour of what people in our area used to think of as fashionable 100 years ago, staff at the East Riding archives and local studies service in Beverley have been pulling out old photographs from various parts of the archive.

The names of most of the people in these photographs are unknown, but their unwitting legacy is to show us what was worn in East Yorkshire towns and villages in the late Victorian, early Edwardian period. The big question is, will any of it ever come back into fashion?

Collections officer, Sam Bartle said: “Many of the clothes pictured are quite plain in their design and only leave the head exposed, so they’re quite formal in appearance. Will they ever be fashionable again – who can tell? Maybe some young fashion designers will look at these photographs and be inspired!”

Look out for some of these photos on the East Riding of Yorkshire Council Facebook and Twitter pages, or you can view them in person at the Treasure House, Champney Road, Beverley. Ring (01482) 392790 for details.