Decoding dress: clothing and culture at the V&A

- Discuss selected surviving garments with a better informed understanding of their cut and construction
- List the sources for dress information and understand how they inform our understanding of surviving garments
- Identify different approaches to pattern – i.e. weaving, embroidery and printing and be able to identify different fabrics and their properties
- Talk about changing clothing styles, with appropriate vocabulary
- Understand what it might have felt like to get into and wear historical clothing.

You might wish to bring a notebook. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list given out in class.
While there are usually some gallery stools available this cannot be guaranteed so you may like to bring a portable stool.
Gallery entry is free. There will be a break for lunch in the V&A restaurant – lunch is not included.

You will be taught with short presentations in the gallery, and invited to contribute via question and group discussion.
Teaching will take place in galleries such as the British Gallery, the European Gallery and the Dress Court. There are steps between these places (and also lifts) but some walking will be required and it will not always be practical to sit down. Please note we are unable to guarantee seats on gallery visits. You might prefer to invest in a lightweight portable seat.