An Overview of 18th-Century Western Fashion

    This post is meant to round out the "Young Person's Introduction" series with additional material that might be less engaging for a first-time viewer/reader.  It has lots of museum videos and articles, like Colonial Williamsburg and the Met, including some fun case studies (a banyan made from a dragon robe, a handkerchief celebrating the first hot air balloon launch, etc.).  It's a bit scanty now, but I wanted to get it out of the drafts folder before I forgot it existed!

As always, the post will be expanded as I come across more information. Edit 11/24: Now with an excellent video on cold-weather clothing!

General information
    Colonial Williamsburg. "Children's Clothing." YouTube. Posted May 13, 2022.
    Cullen, Oriole. “Eighteenth-Century European Dress.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2004.
    English Heritage. "Fashion Through History: Episode 2 – Georgians." YouTube. Posted March 7, 2023.
    Smarthistory. "Dress to impress, Fashion in New Spain." YouTube. Posted December 21, 2022.

Accessories
    Blake, Erin. "18th-century watchpapers." Folger Shakespeare Library. Posted March 1, 2022.
    Colonial Williamsburg. "#TradesTuesday: Men's Accessories." YouTube. Posted June 13, 2021.
    Hoskin, Dawn. "Considerations on a Handkerchief." The V&A. Posted December 16, 2013.
    Townsend, Jon. "Historical Eye Glasses From Jas. Townsend and Son." YouTube. Posted June 12, 2015.
    Victoria and Albert Museum. "The Necklace That Ruined Marie Antoinette? | Unboxing the Scandalous Sutherland Diamonds." YouTube. Posted September 30, 2025.
    —. "The Lens of Desire: Eye Miniatures (ca. 1790–1810)." Public Domain Review. Posted June 5, 2024.

Cosmetics and hygiene
    CrowsEyeProductions. "Historical Styles - 18th Century Court Make-up Tutorial." YouTube. Posted August 23, 2019.
    English Heritage. "Georgian Makeup Tutorial | History Inspired | Feat. Amber Butchart and Rebecca Butterworth." YouTube. Posted July 15, 2019.
    JYF Museums. "Hygiene in the 18th Century | From the Farm to the Army." YouTube. Posted August 21, 2021.

Furnishings and décor

    Heckscher, Morrison H. "American Rococo." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2003.
    Jaffee, David. "Art and Identity in the British North American Colonies, 1700–1776." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2004.
    Getty Museum. "Construction of an 18th-century French Mechanical Table." YouTube. Posted September 28, 2012.
    Kisluk-Grosheide, Daniëlle O. "The Art, Form, and Function of Gilt Bronze in the French Interior." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2008.
    Munger, Jeffrey. "French Porcelain in the Eighteenth Century." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2003.

Gowns and formal wear
    CrowsEyeProductions. "Getting Dressed in the 18th Century - Chemise Gown (1780s)." YouTube. Posted May 29, 2021.
    CrowsEyeProductions. "Getting Dressed in the 18th Century - Dido Elizabeth Belle (1779)." YouTube. Posted October 13, 2019.
    CrowsEyeProductions. "Getting Dressed in the 18th Century - The Brunswick." YouTube. Posted June 26, 2019.
    Hallay, Amanda. "SPOTLIGHT: 18th Century Dress Styles (An Ultimate Fashion History Special)." YouTube. Posted November 28, 2015.
    National Museums Liverpool. "Getting Dressed in the 18th Century - Men | National Museums Liverpool." YouTube. Posted July 26, 2018.
    National Museums Liverpool. "Getting dressed in the 18th century | National Museums Liverpool." YouTube. Posted May 10, 2017.

Hair care and styles

    Colonial Williamsburg. "The Wigmaker." YouTube. Posted September 19, 2023.
    CrowsEyeProductions. "Historical Styles - 18th Century Hair Tutorial." YouTube. Posted August 22, 2019.
    Stephens, Janet. "Papillote Curls: historical hairdressing techniques." YouTube. August 14, 2012.

Laundry and dyeing
    Colonial Williamsburg. "Using Herbs as Dye -- 18th-century Garden Techniques." YouTube. Posted April 19, 2011.
    JYF Museums. "Putting Color to Cloth | Dyeing Textiles on a Revolution Era Tidewater Farm." YouTube. Posted November 22, 2023.
    Townsend, Jon. "Historical Laundry Part 2: No Washing Machine, No Dryer, Hit It With A Stick?" YouTube. June 3, 2019.
    Townsend, Jon. "Walnut Dye - Early American Fabric." YouTube. November 4, 2021.

Outerwear and working wear

    Bolton, Andrew. "The Kilt." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2004.
    Colonial Williamsburg. "Native Clothing." YouTube. Posted May 12, 2022.
    Colonial Williamsburg. "The Leather Breeches Maker." YouTube. Posted August 15, 2023.
    CrowsEyeProductions. "Getting dressed in the 18th century - working woman." YouTube. Posted January 5, 2018.
    CrowsEyeProductions. "Getting Dressed in the 18th Century - Working Women in Summer." YouTube. Posted July 18, 2018.
    JYF Museum. "Getting Dressed | Clothing for an 18th Century Middling Woman." YouTube. Posted March 18, 2021.
    Mackinac State Historic Parks. "Dressing a British Grenadier." YouTube. Posted April 6, 2020.
    Mackinac State Historic Parks. "Where are your Pants? Getting Dressed with a French Canadian Voyageur." YouTube. Posted April 10, 2020.
    Patten, Gracie. "Getting Dressed for Snowy Weather in the 18th Century." YouTube. Posted February 18, 2021.

Shoes and boots
    Chin, Cynthia E. "Martha Washington's Shoes." George Washington's Mount Vernon. No date.
    Townsend, Jon. "The Work Of The Cobbler." YouTube. March 21, 2022.

Textiles and prints
    Colonial Williamsburg. "Weaver." YouTube. Posted March 19, 2024.
    George Washington's Mount Vernon. "Weaving on Mount Vernon's 18th Century Loom." YouTube. Posted October 21, 2013.
    JYF Museums. "Knitting in the 18th Century." YouTube. Posted December 7, 2022.
    JYF Museums. "Revolutionary War Time Textiles on an 18th Century Virginia Farm." YouTube. Posted October 11, 2023.
    Postrel, Virginia. "Forbidden Fabrics: The Strange Story of Calico Prohibition." YouTube. Posted September 29, 2020.
    Watt, Melinda. "Textile Production in Europe: Lace, 1600–1800." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2003.

    Watt, Melinda. "Textile Production in Europe: Printed, 1600–1800." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2003.

    Watt, Melinda. "Textile Production in Europe: Silk, 1600–1800." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2003.
    —. "Lavish Lace: The Martha Washington Collection." George Washington's Mount Vernon. No date.

Undergarments and undress
    Glasscock, Jessica. "Eighteenth-Century Silhouette and Support." In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2004.
    Townsend, Jon. "Sewing Histories' Most Popular Garment - The Fabric Of History - Townsends." YouTube. September 3, 2022.
    Victoria and Albert Museum. "Fashion Unpicked: Banyan made from a dragon robe | V&A." YouTube. Posted January 3, 2023.
    Victoria and Albert Museum. "King William III's underwear | Fashion unpicked | V&A." YouTube. Posted September 6, 2022.