The Ask.
The Morgue File project required me to compile a visual and written timeline of fashion trends and silhouettes from the Victorian Era through the 1920s. For each decade studied during the semester, I gathered historically accurate images that clearly represented key styles, garments, and silhouettes of the time. I then wrote informative captions in complete sentences for each image, explaining what the garment depicted, how it was worn, and what cultural or social influences shaped the trend. The goal of the project was to create an educational resource that reinforces my understanding of fashion history, while also preparing me for upcoming quizzes and assignments. By working on each decade as we covered it in class, I was able to stay engaged with the material and build a comprehensive reference tool for the early modern period of fashion.
Historical Research
Chronological Organization
Skills
Attention to Details
Critical Thinking
Time Management
Communication
The Process
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The first step was to revisit class lectures, readings, and discussions on the fashion of each era—starting with the Victorian Era and moving through to the 1920s. This helped me identify the defining characteristics of each decade’s silhouettes, textiles, construction methods, and cultural influences. Understanding the historical context was essential before I could accurately select images or write meaningful captions.
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I searched for high-quality images that authentically represented the clothing of each time period. I focused on fashion plates, museum photographs, archival illustrations, and historically accurate paintings. My goal was to find images that clearly showed the shape and style of the garments, including accessories, undergarments, and outerwear, to provide a full picture of fashion trends for each era.
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Once I had gathered the visuals, I organized them into chronological order—Victorian Era, 1890s, Edwardian Era, and the 1920s—ensuring a logical progression that reflected fashion’s evolution. This helped me see how silhouettes and cultural values changed over time, and it also ensured my final submission would be easy to follow and visually coherent. -
For each selected image, I wrote a caption in complete sentences. I described the garment’s materials, shape, function, and the social class or gender it was associated with. I also mentioned key trends such as bustles, corsets, high collars, hobble skirts, or dropped waists, depending on the decade. These captions allowed me to demonstrate my understanding of fashion history in my own words.
The Outcome
The Morgue File project was a comprehensive visual and written timeline that deepened my understanding of fashion evolution from the Victorian Era through the 1920s. By researching and analyzing garments from each decade, I developed a clearer perspective on how social, political, and technological changes influenced clothing design. The process helped me retain historical details, expand my fashion vocabulary, and improve my ability to describe garments accurately. As a result, I created a valuable study resource that not only supports my success in future quizzes and assignments but also strengthened my foundation for future coursework and a career in fashion merchandising or design.