PRESERVING OUR HERITAGE NEVER GOES OUT OF FASHION

A new National Trust book chronicles 500 years of style through 100 influential garments in the charity's vast collection. JOSH WHITE explores the key historical pieces that are both stylish and significant

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WHAT links Sir Winston Churchill's surprisingly formfitting velvet onesie, Beatrix Potter’s rustic clogs and Queen Victoria’s mourning garb? The intriguing trio are among the fascinating costumes, documenting 500 years of British history, that still influence how we dress today - and they’re currently all on show at National Trust properties around the country.

Now, ahead of next month’s London Fashion Week, the National Trust is inviting us to marvel at our nation’s evolving sartorial style in its new book, 100 Things to Wear. Featuring stunning images and historical snippets from the Trust’s 40,000-strong garment collection, it includes a “onesie” worn by Churchill, one of the earliest surviving garters of the knightly Order of the Garter, and indigo work trousers that were the forerunner to American blue jeans.

100 Things to Wear, which highlights both luxurious and everyday attire, is written by Emma Slocombe, the National Trust’s senior national curator for dress and textiles, and Helen Antrobus, assistant curator. And it features an introduction by Patrick Grant, judge on The Great British Sewing Bee.

Says Emma: “It’s an amazing collection spanning 500 years of changing tastes and fashions. The book shares the stories woven into the threads of 100 key pieces from the collection, many for the first time.

"What is really special is that we often know who wore the clothes and why.”

The book’s publication coincides with major exhibitions at National Trust sites, showing off the work of designers, fashion collectors and embroiderers. Exhibitions include Tailoring an Image at Anglesey Abbey, Unflappable at Killerton and Dress to Impress at Polesden Lacey.