So called because of the print on the fabric, said to have been made to celebrate Nelson’s victory at the battle of the Nile.

Indigo dye could be used for printing fabric only after technological improvements to the dyeing process discovered around 1740.

Made of cotton fabric with a resist indigo print, overprinted by a roller (a recent invention of the time).

At this time, men’s day clothes were influenced by riding outfits. The cut-away front of the jacket was required to show half an inch of waistcoat.

Wool and silk combination, trimmed with silk ribbon. Under the bodice there are undersleeves and a chemisette with collar, both trimmed with whitework embroidery.

This late bustle is influenced by 18th century dress, as was the fashion at the time. Both the skirt and bodice have trains, and the latter could be looped up, reminiscent of “polonaised” garments.

Made from an alpacca and silk mix fabric, it shows the fashion for back fullness and a “cuirass” front, even for girls.

At this time there was a great enthusiasm for fancy dress, for adults as well as children. This elaborate shepherdess shows inspiration from Marie Antoinette. The blue brocaded satin was probably a reuse of a mid-century evening dress. The “lace” decoration is actually machine-embroidered net, which was widely available at the time.

This dress is made of black chiffon but is almost entirely covered in beaded and sequin decoration in various shades of blue. The evening cloak is of silk velvet and the hood is trimmed with black swansdown.

An outfit of this kind could be worn to the races or a garden party, for dinner at home, or for dancing, with the addition of long gloves.

It is smocked across the front bodice, a style that became usual for girls from the beginning of the 20th century, inspired by Kate Greenaway’s illustrations.

This long-sleeved dress is heavily beaded to make it a suitable choice for a fashionable cocktail party, perhaps before a trip to the theatre.

This dress was worn for a wedding under a navy blue coat. Although teenagers were beginning to wear shorter skirts, very short skirts were not possible until tights replaced nylon stockings and suspenders around 1966.

Blue denim was, by this date, worn by all ages and types of both sexes. For a little girl, this dress was both a practical and fashionable choice.

The TV series “Dynasty” set the tone for this period of fashion. Strong colours and wide shoulders were the symbols of “power-dressing”.

This suit, with Italian draped styling, is now acceptable evening dress, even for quite formal occasions. Usually worn with very high heels.

“Jeans”, as a garment, were recorded from 1840 onwards (a working garment made out of jean, a textile whose name relates to Genoa). They were later made from blue denim — the name is derived from “serge de Nimes”.