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Home > Bettmann Archive > Timeless Threads

A Journey Through Fashion History

Explore stunning images showcasing the evolution of fashion across decades.

Choose a picture from our collection for your Wall Art and Photo Gifts

Dive into a captivating collection of over 2,000 fashion images from the Bettmann Archives, a treasure trove of visual history. This extensive selection captures the essence of style from the 20th century, featuring iconic designs, influential figures, and cultural moments that shaped the fashion landscape. Each photograph tells a story, reflecting societal changes and artistic movements.

2,822 Items

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Model In Black Dress; Handbag, Cane

Model In Black Dress; Handbag, Cane
(Original Caption) Fashion news: Black wool trimmed only with a touch of white piping at high neck and sleeves. Pencil slim skirt and slash hip pockets. An undated photo

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: French Drawing of a Couple Dancing the Tango

French Drawing of a Couple Dancing the Tango
(Original Caption) Couple dancing the tango. French fashion drawing by Xavier Sager, 1914. BPA 2 #955 (Photo by AS400 DB/Bettmann Archive)

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Four Chinese Men Seated at a Table

Four Chinese Men Seated at a Table
Photograph by Mathew Brady of four Chinese men in traditional dress seated at a table holding fans

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Steam Locomotive and Passengers on Train Cars

Steam Locomotive and Passengers on Train Cars
(Original Caption) Old fashined train with passengers. Undated photo

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Mother and Daughters in Paris Fashions

Mother and Daughters in Paris Fashions
(Original Caption) Paris: Mother's and children's fashions of 1849

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Early Stove

Early Stove
(Original Caption) Close up of an old fashioned stove using coal

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Types of Women's Fashion in Regard to Suffragettes

Types of Women's Fashion in Regard to Suffragettes
(Original Caption) The Type Of Suffragette Has Changed. From the Tribune New York

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Portrait of French Authoress Marquise de Sevigne

Portrait of French Authoress Marquise de Sevigne
(Original Caption) Marquise de Sevigne (1626-1696), french writer and lady of fashion. Painting by Nanteuil

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Drawing of an Early Wall Telephone

Drawing of an Early Wall Telephone
(Original Caption) Wall Telephone, old fashioned

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Engraving Of Fashionable English Gent

Engraving Of Fashionable English Gent
(Original Caption) Fashionable English gentleman. Colored engraving by Dighton, 1807. "A view from the Swan Brewhouse, Oxford."

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: First Sewing Machine Developed by Elias Howe

First Sewing Machine Developed by Elias Howe
(Original Caption) The first sewing machine completed by Elias Howe, Jr. in 1845

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Portrait of Countess of Castiglione in Exquisite Fashion

Portrait of Countess of Castiglione in Exquisite Fashion
(Original Caption) France: The Countess of Castiglione, an intimate of French Emperor Napoleon III, displays the fashion of the 1850s

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Visiting Card for Prince albert and Queen Victoria

Visiting Card for Prince albert and Queen Victoria
1861-Visiting Card of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Woodcut of the Confederate Army Recruiting

Woodcut of the Confederate Army Recruiting
ORIGINAL CAPTION READS: Drumming up recruits for the Confederate Army. Woodcut from 1861

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Wells Fargo Express Office

Wells Fargo Express Office
(Original Caption) 1866-Virginia City, NV: Wells Fargo & Co. Express office

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Drawing Showing Early Parisian Women's Fashions

Drawing Showing Early Parisian Women's Fashions
(Original Caption) Paris: Paris Fashions For October 1866

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Early Pedal Bicycle

Early Pedal Bicycle
A man posing with a velocipede or 'boneshaker', an early pedal bicycle, circa 1870. The bicycle features the innovation of cranks and pedals attached to the front-wheel

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Prince Edward of Wales in 1870

Prince Edward of Wales in 1870
(Original Caption) 1/1/1870-Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) in fashion of the early 1870's. He wears the latest in cravats and carries a pearl handled walking stick

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: 'Speranza, ' Lady Wilde, Oscar Wilde's Mother

'Speranza, ' Lady Wilde, Oscar Wilde's Mother
"Speranza, " Lady Wilde, Oscar Wilde's Mother

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Full Length Photo Of George Sand, 1870

Full Length Photo Of George Sand, 1870
(Original Caption) George Sand (1803-1876), photographed by Nadar in 1870

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Young Filipino Woman Wearing Spanish Style Clothing

Young Filipino Woman Wearing Spanish Style Clothing
(Original Caption) Young woman wearing Spanish clothing from the Chinese dominated town of Sangley in the province of Cavite, Philippines, ca.1880

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Portrait of a Woman in 19th Century Clothing

Portrait of a Woman in 19th Century Clothing
Woman in clothes of 1880's. Undated photograph

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Old Fashioned Soda Fountain Parlor

Old Fashioned Soda Fountain Parlor
(Original Caption) Typical soda fountain of the 1880s in Vancouver, British Columbia. Photograph

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony
(Original Caption) Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906) and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902), founders of The National Woman Suffrage Association, are shown seated together at small table

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Mrs. Neilson Poses in Costume at Ball

Mrs. Neilson Poses in Costume at Ball
(Original Caption) 1883- The costume worn by Mrs. Frederic Neilson might be that of a circus rider or what have you. Yet it was considered very gorgeous then, and you need not laugh at it

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Bust Portrait Mary F. Barney

Bust Portrait Mary F. Barney
(Original Caption) Bust portrait of Mary F. Barney of Elmira, New York. Photograph from the Tomlinson Studio, Sept. 4th, 1884

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Inventor Karl Benz Sitting on Benz Motorwagen

Inventor Karl Benz Sitting on Benz Motorwagen
Inventor Karl Benz seated on the 1885 Benz Motorwagen. The motorwagen was the first motor vehicle ever to be sold to the public

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Three-Wheeled Benz Motorwagen

Three-Wheeled Benz Motorwagen
The 1885 Benz Motorwagen was the first motor vehicle ever to be sold to the public. Manufactured at the Benz and Company factory in Mannheim, Germany

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Interior of Russian Pharmacy

Interior of Russian Pharmacy
(Original Caption) 1885-A Russian pharmacy in Nerchinsko. Photograph by A.K. Kutznetov. Note the elaborate woodwork on top of the cabinets expressing Russian folk motifs

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Inventor Karl Benz and Assistant in Early Motorwagen

Inventor Karl Benz and Assistant in Early Motorwagen
Inventor Karl Benz with his assistant Josef Brecht seated on the 1885 Benz Motorwagen. The Motorwagen was the first motor vehicle ever to be sold to the public

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Interior of the Santa Barbara Train

Interior of the Santa Barbara Train
Interior of train car "Santa Barbara" built for Southern Pacific in 1887

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Instruction In Surgery In Ampitheater

Instruction In Surgery In Ampitheater
(Original Caption) Boston, MA: Instruction in surgery. Scene in operating ampitheater of Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. Admintering ether to a patient. 1888

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Acrobat Riding Bicycle

Acrobat Riding Bicycle
(Original Caption) Acrobat on old fashioned high wheeled bicycle

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Family at Their Sod House in Nebraska

Family at Their Sod House in Nebraska
(Original Caption) Sod house and well in Custer County, Nebraska. Photograph, ca 1890

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Women's Fashions

Women's Fashions
A group of fashionably dressed women in the early 1900s

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: People Attending a Service at Mission Room

People Attending a Service at Mission Room
(Original Caption) Downtown mission room with service in progress

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Young Woman Of The 1890S

Young Woman Of The 1890S
(Original Caption) 1890's; Young woman of the 1890's dressed elaborately with all the appurtenances of the period

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Beachgoers at Atlantic City

Beachgoers at Atlantic City
(Original Caption) Atlantic City, NJ: People are shown promenading on the beach. Some are holding parasols for protction from the sun. Undated photograph

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Woman Tying Corset

Woman Tying Corset
Paris, France: Photo of a woman tying her corset while standing in front of a mirror. Ca. 1890-1900

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Engraving of the Williams Typewriter by E. Poyet

Engraving of the Williams Typewriter by E. Poyet
John N. Williams' typewriter, 1890. Undated engraving

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Early Desk Telephone

Early Desk Telephone
(Original Caption) A #2 desk stand phone of 1892. Undated photograph

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Charles E. Duryea in Horseless Carriage

Charles E. Duryea in Horseless Carriage
Charles E. Duryea in his third and most famous car. It was the first ever to be equipped with pneumatic tires

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Advertisement for Union Hardware Company Roller Skates

Advertisement for Union Hardware Company Roller Skates
WELL DRESSED COUPLE ROLLERSKATING. UNDATED ADVERTISEMENT FOR UNION HARDWARE CO. COLOR LITHOGRAPH

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: First Automobile Built by Henry Ford

First Automobile Built by Henry Ford
The first automobile built by Henry Ford, the 1896 Quadracycle

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: First Ford Car Put on the Market

First Ford Car Put on the Market
Profile of the Quadracycle, the first automobile built by Henry Ford in 1896

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Actor Makes Surprised Expression

Actor Makes Surprised Expression
(Original Caption) 1896An actor appears surprised as a pose for a portrait. He wears a top hat, eyeglasse, and carries a bible

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Henry Ford Driving His First Automobile

Henry Ford Driving His First Automobile
Henry Ford driving in his first automobile, the Quadracycle, on Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Vacation on the Maine Coast

Vacation on the Maine Coast
(Original Caption) 1897-A summer day. Vacation on the Maine coast. A man is shown on the beach with three children. Photograph, 1897

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Men in Kinetoscope Arcade

Men in Kinetoscope Arcade
The Kinetoscope Arcade in San Francisco. For a time, penny arcades also featured "kinetophones, " which enabled the spectator to hear music or "sound effects."

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Ladies Gold Watch With Cover Open

Ladies Gold Watch With Cover Open
(Original Caption) Old-fashioned ladies gold watch with cover open, 1899

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Woman Modelling Upside-Down-Type Dress

Woman Modelling Upside-Down-Type Dress
(Original Caption) One designer views the world of tomorrow as a topsy turvy place. Carol Scott shows off an upside-down style, with the collar where the hem should be, and vice-versa

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Women Drinking at Bar in the Hotel Majestic

Women Drinking at Bar in the Hotel Majestic
(Original Caption) New York, NY: Women at bar in the Hotel Majestic. Old time photo. Undated

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Woman In Civil War Period Dress

Woman In Civil War Period Dress
(Original Caption) 1860-1870: Lady in elaborate head gear of Civil War Period. Photo by M. Brady

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Old Time Horse And Buggy

Old Time Horse And Buggy
(Original Caption) ca. 1900-Old time horse and buggy. The American family's principal conveyance before the advent of the family car

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Little Girl at the Beauty Parlor

Little Girl at the Beauty Parlor
(Original Caption) "One's never too young to be beautiful!" So thinks pretty, little Jane Kolbe, four years old of Baltimore, Maryland

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Mlle Cleo De Merode Mistress Leopold

Mlle Cleo De Merode Mistress Leopold
(Original Caption) Mlle Cleo de Merode, french balleteuse Mistress of Leopold II, King of the Belgians

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Woman Wearing Jewels and Smoking

Woman Wearing Jewels and Smoking
(Original Caption) The privileged of the world who want to buy beautiful jewels can find these in Paris at Maubussin's for example where one of these remarqued set is composed of a gold braided

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Chinese Girls In Traditional Clothing

Chinese Girls In Traditional Clothing
(Original Caption) San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Girls, members of the Square and Circle Club, a Chinese Young Women's Association, recently held a fashion show here, in which they wore, first

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Horse And Coach Leaving To Deliver Mail

Horse And Coach Leaving To Deliver Mail
(Original Caption) Inauguration of the Penny Post. First dispatch arrives at Waterloo Station. Photograph

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Perfumer Smelling Samples Of Perfume

Perfumer Smelling Samples Of Perfume
(Original Caption) The taste of smell. Expert perfumer smells samples from newly made rosewater. Valley of the roses. Bulgaria. Undated photograph. BPA2# 3627

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Husband Looking over Wife's Shoulder

Husband Looking over Wife's Shoulder
(Original Caption) Newlyweds. Young woman looking at a fashion magazine while her husband looks over her shoulder. From a coloured French postal card. Undated

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Woman Heavily Dressed In Duster

Woman Heavily Dressed In Duster
(Original Caption) Woman heavily dressed in duster, goggles etc. getting out of car. Undated photograph

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Young Lady In Her Sunday Best

Young Lady In Her Sunday Best
(Original Caption) Young lady in Sunday best (shirt-waist, puffed sleeves). Undated photograph

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Young Albanian Girl

Young Albanian Girl
(Original Caption) Immigrant types: a young girl from Albania. Photo taken by Lewis Hine

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Old Woman At Spinning Wheel Outdoors

Old Woman At Spinning Wheel Outdoors
(Original Caption) Old woman at spinning wheel, outside cabin in Tennessee mountains. Photo ca. 1900

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: George Weiss

George Weiss, named the new General Manager of the Yankees, replacing Larry MacPhail, who was retiring. Image also shows Del Webb and Bob topping co-owners of the Yankees

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Cowboy on rearing horse

Cowboy on rearing horse

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Portrait of two men wearing sunglasses and headscarves

Portrait of two men wearing sunglasses and headscarves
(Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Acrobats on tightrope, low angle view

Acrobats on tightrope, low angle view

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Portrait of young man kayaking

Portrait of young man kayaking

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Horse jumping over car

Horse jumping over car

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Man on paddleboat fishing

Man on paddleboat fishing

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Smiling woman on beach

Smiling woman on beach

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: John Woodruff

John Woodruff

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Women and girls wearing stage costumes

Women and girls wearing stage costumes

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Studio shot of woman in elegant dress

Studio shot of woman in elegant dress

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Studio shot of woman in elegant dress

Studio shot of woman in elegant dress

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Studio shot of woman in elegant dress

Studio shot of woman in elegant dress

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Studio shot of woman wearing costume

Studio shot of woman wearing costume

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Studio shot of woman wearing geisha costume

Studio shot of woman wearing geisha costume

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Oklahoma State Prison in McAlester

Oklahoma State Prison in McAlester

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: 1929 Studebaker Advertisement

1929 Studebaker Advertisement
(Original Caption) Studebaker. Builder of Champions. International Polo Matches. Meadowbrook, Long Island, New York. Meadowbrook, colorful rendezvous of fashion, fame and finance

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin

Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin
The original cotton gin of Eli Whitney, on display in the Smithsonian

Background imageA Journey Through Fashion History: Boy Wearing Dunce Cap in Classroom

Boy Wearing Dunce Cap in Classroom
(Original Caption) The Dunce. Punishment in an old-fashioned school room



Curated with passion, this collection not only highlights the artistry of fashion but also serves as a historical record, inviting viewers to appreciate the intricate tapestry of style that has evolved over time.

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