Alan 🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍🌈

@bows4crows.bsky.social

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☠️ Future skeleton 🌘 Neurodivergent 💃 Fashion history 🧘‍♂️ Yoga teacher 🧪 Neuroscientist 🌱 Vegetarian 🦤 they/them 🕹️ FGC Meditation podcast https://rss.com/podcasts/meditation-with-alan General meditation stuff https://www.patreon.com/cw/MeditationwithAlan

Screenshot of a detail from the Met Office weather webpage, showing the text "Saturday 25th July", a picture of a gray cloud with a single drop of rain, and the daily high temperature of 20 degrees.
Court dress in white silk satin, with gilt threaded floral detailing. It has a wide, round neckline, exposing most of the shoulders, with large puff sleeves to the elbow. The waist is slightly high and quite narrow, with the skirt pleated in front, reaching almost the floor. The gilt detailing is a small repeating pattern over the top and upper half of the skirt, but the lower half has very large leaf and flower details.
White cotton dress in plain weave. It has an empire style, with a drawstring square-cut neckline, puffed short sleeves with white satin ribbon ties; and a trained skirt and short trail. White cotton floral embroidery circles the entire hem.
Museum photo of a white cotton dress in a neoclassical style. It has short sleeves to the upper bicep, a high waistline just under the bust, and a shallow v-neckline. The dress is full length and hangs relatively straight, without folds, to the floor. IT has a long, wide trail to the rear, of the same fabric. The dress is white, but with red leafy detailing throughout. These are scattered intermittently over main body of the fabric, and also in a broad strip down the centre line of the dress, and at the front of the skirt hem. https://collections.mfa.org/objects/67396/formal-dress
Museum photo of a full length formal dress, in cream silk satin with decorative elements in gold and multicoloured yarn. It has extremely wide panniers (maybe 60cm each side), a square cut neckline, and delicate silk ruffles around the neckline and enlarged cuffs. The fabric is decorated throughout in chinoiserie motifs - trees, strange creatures, pagodas, figures in stereotypically 'asian' dress, etc. https://collections.mfa.org/objects/624112/
Museum photo of a dress and petticoat in blue silk lampas, with white floral detailing throughout. It consists in an overdress of a loose fitting bodice and full skirt, with short fitted sleeves and asymmetrical cuffs gathered at the elbow. Original link is here: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/488666/dress-and-petticoat-robe-volante
Screenshot of Squall from Final Fantasy 8, standing in his bedroom. Probably vaguely annoyed about something and also doubting himself.
Museum photo of a cream coloured full length dress, with short sleeves and a circular neck line. It may once have been white, given the age. The impression is of an almost sheer fabric, embellished throughout with embroidered floral detailing in every part of the dress. The lower skirt hangs straight to the floor, with few folds and no structural elements. The waist is slightly narrowed, and the bodice is simple. Really the whole dress is as simple as can be, but carried by the lovely decorations.
Museum photo of a silk, full length evening dress in peach and cream tones. The skirt is straight, lightly pleated, and has a velvet texture with light floral detailing throughout. Its accentuated by a sash in the same material around the waist. The short-sleeved top is a mix of sheer and opaque cream fabrics, draped in complex ways around the body, and acting as a slight overskirt (high at the front, low at the rear). There is a large red floral bunch of fabric on the waist at the right.
Black coat in cotton and silk. The shape is similar to a full-sleeved tunic dress, with light flaring of the coat hem. It has a chunky leather or leather effect belt with a gold coloured buckle. The top closes with very chunky fabric buttons, which sit down the left-most part of the breast. It has a high, tight collar, and at the wrists and across the collar bones, further strips of leather with fabric detailing, that almost call to mind armour.
15 second clip from a fighting game. A petite woman wearing more ears throws a giant mousetrap at her opponent, transitioning the scene to a brief concert, where the ending note of a song knocks the opponent out. Somehow.
Museum photo of a tan-coloured child's coat (hard to tell, but likely for a boy below the age of 8). The form of the main body is that of a long, A-line tunic, with buttons on either side of the opening, fastened by cords of cotton. Narrow sleeves are mostly hidden from view by a separate cape (with a sort of Peter Pan collar). This extends almost to the wrists, and is slightly open in front.
Museum photo of a full length dress, primarily in dark bronze, velvet-textured silk. The dress is in two parts. A very short, small jacket is worn over the top. This is made to hang open at the front, with the lapels a few inches apart. It is inset with rhinestones down the front in decorative patterns. It has a slight gigot sleeves effect going, and these end just below the navel. The dress itself hangs together from a beautiful light bronze coloured silk sash at the waist (though I think its not a sash, but intrinsic to the structure of the dress - I just don't know what to call it). The skirt is full below this, with a slight bustle, and a pleating effect that catches the light. Above the waist it has a deep scoop neckline, but we mostly can't see it because of the jacket. A high necked, cream coloured, lace shirt is worn underneath.
Image 1. Museum photo of a full length black dress. The skirt is narrow, with a bustle behind. It consists of a black underskirt, with some sort of highly decorative lace (maybe) on top. The top is of the same construction, cinched tight at its circular waist, with a lace cravat or neck piece, high collar, and full length sleeves.
Screenshot of some text. The text reads: About the job: This is a job that Jill, our AI Recruiter, is recruiting for on behalf of one of our customers. She will pick the best candidates from Jack's network. The next step is to speak to Jack. Job Title: Research & Innovation Programme Manager. Salary: Not Disclosed.
White cotton full length dress, possibly in two pieces. The skirt is full bodied with a slight bustle, falling straight to the floor. It has pin- and larger stripes in the same fabric, slightly raised, flowing vertically. The hem has some floral embroidery and undulating frills. The top has a high v-neck, with lacework ruffles around it. It hangs loosely over the hips, with frills at the hem, and large loose frilly cuffs.
Black silk riding coat with white lace cuffs jabot. The shoulders are a very slight gigot cut, and the sleeves end at the mid forearm, allowing ample room for volumes of lace at the cuffs. A large white lace jabot dominates the front of the ensemble. The jacket sleeves, lapels and hem are trimmed with metal thread, and further metal thread is used across the front and lower portion for floral embroidery.
Photo of a medium sized concert venue, taken from the stage. The band (six young men) is sitting on the floor with their backs to the audience, so the photo takes in the band and the whole crowd.
Image 1. Museum photo in gold silk, with metallic thread and glass details. The bodice has a light cream wrap section at the bust, and a tapered metallic gold effect lower section, tapering to the mid-hips. A small jacket is worn off the shoulders, with capped sleeves and full open at the front, made in lace, and with floral details on the left. The skirt is full length with a large trail. A gold lace overlays a more solid material, with three bands of very detailed lace at the hem, ankles, and knees.
Museum photo of a deep red ball gown. It has a structured, tapered, narrow bodice, tapering to a v at the waist. The neckline is a low scoop. It is hung from two straps that sit across the shoulders at an angle. The right side of the bodice's neckline has an extra layer of ruffled fabric flowing from shoulder to under the left bust. The left side is of a different fabric, white lace, giving the impression that we are seeing a lower layer of fabric. The skirt is somewhat typical of the time. A bustle extends the hips to side and rear. The skirt hands straight down at the front, with gentle folds throughout. At the rear there is a wide, extensive trail in the same fabric. Looks heavy!
Image 1 Museum photo of a full length dress in a pale yellow silk. It has long, tight sleeves with a ribbed/overlapping effect from shoulder to wrist. Green floral embroidery covers the wrists and shoulders. The cuffs hang slightly over the back of the hands. The neck line is very high - a tight collar, in lace, extending likely up to the jaw. The bodice is a typical v-shape, and blends into the skirt seamlessly, which extends to the floor. The front of the skirt is covered in lace, and further floral details appear on the chest, front of the hips, and near the hem.
Image 1. Front view of a full length ball gown in light pink silk. It has a narrow, structured bodice, tapering to a 'V' from upper hips to below the navel. The skirt has a slight bustle, expanding the hips on the sides and rear. It is otherwise cut quite straight, with few folds at the front. The pink is accented by golden floral/leaf details. There are two strong lines of these up the front left and right of the skirt, and more around the hem. The front of the bodice also has this detailing. The upper bodice is interesting. The main fabric of pink is slashed from the right armpit to the left side (below the bust) in a diagonal. The fabric in this upper part of the bodice is replaced with gold and white lace. There are two prominent folds of lace at the shoulders, and very slight, short sleeves of lace in the same gold.
Museum photo of a full length black ball gown. It has a simple, broad scoop neckline, exposing half the shoulders and the collarbones. A lace V cut dominates the front of the bodice, which also narrows to the waist. It has half length gigot sleeves, with quite large shoulders. The skirt is floor length, with a trail and bustle. It is split and open at the front in an inverted V, showing a inner skirts of black lace.
Image 1. Museum photo of a dark green, wool cape. It looks as though it would extend to mid-thigh in length. It is somewhat shapeless (purposefully) and fits quite baggy, to cover whatever you're wearing underneath. Modern depictions of capes often show them just hanging off the back, but this cape covers the whole body, with light brown buttons down the front. Two slits are cut into the fabric in the lower chest on either side, which allow the arms to reach out as needed (there are no sleeves). It has a mid-heigh, crumpled collar around the sides and back of the neck.
Museum photo of an ivory coloured evening dress, primarily in silk, with cotton lace. It has a tight, structured, tapered bodice, with a clearly define waistline matching the line of a corset. The neckline is low and relatively straight, with quite open shoulders. Lace adorns the bust and neckline, and the half-length sleeves are entirely in lace. The skirt has a slight bustle expanding the sides and rear, and the skirt otherwise falls straight to the floor with a trail about three or four feet long. The trail and hem of the skirt is adorned with about 40cm of lace. It has a lovely subtle design feature - stars in a slightly darker fabric are stitched (?) into the fabric, about 30cm apart. The the hem of the skirt has a layer of stitching resembling clouds, just above the lace.
Museum photo of a full length evening dress, in ivory silk, with black rose and leaf embroidery (?) throughout. The dress has a narrow, tapered bust, quite rigid, with open shoulders and a low scoop neckline. The sleeves are very slight - a couple of puffs of fabric just above and below the shoulder, set off with a blue ribbon serving as a strap at the shoulder, and a further blue ribbon splitting the upper and lower puff of fabric (I don't know why I'm saying 'puff' - there's a word for it, but I've forgotten as I'm tired!). The skirt has a slight bustle extending to the side and rear , and a very long trail with lace fringing. The skirt opens at the front, sweeping down from the midpoint of the waist and out to the sides at the floor, revealing a very full lace underskirt. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/83980
Image 1. Museum photo of a full length evening dress with a long trail. It is made in white satin, with black velvet detailing woven into it throughout the garment. The velvet is designed in such a way to resemble the sweeping, curving ironwork of ornate railings or gates. Sleeves are four layers of puffed silk, alternating white and black, extending only to the mid-bicep. The shoulders are almost bare, and (as we are looking at the rear) we can see that the neckline here is almost straight, baring the tops of the shoulder blades. Original source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/84652
Image 2. Front view of the coat from the linked post. The peacocks tail feathers continue to sweep around the front right of the coat, and down both sleeves. The coat is fastened in the upper half, with gold coloured floral fabric fastenings.
Image 1. Museum photo of a cream coloured Japanese women's coat in silk and wool, seen from behind. The coat is to mid-calf, cut fairly straight, with very large full length sleeves in a traditional style. The principle design element is an embroidered (?) peacock, covering the full back of the coat. Its body sits across the upper back, with its tail feathers sweeping down to the hem. Its head and neck extend into the right sleeve, and further tail feathers in the left.
Museum photo of a two piece riding habit in dark brown wool. The skirt is full length, with gentle folds, and there is zero chance of it riding up while riding, such is its length and weight. The jacket is quite traditional looking. Tight waist, flared hem expanding out over the hips, with buttons down the centre, and a neat small collar. The sleeves are tight fitting to the wrist, with very slight puffing at the shoulders. Link to source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/86583
Museum photo of a full body bathing suit in black, with white trim. Fabric is silk, wool and cotton. The top has loose t-shirt sleeves to the mid bicep. It is cinched in at the waist, loose fitting, with a large floppy Peter Pan style collar. The collar is trimmed with two lines of white embroidery (I think, though it may be a print). The skirt is roughly A-line, loose fitting, to the knees. It is also trimmed with two bands of white. Black leggings are worn to the ankles. Link to source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/86447
Museum photo of a three-piece beachwear outfit in black silk and cotton, consisting of a dress, trousers, and bonnet. The bonnet has a small trail/capelet to cover the neck and shoulders at the sides and rear. It is edged in white, which accentuates the frilly cut all the way around the face. It is slightly peaked at the front, for more shading from the Sun. The dress is a simple cut. cinched in at the waist, with full length sleeves, tight cuffs, and an A-line skirt to knee length. The neckline is deep and v-shaped, with a white blouse beneat. Trousers are gathered just below the knee, and look quite loose. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/156035
Museum photo of a dark navy fitness ensemble in wool, cotton and linen. It consists in a white blouse, of which we can only see the puritan style collar. The trousers are high waisted, very loose fit and heavily pleated, with elasticated hems at the mid-calf. The top is again quite loose fit, tucked into the trousers, with a big pleat down the centre, and elasticated cuffs at the wrist.
Museum photo of a full length black silk ball gown, with sequins throughout. It has a scoop neckline, sleeves cut straight to the mid-upper arm, and a circular trail of additional fabric at the hem. This extends about a foot to the rear.
Museum photo of a two piece cycling outfit, in very dark brown (or possibly charcoal). The skirt is almost full length, loose, fairly straight cut, with a lot of folds. The jacket is really interesting. It sits high above the hips, and is fastened by two large buttons laid out horizontally just above the bust. The lower part of the jacket sweeps on a slight diagonal from the fastening to the hips, so the lower midriff would be exposed. Sleeves are gigot style, so quite large at the shoulders, tapering to narrow wrists. The lapels are very large, reaching to the shoulders at their widest, and are in a pale cream colour, providing a really lovely accent against the darker fabric.
Museum photo of a full length ball gown in very pale cream, with gold detailing. The skirt has a slight bustle and structure to the sides and rear, with a long train. The standout feature of it is golden butterflies that are woven into the fabric itself. At the hem they are very large, and more butterflies sweep up the left and right side of the skirt, getting smaller as they approach the waist. The bodice is structured and tight fitting, with a curving hem. More butterflies feature here. An interesting feature is that the upper part of the bodice is cut back on the left side, revealing a layer of voluminous golden lace. The sleeves just at the shoulders - further piles of puffy, voluminous golden lace.
Museum photo of a women's riding outfit. It consists of a long cream coloured jacket, falling below the hips, with gigot sleeves, large buttons, and a velvet accented collar. Beneath this is a cream coloured plaid waistcoat, with a small white cravat (?) at the collar. The skirt feels almost stereotypical of the period and activity - its to mid-calf length, in an umber coloured fabric, almost resembling raw animal hide. White boots are worn, with gaiters in a slightly darker shade than the skirt.
Image 1. Museum photo of a two piece women's cycling suit, in a soft brown colour. The jacket is tightly fitted, with a slightly flared hem. It has a broad formal suit collar, and ten buttons down the front. Interesting feature is the enlarged gigot-type upper sleeves, with the puff extending a couple of inches above the shoulder line. The skirt, from the front, looks unremarkable. It goes to about calf length, and has some paler coloured horizontal detailing just above the hem.
Image 1. Museum photo of a two piece, brown, women's cycling suit. The top is a close fitting jacket, buttoned down the middle, with accent panels on the right and left side. The sleeves are slightly enlarged at the shoulder, and full length. The skirt is actually bifurcated, but from this angle it just appears to be a typical, calf length, straight-cut skirt. It has vertical rows of buttons on the front-right and front-left, in line with the accent panels on the top.
Image 1. Museum photo of a pink silk ball gown. It has a full skirt, with folds at the side, waisted above the hips. This has a pink and cream floral pattern. The bodice is straight cut above the bust, and seems to be of layered silk. This is accented by a 3D floral silk element extending up the left side of the bodice, and two large shoulders of ruffled and folder cream and pink silk. Sleeveless.
Picture of Vivi from Final Fantasy 9. He wears a pointed hat, and his face is entirely shadowed, with large glowing yellow eyes. But in a cute way. The picture is titled "Sorrow" and says at the bottom "how do you prove that you exist? Maybe we don't exist..."
Museum photo of a cream coloured wool-knit sweater. It has a turtle-neck, folded over once, enlarged gigot sleeves, long tight cuffs to the elbow, a waist band of tighter knit wool which is cinched in, and a slightly flared hem. Three buttons sit atop each shoulder, and two on each side of the collar. Unclear if these are functional or decorative.
Museum photo of a one-piece exercise suit in very dark green (or maybe grey). It has a cinched in waist with a thick (three to four inches) waist-band. The trousers go to mid-calf, where they are gathered and tied, and they are extremely roomy - lots of pleats, and the material expands out gently from the hips. The top is loose-fitting and resembles an old-fashioned sailor uniform. Full length, open cuff sleeves; a slightly deep V-cut neckline (to the upper sternum); broad, flat collar; and a knotted, chunky tie that hangs to the waist-band.
Image 1. A museum photo of a cape, viewed from the front. It has a triangular cut at the rear, lower than the front, extending to the hips most likely. The front is more like abdomen level, sweeping up from the sides in a very gentle curve to a midpoint at the sternum. It is lined with white/ivory coloured ermine. The exterior is in black lace, accessorised with detailed black sequin work. There's a lot of ruffles going on at the collar and upper chest, and at the front, the sequins follow the curved line of the hem, with larger sequinned floral details every few inches just above this.
Museum photo of a cape, fastened at the front, which would cover the upper half of the torso. Its predominantly in a light brown and yellow wool, with black detailing of silk and jet. It has a high collar and typical cape shape, angled gently from the sides to a point at the midline of the body. However, the standout feature is additional layers of fabric, two on each side of the front, that extend out from the main line of the cape. In shape they resemble a tie or a very vertical lapel, and sit atop additional folds of material, giving a 3d effect to the garment. I have no idea how to describe it properly, but it evokes the idea of wings, or of a spiders legs.
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/106673 Museum photo of a full-length purple mourning dress. The skirt is purple silk, with 3 horizontal black bands a few inches above the hem. It has large gigot sleeves, primarily black, with two purple stripes looping around them from shoulder to cuff. The top is narrow waisted with a broad black band, and intricately detailed lapels in black with gold metallic thread.
An oil painting of a steam train, with a very badly edited line drawing of two stick people fighting on the roof.
Museum photo of a brown/grey walking dress in thick wool. It has a full length skirt with gentle folds, mostly unadorned bar for a bustle. The top is narrow waisted with double layered shoulders, and a very interesting open front. There are broad lapels in black silk with gold trim, and a large cravat or ruffle (?) In the same fabric.
Museum photo of a pink silk evening dress, commissioned as a fancy dress garment for a ball. The skirt is full length, with a small bustle and trail. It has an open seam at the skirt, showing either an underskirt in the same fabric, or the same skirt folded under. The bodice is narrow, double breasted, with large black buttons, and a black panel of fabric wrapping around the back at the waist (but not at the front between the sets of buttons). Sleeves are narrow and full length, with lace trimming at the cuff. It is paired with a white lace shawl and a black silk bunched floral detail at the centre of the breast.
Image of Vivi from Final Fantasy 9. A close up of his hooded face with glowing eyes. There is writing in the image. At the top of the screen it says "sorrow". At the bottom, it says " how do you prove that you exist? Maybe we don't exist..."
Museum photo of a silk velvet, red evening dress. It is full length with a slight bustle and large trail. It has enlarged gigot sleeves, open from shoulder to hem, with bare forearms. The opening in the sleeves reveals cream coloured lace, which also covers the front and rear of the bodice like a shawl. The bodice itself is a snug corset. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/85420
Heat map showing the image poster (bows4crows) being clustered next to three groups of bluesky posters: speculative fiction writers & industry; literary writers & editors; science fiction & fantasy authors.
Still image from 'Raiders of the lost ark', showing Indiana Jones in the act of stealing a golden idol.
Short clip from a fighting game, Blazblue central fiction. The character who has just won is riding around the stage on a carousel horse.
Museum photo of a black wool ladies two-piece suit. The skirt is high waisted, with a small bustle and trail at the rear, and floor length. It features a simple looping pattern of gold embroidery around the hem, which extends up the front centre of the skirt (to knee height, in an embellishment of the simple looping patter). The jacket fits snugly, with full length straight cut sleeves, modestly puffed shoulders, a broad lapel, and a continuation of the same pattern from the skirt. It looks like it is not intended to be closed. A peach coloured round-collared shirt is worn underneath, possibly with a double layer as the front has a pattern of small holes in it.
Image 1 Museum photo of a deep red cloak, made in wool (I think). It has a close fitting hood with a peak extending slightly forward of the forehead. The cloak is cut with a gentle flare outwards from teh shoulders, to about knee height. It is buttoned down the middle, though the buttons are not visible in this image. It has a built in shoulder capelet, wrapping around both shoulders, slightly open at the front, with sharp lapels at the mid-chest.
Museum photo of a red wool and silk cape. The cape has sort of a Peter Pan collar. The cape fastens at the neck, and the right side hangs over the left. It has a beautiful shallow curve running from the waist to the thigh. The fabric is (I think) red wool, with a lot of intricate black silk embroidery throughout.
Image 1. Museum photo of a full-length, red outdoor coat, primarily in dense wool knit. It has large brass buttons all the way down the front, a high circular collar at the neck, and a form-fitting narrow waist. The sleeves have three cream colour stripes running around the wrists, and the hem of the skirt has four of these strips (between knee and ankle). The left arm has a few badges at the shoulder.
Image 1. Museum photo of a full length, brown cotton dress. The fabric is a light brown with red and blue detailing (similar to paisley, but sparser). The skirt has many folds, mostly flowing from the left hip around the garment. The bodice is open down the front, with a tan coloured seam and collar (repeated at the sleeve cuffs), and a white high necked blouse underneath.