Dressed to kill - armour and style | Fashion Unpicked | V&A

Discover what the fashion-conscious Renaissance man would have worn on the battlefield or for jousting with Senior Curator of Metalwork, Angus Patterson.
Armour was a form of clothing. The exaggerations and distortions it imposed on natural body-shape flexed and contracted with contemporary fashions. Decorated with bands of etching, blued (coloured blue by oxidation) and gilt, complemented with richly coloured silks and velvets, with dyed ostrich feathers sprouting from the helmet, on a horse armed to match, these extraordinary armours turned their discerning 16th-century owners into stylish works of art.
Modern ideas about historic armour often suggest knights struggled to move as they clanked around. Nothing could be further from the truth. Astonishing artistry, care and technical ingenuity went into producing good quality armour. Beyond a castle or perhaps a suite of tapestries, there were few greater expenses for the Renaissance nobleman than his armour. It was made-to-measure, light, flexible and mobile.
Explore more arms and armour in the V&A's collections: collections.vam.ac.uk/search/...

[@reperpeter]

The real thing is so much more interesting and elaborate than those silly stereotypes shown in movies and pop culture in general.

[@unbanned6175]

They look even more dangerous too tbh, I usually chalk it up to lack of something in production, be it skill in costume design or costume research, maybe cost or something else, I'm sure they can see the difference too.

[@talscorner3696]

"A lot of people don't realise we have armour in the V&A Collection." I dragged my mum there *specifically* for the steel xD

[@vamuseum]

Hope she enjoyed it as much as you.

[@talscorner3696]

@@vamuseum she unexpectedly did!

[@chrisball3778]

The breastplate shape does seem quite good for deflecting blows away from the body. The assumption that it's mimicking the shape of contemporary civilian dress does miss out the possibility that in fact the shape of the civilian clothing was designed to mimic the shape of the breastplates. Wealthy, fashionable men were generally expected to be good at martial arts, so it would make sense that they might wear clothes inspired by their military/ sports equipment as well as vice-versa. There are plenty of modern-day fashions inspired by sports and the military- high end sneakers, tracksuits, combat trousers, etc.

[@johnkim791]

More from Mr Patterson please. He’s a great teacher!

[@therollinggangstas7769]

Incredibly interesting and well presented and explained by Angus. Would love to see more!

[@vamuseum]

You're in luck, watch this space...

[@stardresser1]

As a clothing and costume designer, a big history buff, museum lover, and fan of ASMR, you guys at the V&A have earned my absolute adoration! I was there once, loved it, but haven't been in ages. On my next trip to London, YOU will be my first stop. I'll have a list of my favorite video items to see if I can spot any! These are wonderful little films of the many treasures in the jewel box that the V&A truly is! Brava, Bravo, well done and Thank you so very much. You are making new fans all over the world!

[@SpringNotes]

Wow ! Fascinating to watch, and Angus Patterson is a great teacher.

[@eternalsunny]

Beautiful. I learned so much. Thank you for the explanation.

[@IrishAnnie]

I always love these tutorials from the V&A. So interesting.

[@nancytestani1470]

Yes, wonderful..

[@jeanneblondewomanstamping9788]

These videos are some of the best on KZbin. So well produced and the curators are fascinating to listen to. Just excellent.

[@erikwinkler]

If it was up to me he could have continued another three hours telling us al the technical and historical details. 👍🏻

[@vamuseum]

That's good to hear, we've got more in store!

[@erikwinkler]

@@vamuseum Great! I can not wait. I would like to hear much more about the details of the Fire gilding and etching techniques on these steel armour. Hydrofluoric acid was said, but it seems strange, because i thought this acid was only invented much later

[@MistressQueenBee]

This was a great piece of historical telling. The lecturer was knowledgeable, had wonderful depth of relating the story, and gorgeous art pieces of armour. Well done.

[@phoeben9764]

2-3 months per armour set is quite an impressive speed. It would take a modern smith anywhere from 6 months to several years to make one.

[@kellyhawes9293]

WOW. Such skilled armor makers, perfect in movement and beauty. A noble in that armor would be a sight.❤

[@MDeLorien]

Absolutely stunning, thank you 😊

[@abbywebster8343]

Fascinating, so knowledgeable, thank you for sharing this and all your other videos. I’m not in the country so can’t visit in real life but have fallen in love with the V&A through your videos!

[@vamuseum]

Hopefully you can visit in person one day but until then, we'll keep you entertained!

[@Narabruz1]

This was a delight to watch, even though there are just a few pieces. So much insight, such interesting perspectives on a topic that remains fascinating today. Thank you so much for that video!

[@Ray.Narvaez]

Utterly gorgeous! Ive been a huge fan of the artistry and construction of arms and armor since I was very little so this was riveting to watch. I would love to see more of the collection explained in such a fashion!

[@SilvanaDRavenna]

Truly fascinating. Thank you for sharing this!

[@congydave]

Angus Patterson is an instant ASMR legend. Both calming and informative!

[@TheArmachillo]

More videos like this one! Really enjoyed learning

[@RealSalica]

So many interesting details . Thank you so much Mr Patterson .

[@BuriedTeeth]

Holy wow.....i saw some armor recently in the Philadelphia art museum and thought they were stunning but i didnt know just how much work! They're so beautiful.

[@midshipman8654]

I absolutely love late period armor. The peak of development of the full plate harness.

[@hishamg]

Great presentation and armour. The Arms and Armour galleries was my favourite part of V&A, I was gutted when they were closed. Somewhere I have photos of the galleries taken in the 1990ies.

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

I’m always amazed by the flexibility of the armor where it’s needed. The artistry on these pieces is very fine. Very interesting lesson…I learned new things, which always makes me happy. Thank you for this presentation…would enjoy more, please!

[@kittymervine6115]

thank you! Also you answered my questions... "So what is that?" An impressive cod piece!

[@AnetaRiddick]

beautiful video, thank you

[@Shwettyapple]

Amazing…thanks for posting!

[@phylis3917]

Fascinating. Thank you.

[@user-vm1zg3iy9q]

Да! Сказать ,что у мастера который это сделал золотые руки,это значит ничего не сказать!

[@anna.rrrrrr]

Beautiful, thank you so much!

[@jkadoodle]

I find it really hard to believe the cost was equivalent at the time was over $2 million.

[@PeterKNoone]

Fantastically interesting. Thank you!

[@Olivia-bh7vs]

more of this medieval content please!!

[@samsham8218]

Fascinating!

[@aneia6353]

I’m sleepy now❤love that armor so intricate.

[@dixiefallas7799]

I enjoyed that. Must visit the Royal Armouries, never been and I only live 10 miles away.

[@Mr.Higginbotham]

Fascinating.

[@shelleybluebell397]

What an interesting video - thank you 😊

[@SA-bc6jw]

Bravo, Angus.

[@explodingminds]

Extraordinary.

[@justjane2070]

Thank-you. Very interesting 🧐

[@janebaker4912]

Fascinating

[@marge117]

So fascinating, well explained

[@monicacall7532]

I didn’t realize that armor had a bling factor to it. When did the etching on the metal become fashionable? Did every armor maker and armor decorator have their own unique style that could be easily recognized, or were the patterns for the pieces of armor and their decorations generic? The men who made this exquisite armor were true artists in their own right and not just the run of the mill village blacksmiths. We’re any women involved in this work? Please bring us more videos on armor! Thanks.

[@diamondbolton2944]

Very informative!

[@aristoumeehan4076]

My mind has been read. Was just thinking about this exact thing

[@katarinajanoskova]

Fantastic video! Riveting if I may say so :) Thank you

[@jpavlvs]

Using a winch to mount a horse is from A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain.

[@iambrian769]

I Wish We Had Information About The Blacksmith That Made These Pieces.

[@italianbirdvideos6190]

Very interesting.

[@lianefehrle9921]

The technology of these are amazing. How in the world did the first person learn this?

[@billyhendrix5544]

Probably out of necessity

[@markgoddard2560]

Two million pounds for armour! That’s fashion for you.

[@Belzubeb]

Amazing video, very informative and interesting. Wonder where did the wholes in the breastplate came from?

[@vamuseum]

Hi, glad you liked the video. The little cluster of holes on the right side as you would wear it were for fitting a lance rest while jousting. The other individual holes were for attaching the breastplate to the armour underneath.

[@renaissance255]

Very insightful video and great speaker, though isn't the breastplate meant to be a standalone piece rather than an overtop addition? Reinforcement plackarts typically wouldn't retain the extra gusset plates along the armholes, nor any rolled edges. IIRC, they would be of simpler/smoother shape around this time, keeping only the necessary attachment points for fastening to the underlying breastplate or any further reinforcements on top. I also think the pauldron is meant for the right shoulder rather than the left, with the larger plate surface covering the shoulder blade in the back. This kind of configuration is displayed in a few other armors by Pompeo della Cesa.

[@Theodore_Pugin]

This video is on the eminence front

[@Naturallystated]

5:58 What, what! Red lips print inside the armor? Nah, couldn't be, could it?

[@vamuseum]

That's not Angus's shade, I'm afraid! It's actually a Radziwill Armoury inventory number from the 20th century

[@neverspreadjamonabadjer8459]

@@vamuseum Nice try Angus. You're not fooling anybody. *wink* *wink*

[@molochi]

I wonder about the statement that the breastplate imitated the fashion and not the other way around. I thought the peascod shape evolved that way from earlier more rounded bellied breastplate shapes as an effective way to deflect increasingly powerful weapons (especially those pesky bullets) while at least not increasing weight much.

[@marcele4582]

É estranho pensar que alguém já usou essa armadura.

[@billsmith5109]

Displayed wealth showed you could afford a ransom. Killing you meant a loss of economic opportunity. Fancier armor increased safety on the field.

[@ARMOR_MASTER]

Good one ! Shoutout from D 1st🥇 World Class Grand Master for the Armoring Industry I’M D ARMOR MASTER 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇦🇪🇲🇽🇧🇷🇻🇪🇦🇷

[@nancytestani1470]

What a codpiece…ha..jeepers..

[@robnewman6101]

Permission to enter the Armoury.

[@GeezerRay]

Is no one going to explain the holes in the breastplate? Great video, BTW.

[@vamuseum]

Hi Ray, good question. The little cluster of holes on the right side as you would wear it were for fitting a lance rest while jousting. The other individual holes were for attaching the breastplate to the armour underneath.

[@GeezerRay]

@@vamuseum Thanks for the reply. I didn't know if they were from some sort of damage, but they looked too perfect for that.

[@rntablette9388]

the video is wonderful, but the comments are difficult to understand because of the repetitive noise ( pretend to be music ? ) in the background ... it is a pity. Do you put background noise when you explain the armours to real visitors of the VA Museum ? likely not... so why do you put noise on your videos ?

[@clarepellerin]

Who cares if you come out alive? It's all about whose greaves have a spiffier bow 🤭

[@lola-land]

Why not “Dressed to Survive” or at least “Dressed to Defend?” This was designed to keep its wearer alive, it’s not a weapon, so the title should include survival. How sad!!!

[@robertusaugustus2003]

Oh believe me, when you’re in armour it most definitely is a weapon

[@marycontrary6216]

"Dressed to kill" is a common saying. It's a play on words. It's not sad.

[@robertbroek5004]

For atmosferic energy too😉not only armor😉

[@IzabellaRequiem]

Radziwił???? Whaaat

[@dba750]

Funny that males can have a obese stomach. But I have to be starved to be acceptable to males.....

[@nunyabiznes33]

Go back to the Renaissance and be a Titian model. 😉

[@dba750]

I'm 51, and only ancient men see me now

[@dba750]

Your response is unacceptable from an adult. But understandable from a child

[@nunyabiznes33]

@@dba750 geez. I'm simply pointing out that this was due to changes in taste and that during that time, they actually prefer thicc woman (seriously, go look up a Titian) and there wouldn't have been less expectations for women to have a Barbie figure (which is anatomically impossible btw).

[@paulmanson253]

Henry VIII was famously obese as age and infirmity caught up with his enormous appetite. Didn't like vegetables either. His armour in the Tower of London reflects his shape over time. The training and calories expended to stay in shape meant that unless older,military men would only be men with a belly unless they were enormously strong. A lot of that metal shaping was an understanding that a double crown (body shop reference) is much safer and stronger just where there is no bone structure,the belly. And that piece was an external appliqué for jousting. There would have been a much flatter piece beneath. But yes,even in clothing,that was the style. Planning for later life,perhaps ? I weighed 195 at age 21,185 now, but the contours are different. Used to play squash for hours then,could not do it for minutes now. So time changes us all.