Gilded Lilies: History, Culture, and Fashion

Daisy Edgar-Jones's Sense and Sensibility press tour outfits, explained: 12 looks from 8 designers (Westwood, Chloé, Miu Miu, Armani, McQueen + more) and the Regency fashion history behind them.

Links to my Instagram, Spotify, & TikTok: http://www.gildedliliesclub.com

Why does Daisy Edgar-Jones keep wearing corsets, slips, and bralettes on the red carpet? Because Regency fashion started with a 1783 portrait of a queen in a muslin gown so close to underwear that the public called it indecent, and then everyone wore it anyway.

In this fashion history video essay and podcast, we tour twelve Sense and Sensibility (2026) press tour looks worn by Daisy and styled by Dani Michelle. We cover Vivienne Westwood's Portrait corsets, a 1999 Chloé by Stella McCartney found in August and confirmed 24 hours before the LA premiere, a feathered Stella McCartney mystery, Miu Miu's bodysuit-slip-corset dress, Dries Van Noten's bralette, Armani Privé and a 90s Armani pinstripe, Schiaparelli, and Alexander McQueen's hussar jacket. Plus: what Grace Snell's Regency costume design says about underwear as outerwear, and a teaser for next week's video on the history of the hussar jacket.

Chapters:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:02 Vivienne Westwood: World Premiere
• 4:18 Chloé: Three Era of Romance
• 7:32 Stella McCartney: The Slip
• 8:52 Miu Miu: Australian Premiere
• 10:31 Dries Van Noten: The Bralette
• 11:56 Armani: Armani Privé and the 90s Pinstripe
• 13:57 Schiaparelli
• 15:20 Alexander McQueen: The Bustier
• 16:04 Alexander McQueen: The Hussar

Music used: Rafael Krux - Classical Concert Flute

Resources used and additional readings:

• Hennes, Meguire. “The Story Behind Daisy Edgar-Jones’s 27-Year-Old Chloé Sense and Sensibility Look, According to the Vintage Boutique That Sourced It.” Marie Claire, 8 Oct. 2026, http://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/celebrity-style/daisy-edgar-jones-archival-chloe-corset-sense-and-sensibility-premiere-raffe-vintage/.
• Jana, Rosalind. “Vivienne Westwood’s Rococo Approach to Fashion.” Apollo Magazine, 14 Dec. 2021, http://apollo-magazine.com/vivienne-westwood-art-rococo-wallace-collection/.
• Michie, Natalie. “Daisy Edgar-Jones Looks Straight Out of an Oil Painting at the Sense and Sensibility Premiere.” W Magazine, 15 Sept. 2026, http://www.wmagazine.com/fashion/daisy-edgar-jones-reaches-painterly-perfection.
• Vivienne Westwood. Corset. 1990. Victoria and Albert Museum, London, accession no. T.216-2002. V&A Explore the Collections, http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O71199/corset-vivienne-westwood/.
• Young, Caroline. “Daisy Edgar-Jones’ Sheer Sense and Sensibility Dress Was Stunning (But Not Sensible at All).” CinemaBlend, 4 Oct. 2026, http://www.cinemablend.com/movies/daisy-edgar-jones-wears-sheer-sense-and-sensibility-dress.

Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

#DaisyEdgarJones #SenseAndSensibility #FashionHistory

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit https://gildedliliesclub.substack.com

Links to my Instagram, Spotify, & TikTok: www.gildedliliesclub.com

In this history podcast and video essay, we explore the life of Jane Austen, from her childhood in Steventon and her close bond with her sister Cassandra to her years of financial uncertainty, her anonymous debut as “By a Lady,” and her untimely death in 1817. Then we turn to the screen with a full movie review of Sense and Sensibility (2026): how it adapts the Dashwood sisters’ story, how it compares to earlier adaptations, and whether it captures the sense, the sensibility, and the real history behind Austen’s novel.Who was the real Jane Austen? Long before Sense and Sensibility became one of the most beloved romance stories in English literature, Jane Austen was a Georgian-era clergyman’s daughter writing in secret, publishing anonymously, and navigating a world where a woman’s money, marriage prospects, and independence were never guaranteed.Chapters:0:00 Introduction1:26 Jane Austen's Youth6:03 "By a Lady" - Publishing Jane11:59 Final Year & Legacy14:31 Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen17:48 Austen Adaptations22:30 Sense & Sensibility Movie ReviewMusic used: Chopin - WaltzAbout this video: Who was Jane Austen, and how did her life shape Sense and Sensibility? This video essay and podcast explores the history of Jane Austen, Regency and Georgian England, inheritance law, women’s lives in the early nineteenth century, and the origins of the novel Elinor and Marianne, which became Sense and Sensibility. It also includes a spoiler-light review of the 2026 film adaptation, covering the story of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, the performances, the costumes, and how it measures up to the book and to other adaptations.Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit https://gildedliliesclub.substack.com

If you would prefer to read about this topic, I have also published it on Substack with some additional imagery! Find it here: [LINK TBA]

Who was the real Dracula? Long before Bram Stoker created one of the most iconic vampires in horror, Vlad III Dracula, better known as Vlad the Impaler, was a fifteenth-century prince whose life was filled with political betrayal, brutal warfare, and a struggle for power.

In this history podcast and video essay, we explore the life of Vlad the Impaler, from his childhood as a hostage in the Ottoman Empire to his wars against Mehmed II, his infamous reign in Wallachia, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death. Discover the real history behind Dracula and how a medieval Romanian ruler became a legend.

Links to my Instagram, Spotify, & TikTok: http://www.gildedliliesclub.com

Chapters:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:33 Landscape of the Medieval
• 10:33 Youth & Life at Ottoman Court
• 16:06 First Reign
• 23:56 Rise of the Impaler
• 38:22 Fall of the Impaler
• 45:46 Dracula: The Vampire

Music used: Devil’s Organ - Jimena Contreras

Resources used and additional readings:

•

Florescu, Radu, and Raymond T. McNally. Dracula, Prince of Many Faces: His Life and His Times. Little, Brown, 1989.

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Goldfarb, Lindsey. From Prince of Wallachia to Prince of Darkness: An In-Depth Analysis of the Identity of Vlad Dracula. University of Northern Colorado,https://digscholarship.unco.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1017&context=urj.

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Jannah, Miftahul, and Suwarni. “The History of Vlad Dracula and Its Distortion: A Study of Strengthening History Learning Literacy.” Global Education Journal, vol. 3, no. 2, 2025, pp. 447–454.https://doi.org/10.59525/gej.v3i2.727.

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Rezachevici, Constantin. “From the Order of the Dragon to Dracula.” Dracula Studies, Kutztown University,https://research.library.kutztown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=dracula-studies.

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“Vlad Dracula: The Prince Who Became a Vampire.” Center on Religion and Culture, Fordham University,https://crc.blog.fordham.edu/arts-culture/vlad-dracula-the-prince-who-became-a-vampire/.

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Vlad III Dracula: The Life and Times of the Historical Dracula. By Kurt W. Treptow.

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Vlad the Impaler: A Captivating Guide to How Vlad III Dracula Became One of the Most Crucial Rulers of Wallachia and His Impact on the History of Romania. Captivating History.

About this video: Who was Vlad the Impaler, and how did he become associated with Dracula? This video essay and podcast explores the history of Vlad III Dracula, the Ottoman Empire, Mehmed II, medieval Wallachia, and the origins of the Dracula legend, tracing the story of the real man behind the fictional vampire.

Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright At 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit https://gildedliliesclub.substack.com

What is the real history of dragons? From Mesopotamia to Westeros, this video essay traces how the dragon evolved from a terrifying ancient monster into the epic fantasy creature we all want to ride.

We journey through the history of dragon mythology across centuries, exploring how these beasts were viewed in ancient Babylon, Greek mythology, medieval Christianity, Tolkien's Middle-earth, and modern pop culture like Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon.

Links to my Instagram, Spotify, & TikTok: https://prettycurious.us/

Chapters: 0:00 Introduction1:17 Etymology of the word 'Dragon'2:07 Dragons in Mesopotamia 3:40 Mušḫuššu4:40 Tiamat5:24 Dragons in Ancient Greece 6:14 Typhon7:43 Ladon and Hydra 9:19 Roman Empire and Dacian Kingdom10:30 Medieval Europe11:30 Saint George and the Dragon12:40 Saint Margaret of Antioch13:11 The Welsh Dragon14:33 Smaug - Lord of the Rings15:48 Game of Thrones19:22 Order of the Dragon

Music used:

EBB - Density & TimeHeavy

Interlude by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100515Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Resources used and additional readings:

• Gawlinski, Laura. “Drakōn: Dragon Myth and Serpent Cult in the Greek and Roman Worlds.” Bryn Mawr Classical Review (2013). https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2013/2013.11.21.
• Ogden, Daniel. Drakōn: Dragon Myth and Serpent Cult in the Greek and Roman Worlds. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199557325.001.0001.
• Peralta, Camilo. “On the Symbolic Use of Dragons by Jacobus de Voragine and J. R. R. Tolkien.” Religions 14, no. 4 (2023): 552. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14040552.
• Rezachevici, Constantin. “From the Order of the Dragon to Dracula.” Journal of Dracula Studies 1 (1999): 3–7. https://research.library.kutztown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=dracula-studies.
• Salagean, Tudor. “The Order of the Dragon: A Legacy of Power.” Medium, February 22, 2025. https://medium.com/@tsalagean/the-order-of-the-dragon-a-legacy-of-power-6a356104eba6.
• Watanabe, Chikako E. “The Symbolic Role of Animals in Babylon: A Contextual Approach to the Lion, the Bull and the Mušḫuššu.” Iraq 77 (2015): 215–224. https://doi.org/10.1017/irq.2015.18.

About this video: If you've ever wondered where dragons come from, why they were considered evil for 4,000 years, or how George R.R. Martin’s Westeros fits into historical mythology, this deep dive is for you.

This documentary-style video essay covers the global origin of dragons, European vs. Eastern dragon mythology traditions, historical dragon slayers, and the evolution of monsters in fantasy literature.

Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright At 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit https://gildedliliesclub.substack.com

Jennifer's Body had everything going for it: an Oscar-winning writer, a red-hot star, a killer premise. It still flopped. This video essay breaks down why. Costume designer Katia Stano dressed Jennifer Check to tell a feminist horror story about trauma and identity, and the marketing team sold audiences a completely different movie.Let's analyze the costume design of Jennifer Check (Megan Fox)!Links to my Instagram, Spotify, & TikTok: https://prettycurious.us/Music used: - Aether - Density & Time- Spring of Deception - Density & TimeResources used and additional readings: Katia Stano’s Nylon Feature#jennifersbody #meganfox #halloween Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright At 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit https://gildedliliesclub.substack.com

She had no crown, no legal claim, and no reason to hold back. Meet the women who ran the French court from the King's bed: Agnès Sorel, Diane de Poitiers, Madame de Pompadour, and Madame du Barry, and the queens who waited them out.

Links to my Instagram, YouTube, & TikTok: prettycurious.us

Music used: W. A. Mozart, Symphony No.38 in D major - A Far Cry

Resources used and additional readings:

•

Adams, Christine, and Tracy Adams. The Creation of the French Royal Mistress: From Agnès Sorel to Madame du Barry. Penn State University Press, 2020.

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Elia, Marina. "The Role of the French Maîtresse en titre: How Royal Mistresses Utilized Liminal Space to Gain Power and Access." University of North Carolina,https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/downloads/fb494j21j.

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"The Royal Mistress: Often the Most Powerful Person in a King's Court." http://history.com, A&E Television Networks,https://www.history.com/articles/royal-mistress-power-england-france-prince-william.

•

Wellman, Kathleen. Queens and Mistresses of Renaissance France. Yale University Press, 2013.

Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright At 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit https://gildedliliesclub.substack.com

An American icon has shaped our country once again! Ralph Lauren returns with an ‘irreverent romance’, channeling American, French, and English history in his latest Spring/Summer 2027 collection which debuted at NYFW 2026.

Follow all my social media by going to prettycurious.us!

Chapters: 0:00 Introduction1:31 Ralph Lauren5:30 SS27Music used: Powdered Waltz - The Mini VandalsResources used and additional readings:

- Ralph Lauren https://www.ralphlauren.com/rl-heritage-timeline-feature- See the full look book here: https://wwd.com/fashion-news/shows-reviews/gallery/ralph-lauren-spring-2027-ready-to-wear-collection-1239204930/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit https://gildedliliesclub.substack.com

Not a single woman in House of the Dragon has any sort of authority… despite having much of it in Fire & Blood. Really makes you think.Chapters: - 0:00 Introduction- 3:19 Aemma Arryn- 5:25 Laena Velaryon- 8:48 Helaena Targaryen- 13:05 Alicent Hightower- 19:19 Rhaena Targaryen- 23:32 Rhaenyra Targaryen- 32:10 ConclusionMusic used: Marked – Alexander NakaradaGolden Brown – The StranglersResources used and additional readings: How Viserys Failed Rhaenyra by World of WesterosBeware the Butterflies – GRRM, Reddit reuploadRunning Head: Dismissed and Ignored: Confronting the Trauma of Black Women Maternal Healthcare https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40615-025-02769-z

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit https://gildedliliesclub.substack.com

A video about Ryan Murphy's 2026 show 'The Beauty', Coralie Fargeat's 'The Substance' starring Demi Moore, and looksmaxxing influencers like Clavicular. With the rise of peptides, Ozempic, and practices like 'bonesmashing', I look into what lengths we will go to to be beautiful.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit https://gildedliliesclub.substack.com