Dr Kate Strasdin

Membership of external committees

• The Costume Society, Dress and Textile Specialists (DATs), The Court Studies Society

Research interests and expertise

My PhD was a study of the surviving garments of Queen Alexandra, now scattered around the world in different museums. It was an object based project taking garments as the central point of departure and using material culture to inform other narratives. My research interests arising from this are 19th and early 20th century female dress, haute couture, couture embroidery and dress practices.

Research topics

• Royal dress
• court studies
• 19th century dress
• haute couture
• Embroidery

Current research students

Paul Reynolds is a practice based PhD student looking at devoré lace as a means of expressing the limits and existence of holes. Dr Simon Clarke is director of studies and I am co-supervisor, advising on the contextual element of the research.

Research degrees examined

I examined one of Professor Lou Taylor's PhD students at the University of Brighton in 2016.

Number of research degree examinations

Areas of teaching

• Histories & Theories of Dress and Textiles

Courses taught

• Fashion Design
• Performance Sportswear Design
• Fashion Photography
• Fashion Marketing
• Textile Design

Engagement with organisations which contribute to the development of educational, cultural or socio-economic policies in Cornwal

Along with my colleague Julie Ripley we are beginning to expand on the Falmouth Fashion Archive, starting to engage with the local community to encourage the donation of garments to the collection and the dissemination of some of the stories from within it. There is no dedicated collection of textiles and dress in Cornwall - the closest is Exeter - and so this fills a gap within the county.

Independent professional practice

I lecture for the Arts Society both around the UK and internationally. In 2017 I undertook a month long lecture tour of the East Coast of Australia talking about dress history and under the title of Senior Lecturer at Falmouth University. 

Social, community and cultural engagement

Fashion and Textiles Institute Research Lecture series Revisiting a Royal Wardrobe: The Research and Display of Queen Alexandra's Surviving Garments, Monday 10 November 2014.
Twilight Talks lecture series at the Fashion Museum Bath in 2016 and 2018.

Engagement with professional associations and societies

Accredited lecturer for the Arts Society
International Conference co-ordinator for The Costume Society (2016-2018)