16 February 2008 - 27 June 2010
Fourteen historic ensembles from the Fashion Museum’s world
class collection of original dress were on display in the
museum galleries from 16 February 2008.
Specialist textile conservators Julie Travis and Lindsay
Shephard prepared the dresses, which were lcarefully selected for
display. Different dresses require different conservation
treatments.
For example, a white muslin dress with pale blue embroidery
which dates from 1815, was laid out full length on a washing table
and gently cleaned to remove nearly 200 years of dust and
grime.
The fashions in the display dated from the Georgian, Regency and
Victorian periods. An extra feature of the display was the
inclusion of one or two pieces associated with Royalty at the time,
for example, the ceremonial ensemble worn by the Duke of St Albans
as Hereditary Grand Falconer at the Coronation of George IV
(he was previously the Prince Regent) in 1821.
There was a drawing competition for children visiting the
Dresses of History display. View the winners here.
For a Dresses
from History press release click here.
Sack back dress of blue brocaded silk, 1760s
from the reign of George III.