Sack back dress of blue brocaded silk, 1760s
from the reign of George III.
For a Dresses of History press
release click here.
Fourteen historic ensembles from the Fashion Museum’s world
class collection of original dress are on display in the museum
galleries from 16 February 2008.
Specialist textile conservators Julie Travis and Lindsay
Shephard have prepared the dresses, which have been carefully
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 new display date from the Georgian, Regency
and Victorian periods. An extra feature of the display is 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.