Costume
'Dressing Rooms' shows a chronological progression of the changing shape of women's dress from 1800 to 2000. The displays incorporate underwear, accessories, children's garments and doll's clothes from each decade; which are complimeted by paintings and photographs from the museum collections.
As you walk through the gallery you are able to appreciate the changing shape of women's dress and cyclical nature of fashion. From the Grecian inspired empire line of the early 1800s, to the body covering fashions and the crinoline skirts of the Victorian era. As we leave behind the 19th Century and enter the 20th Century, hems rise and then fall again through the succeeding decades. Women's figures become moulded with restrictive foundation garments as corsets reappear in the mid 20th Century. As society's attitudes change to dress, so the clothing on show reflects the freedom of choice (and movement) that women are able to make. Don't miss the pregnancy corset, Victorian wedding dress and liquorice allsorts dress.
The first two cases are dedicated to temporary exhibitions. One to the wardrobe of Doreen, Lady Brabourne (1896-1979) and the second to a rotating display that allows us to display more of our 8,000 plus items of costume and dress accessories. Let us know what you would like to see next!
