Well, here we go - one of my great loves and weaknesses! Historic costume - we call it "costume" but the people who wore these clothes looked at them just like we regard our clothes today - something that they wore everyday.
The LA County Museum of Art on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles just closed an absolutely wonderful exhibition of historical dress ranging from 1715 to 1911, called "Fashioning Fashion." Apart from the gorgeous clothes, the purpose of the exhibit was to show the evolution of various types of clothes construction, tailoring, cut and development of fashion. The most amazing thing about this exhibit is that this collection is just part of a 1000 piece collection purchased as a lot from a collector in Europe. The items were in pristine condition and it was utterly amazing to me HOW these clothes were preserved in such a perfect state. (Before the advent of archival preservation methods - surviving wars, revolutions, insects, mold and just the ravages of time to contend with). Absolutely amazing.
Of course, I discovered this exhibit very late and Dan and I attended it on its final day. I would heartily recommend it but it has closed. The only way that you can get a glimpse of these treasures is to purchase the exhibition catalog - available from Amazon here
I dragged Dan along and he was very patient and did find many of the items interesting in spite of the subject. The Baroque period panierres absolutely astonished him. He kept saying that he could not believe how anyone could manage to walk in those things.
I've posted a few of my favorites. The 1860 day dress in pale blue was a printed fabric - first the flowers were printed on the blue almost water-color base fabric and then there was a roller print applied with the butterfly motifs. Perfectly positioned to give the three dimensional illusion of the butterflies alighting on the flowers. Exquisite.
My second favorite was the 1820 pale beige evening gown with the silk corded appliques around the hem of the dress. The same satin cording also extended over the hands. What a dress!
Another of my favorites - the 1780 bright crewel dress all hand embroidered with the series of perky hunter green bows descending down the bodice front.
Without comment - the thigh-high lace-up black boots. Not too much new under the sun.....Enough said - from the turn of the last century. Look at that heel - could be on a boot today!
Don't want to leave out the men. My favorite - the 1810 "Jane Austen" gentleman's short coat with crepe de chine pants, walking stick and of course, the beaver top hat. Elegant beyond belief - a young man in this outfit would have cut quite a figure!
And of course the hand-made lace, the hand beading, the hand embroidering with gold and silver thread. One look at all this opulence and its easy to see why there was a revolution in France. A lace-maker's days were numbered - many went blind as young women, having made this intricate lace and embroidery from the time they were children.
I could go on and on and on...suffice it to say it was an incredible afternoon, topped off with a visit to the Petersen Automotive Museum across the street (Dan's museum) and dinner and the mariachi show at La Fonda down the street. It was a great afternoon!
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