Fabulous Fashioning Fashion Exhibit
It was fabulous. It was amazing. I want to go again and again, and next time I'll take binoculars so I can really, REALLY see all the stitching.
The exhibit is in 4 parts: a timeline of the change in the silhouettes for men and women from 1700 - 1915, the textiles used and how they changed as production techniques changed, the tailoring of the garments which included hoops, corsets, cages crinolines, and bustles and the trim on garments. As described in the exhibit "the disparate trim techniques featured in this section were by and large unified by two humble object: needle and thread. Working with needle and thread constituted the foundation for embroidery, quilting, and some lace. Skillfully worked luxurious trimmings often represented the largest financial investment of the garment's construction."It certainly did in some of these garments! I could only guess at the number of hours it must have taken a team of people to stitch. What's more amazing is that these garments are still in one piece! No one cut them up to make new garments out of, no one unraveled the gold to sell, no one threw them away. When I think of all the beautiful dresses we know Elizabeth I had and that none of them survived, it really is unbelievable that these are here for us to see.
And caps, three different caps for me to study!
My husband enjoyed himself as well - just as Christina predicted he would! Fortunately I am blessed with the most patient man in the world as my husband and he happily waited while I studied and studied the embroidered pieces. There were copies of the book Fashioning Fashion in the exhibit on the benches provided for us to sit when we got tired. The book adds so much to the exhibit; more detail and information about the embroidery and the garments. The audio guide was good, but naturally didn't go into as much detail about any one aspect of the exhibit. The book seemed to be in much more detail. I've ordered it from Amazon in the UK and when it arrives, I'll be pouring over it to learn more about what I saw!If you are anywhere near Berlin and can manage to come see this exhibit, DO!