The history of fashion is probably one of my favourite subjects to completely indulge myself in. Clothes are more often than not the mirror of society. The fabrics used, the way it's been made and even down to the way the buttons are pointing can tell a lot about mankind and his surroundings. So there's no real surprise that when I heard about this exhibition, I was the first in line (figuratively speaking, but ya know what I mean).


Romantic Fashions: mr Darcy meets Eline Vere will be on show until 22nd of March and is a real headliner. The exhibition covers most of the 19th century and gives you a good inside into not only the clothes, but as stated before, the whole shebang surrounding those clothes and the people in it. A great example that they use, as can be deducted from the title, are the titles of well known novels as Pride & Prejudice. The exhibition opened and closed with pieces from the film -with Colin Firth- and the dresses/hats that are worn in Downton Abbey.


Especially for this exhibition they've restored several pieces and I must say that everything looks indeed absolutely extraordinary. The only real downfall you'd see was some discoloration here and there. The models feel very modern, yet also quite oldfashioned. I love btw what they've done with the hair. They've hired a specialist team of wig makers and created a hair-look that's based upon the old, but one that also feels very fresh and almost modern. I wish I could do the same with mine...


The art director of this exhibition is Maarten Spruyt. Maarten, I may say Maarten, is the brains behind such pearls as The Chanel Legend also shown in Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Royal Show Pieces in Paleis Het Loo and many many more. His work has got this very unique, very on his own, perspective in putting pieces together. You can easily spot his work through the crowd of productions. However, Maarten's also very true to the nature of the subject that he's handling.


Talking about the nature of the subject that he's handling, it being that almost a whole century has been put together in a relatively small space (century-talking that is), you can beautifully see the transition or change in thought and silhouette in a way that otherwise would pass insignificantly through the space of your mind. From big shoulders to big bums to crinolines and corsets, everything passes the boulevard.


Together with the storytelling they've woven the almost famous imprints of the time. Those images almost speak more words than any description can do justice to it.


I always love how you can literally see the elements we still use nowadays. Fashion isn't something I think that changes, but something that incorporates and mostly reinvent itself within the past it's seen. Naturally, no museum visit is complete without a snoop in the museumshop. One of the books that got a ticket home with me is the official Vivienne Westwood biography written by her and Ian Kelly (IT'S AMAZING) and she also states that her perspective has always been focused on the past and turning it into the element of now.

Love,
Dominique


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