Ceredigion Museum fashion show

Andrea De Rome, collections officer at the museum, has curated a show of fashion that highlights issues related to the social and physical changes of women’s fashion through time.

‘This exhibition explores the changing silhouette and social role of women. As the definition of femininity has evolved, so have the fashions used to express it.’

While Andrea has been keen to include as many different major trends as possible there has been a focus mainly on the fashions which tell a story. ‘Today, fashion can be whatever you want it to be. Women’s shapes and clothing have endured so many changes. Now we accept that different styles and interpretations are normal, but that has not always been the case.’

The exhibition illustrates the link between fashion and society. For centuries, looking feminine meant letting your clothes contort your body into an idealised shape. Just as fair-skinned bodies implied wealth and finery 300 years ago, a sun-kissed body came to suggest modern luxuries such as air travel.

The examples of clothing on show are mainly from Britain, but they do show how American cinema, jazz music and youth culture influenced the changing face of fashion.

Andrea adds, ‘For many years, a woman’s style was also defined by whether she was a wife, a widow or single. At the French court in the 17th century women painted on beauty spots in different places depending on their marital status.’

Concentrating on female fashion worn from 1850 to 1970 the clothing, highlighted in the earlier years of the exhibition, is dictated by the upper and middle class in society.

‘The poorest women having little choice in the pattern their lives would take.
Today, femininity comes down to personal preference.’ But Andrea goes on to say, ‘
Don’t they always say that it is cultivating an individual style rather than following a trend that makes you stylish?’ As a final comment Andrea says. ‘Wearing all black is now considered liberating and modern, where once it was only worn in mourning.’

The exhibition is accompanied by a number of practical workshops starting with a free paper sculpture fashion session 11-1pm on July 27.

For any more information, please visit the website http://museum.ceredigion.gov.uk.