Five Fashionable Costume Museums in the UK
What better way to learn about the hearts and minds of a culture than by examining how the people have chosen to visually represent themselves? Perhaps you are an anthropologist with an interest in the way social norms and collective identity have been historically represented through wearable art… Or maybe you just like clothes. Either way, you would do well to check out the UK’s finest costume museums:
Victoria & Albert Museum – London
Widely considered to be the world’s best collection of art and design, the Victoria & Albert Museum is not entirely dedicated to fashion. However, it does contain one of the world’s largest and most impressive collections of costumes dating from c. 1630 to present day. The iconic destination also routinely hosts exhibitions that honor a particular style of dress, time period, or fashion designer. Right now, from March 10th through July 10th, the Victoria & Albert invites visitors to learn about one of the most influential and enigmatic fashion designers of the last forty years: Yohi Yamamoto. From Yamamoto’s custom-made textiles to photographs depicting the designer’s unique process to awe-inspiring gowns and other apparel, this exhibition encompasses his entire legacy.
the exterior of the Victoria & Albert Museum
Recommended hotels in London: the Saint Georges Hotel, The Rembrandt
Fashion Museum – Bath
Housed within the magnificent Assembly Rooms in Bath, the Fashion Museum is one of the city’s prized possessions. It can be found next to the Royal Crescent and Circus, in the Upper Town area, not far from the world-famous spa waters. Bath’s pedestrian route, which cuts through the heart of the city, will lead you right to it. On the way there or afterwards, you may shop for clothing on stylish Milsom Street. The fashions on display at the Fashion Museum depend upon when you choose to visit; exhibits rotate frequently, so there is always something new to discover. Most special exhibitions are held in the largest gallery, on the lower ground floor of the building. However, the grand ballroom and the Great Octagon have also hosted some truly spectacular exhibitions (including Pick of the Bunch and Travilla – the man who dressed Marilyn Monroe.) Current displays in one on 17th-century gloves, Helmut Lang, and the Top Trends for 2011.
Gallery of English Costume – Manchester
Since recently undergoing a £1million renovation, the Gallery of English Costume is again open to the public. It is part of the much larger Manchester Art Gallery, whose displays comprise the city’s most important collection of art. The Gallery of Costume is located in the elegant Platt Hall—an ideal home, considering it was once an 18th-century textile merchant’s residence. The exhibits depict the history of fashion, tracing what men, women and children wore from the 17th century onwards. While most exhibits are of an haute couture nature, there are also some interesting items (antique clogs, Lancashire weavers’ shawls) that represent what England’s working class once wore. The massive collection is divided into categories like “Sexuality” (lingerie) and “Sports and Leisure.”
Even the guidebooks are fashionable.
Recommended hotels in Manchester: The Palace Hotel, the Brittannia Hotel South Manchester
Abington Park Museum – Northampton
The diverse exhibitions of the Abington Park Museum are housed within a beautiful Grade I listed building in a park in Northampton. Amid the peaceful acres of well-kept scenery, the museum features displays that honor the local heritage. Along with original works of art and artifacts, the Abington Park Museum specializes in all things fashion-related. Original costumes and jewelry from the 19th century are highlights, as are two of the museum’s more unusual galleries: the Museum of Leathercraft, which is international acknowledged as having one of the finest collection of leather goods in the world, and The Shoe Collection. The latter is the largest collection of shoes in the world, ranging from examples of ancient Egyptian footwear to contemporary designs.
Shambellie House National Museum of Costume – New Abbey, Dumfries and Galloway
As part of Scotland’s National Museums collection, Shambellie House is proud to offer its own perspective of the country’s history—one that sees through the eyes of fashion, of course! Currently open for its summer season, the National Museum of Costume has a brand-new exhibition (Land Girls and Lumber Jills) and fresh displays. Past exhibitions have included Marriage in the Movies (which included the bridal gowns worn by some of the world’s most famous fictional brides) and Jean Muir: A Fashion Icon (in which sketchbooks, patterns and original designs told the story of one of Scotland’s most legendary designers.) Shambellie House’s permanent collection is divided by theme and into rooms; beautiful formal gowns from the 18th century overlook the romantic ruins of Sweetheart Abbey, while children’s costumes and antique toys fill the house’s old nursery. The museum also has a shop and a lovely tearoom onsite.
an exhibit at Shambellie House
Recommended hotels in Dumfries and Galloway: the Clonyard House Hotel, the Well View Hotel – Inn
