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Silhouette Of History: UGA Historic Costume Collection On Display At Georgia Museum Of Art

by Sara Hosch
12/08/2007

Generally, a trip to the museum is not on the checklist for a savvy fashionista’s day of vintage window shopping – until now.

The University of Georgia Textiles Merchandising and Interiors Department is finally putting a sampling of its prized possession on display: the over 4,000 piece Historic Costume Collection.

‘We have a costume collection?’ many have asked, which is exactly why Textiles Professor and Historic Costume and Textile Collection Manager Jose Blanco decided it is time to open the eyes of students to the fashion resources at hand in the “Shaping the Silhouette: A Glimpse into 20th Century Fashion” exhibit.

“Fashion in museums is big right now,” said Blanco, referencing highly publicized exhibits in San Francisco and London. “Museums have recently realized the artistic collaboration involved in dressmaking. More people are going to fashion exhibits than art installations.”

The sampling at the Georgia Museum of Art, which started on Dec. 1, includes one dress from each decade of the 21st century, complete with historical context explaining how the silhouette evolved from its preceding decade. All descriptions are designed to aid the viewer in realizing the important connection between apparel and culture.

While Blanco has been working closely with Georgia Museum curator Ashley Callahan on the project, it is his Museum Issues in Historic Clothing and Textiles students that have been the major driving force behind the exhibit.

The class, in a once-in-a-lifetime hands-on assignment, chose the dress and accessories for each decade, and are also responsible for the research, press releases and set-up.

“An exhibit like this takes a lot of work,” said Callahan. “Once it’s actually time to bring the dresses in, all the mannequins must be padded in the necessary areas to truly create the decade’s silhouette.”

The exhibit, which runs until March 10, will be the center of much activity throughout its duration. Scheduled events include lectures by Blanco, a Historic Costume Society of America symposium and a special highlight during Women’s History Month.

Both Blanco and Callahan hope that the exhibit will be the first of many installations here at the University.

And who said that history was boring?