Highlights from the Eve of Elegance Exhibit by the Costume Museum of Canada
This was a temporary, pop-up exhibit that is no longer showing. The exhibit was, however, a good representation of the type of pop-up shows the Costume Museum of Canada stages. See their website or Facebook page for any current or upcoming shows.
The earliest recorded New Year’s celebrations date back over 4,000 years to ancient Babylon. Since then, traditions to welcome the new year and bring good luck and good fortune in the year ahead have varied over time and by country. Elegant formal parties came into vogue in the late 1800s and are still in fashion today. Although the tradition remains, the style of those fancy dresses and tuxedos has changed over the years.
This fall the Costume Museum of Canada staged a pop-up exhibition in Winnipeg, Manitoba called The Eve of Elegance highlighting the styles of fancy dress in Canada over the decades and I had the chance to see the style changes over the years.
Woman’s turquoise silk brocade opera gown from 1850
Chinese red silk brocade gown from 1959
Formal attire from the period of 1897 to 1910
Boots were once the standard footwear
Boots as standard footwear for ladies went out of style during World War I. Hemlines were higher so they could walk the streets to work. This created a gap between the top of the boot and the hem of the dress. Shoes came into vogue.
Styles from the roaring 1920s
The “flapper” look came into fashion in the second half of the 1920s. By then corsets were out of style and chests were bound.
A 1926 mauve/grey beaded georgette French gown alongside a mauve/grey silk taffeta cocktail dress and mink stole from the 1950s
Crinolines, which were first used in the 1850s, were popular again in the 1950s to give a skirt fullness.
This Paco Rabanne 1968 silver metal mini dress does not look very comfortable
Arnold Scassi red satin strapless gown from the 1980s
A 2007 green silk evening gown and a 1960s tuxedo with mohair and silk lapel
The Costume Museum of Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba seeks to preserve and exhibit the costumes worn by the people of Canada over the decades. It has over 35,000 artifacts in its collection. With no permanent gallery space, it makes its collection available to the public through pop-up exhibits, heritage fashion revues, and educational programs.
What can be more elegant than a top hat?
Will your New Year’s Eve be one of elegance? What will you be wearing?
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4 Comments
Tag Along Deb
December 27, 2017 at 2:43 pmWow, did anyone actually wear that Paco Rabanne number? Certainly not in Canada in January. 🙂
Donna Janke
January 8, 2018 at 9:18 amDeb, I didn’t get the story behind the owner of the Paco Rabanne number. It might be worn in January if the owner covered it with a long heavy (less fashionable) coat, Sorrel boots, a scarf, toque and mitts until she arrived at the party!
Ken Dowell
December 27, 2017 at 9:50 pmI think some Canadians might have headed south for the New Year before putting some of these on.
Donna Janke
January 8, 2018 at 9:19 amKen, some of these are definitely indoor wear only in a Canadian winter. They’d be hidden under layers of parkas and boots in transit.