History Highlight: Fashion

About

This autumn, Trowbridge Museum introduces our first ever 'History Highlight Festival!' A jam-packed programme of talks, performances workshops and film. With each History Highlight festival focusing on a new topic, we are excited to announce this year's theme is 'Fashion,' inspired by Trowbridge's rich textile heritage.
As one of a host of talks planned for the History Highlight festival, Sally Chidlow-Grant will give a talk about Dame Mary Quant's legacy and her connection with Trowbridge textile heritage. Sally is an arts and fashion historian, who first studied art at Trowbridge College, before going on to study further in Winchester and London. Sally has worked with major designers and fashion stores, and as a Senior Lecturer in Fashion/Textiles at several universities. As part of the History Highlight festival the official feature documentary celebrating the incredible life Dame Mary Quant, will be screened at Parade House on 18th October.
Other events for the festival include a talk by 'The Dandy Dealer' – 'Stand and Deliver,' noted purveyor of gentlemen's clothing and accessories in the Mark Wallis Collection spanning the years 1670-1970. A performance by Rosemary Hawthorne, aka as the 'Knicker Lady,' will give a humorous talk through the history of underwear from Jane Austen to the present day.
RADA trained Rosemary has been described as 'The Joyce Grenfell of Knickers' and as 'having the style and timing of pure comic genius.' Author of several books, including 'The Costume Collector's Companion 1890-1990' and 'Knickers: An Intimate Appraisal.' Her media credits in-clude the Antiques Roadshow, The Victorians with Jeremy Paxman, The one Show and Woman's Hour.
The talk, 'Uniformly Elegant,' on 19th October, given by members of the West of England Costume Society, will offer a closer look at how the likes of Jane Austen's Jane Bennett and Mr Darcy wore their finery and what it took to dress in the Georgian times. If you are especially interested in this era, you can also head over to Parade House afterwards for a tasty cream tea and to watch The Jane Austen Dancers of Bath perform some elegant regency dancing.
On Friday 20th October the Museum's staff and volunteers will take to the 'catwalk' for an amusing, informative and participatory sashay through two thousand years of underwear, outerwear, hats and gloves. You will discover how a Roman put on a toga, why pants were made from linen and exactly how dangerous a Victorian hat could be! This light-hearted look at clothing through the ages is suitable for children (aged 8+) and families, including an opportunity to dress up yourself!
The History Highlight festival runs from Wed.18th Oct- Sat.21st October.
For more details and how to book go to:
Trowbridge Museum event tickets from TicketSource. Or https://paradehousetrowbridge.co.uk