Preview tonight: ‘Fashion Through the Ages’ – Garden City News

A Victorian purple velvet jacket

Please join us tonight from 4:00pm – 7:00pm at the Garden City Historical Society Museum for a Special Preview Reception Exhibit of “Fashion Through the Ages.” Located at 109 Eleventh Street in Garden City, the Society will have a featured Speaker – Marianna Gartwaite Klaiman. After a successful career in real estate and working at Sotheby’s, she followed her passion for textiles and became an Independent Textile Scholar, specializing in ecclesiastical vestments. Marianna has been advising with The Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City. Marianna has also been a tremendous asset to the Historical Society in evaluating our garments.

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at the A.T. Stewart Exchange within the lower level of the Museum. Tickets also will be available for purchase at the door the evening of the event.  You can even call the Shop at 746-8900 to purchase your tickets over the phone. As you peruse the exhibit, enjoy light refreshments.

Walk back in time and view fashion and style as never before, up close and personal. The Society will have a display of vintage garments from Victorian days through the 1930’s. All items presented have been graciously donated to the Society through the years. Imagine seeing a St. Mary’s School for Girls uniform (donated by a local alumna), a child’s Christening dress, a gentleman’s suit, and Garden City Hotel uniform all in the same exhibit, all so close that you can reach out and touch them – but please don’t. Many of these garments are so old that they are in fragile condition.

Even though the Industrial Revolution made it easier to get affordable fashion, there were still differences in the ways various classes dressed. But no well-dressed Victorian lady (no matter her class) would ever dress without being fully accessorized, from head to toe. This included bonnets, gloves, hair ornaments, parasols, stoles, bags, fans, jewelry and shoes. Footwear, while utilitarian up until the late 1800s, began to change dramatically.

A black velvet dress that will be on display.

Gentlemen wore heavy leather boots, which fastened over their trousers. Their only embellishment was simple buttons, hooks, or laces that fastened them. A boot’s function was far more important than its comfort or aesthetic appeal. In fact, the concept of a “left” and a “right” boot or shoe didn’t exist until 1818, when a Philadelphia cobbler designed the first pair of shoes to comfortably fit each foot. The advent of the sewing machine made it easier to make footwear quicker and easier than ever before. This meant that there was now more time for embellishments and embroidered accents to be added, thus making footwear a statement-making piece of apparel.

Eighteenth century women wore masculine-style heavy leather boots with little or no heel, mostly for riding and driving. By the 19^th century, their styles had become more feminine with tight lacing, high heels, and pointed toes. Ladies’ fashion trends now showed boots for walking and daywear, made from patent leather or suede, with scalloped trims, intricate embroidery, and lace accents. The more lavish a woman’s boots were, the more money her family had and the more elevated her place within society. Only very wealthy women owned multiple pairs of boots.

Interestingly enough, women, their femininity and their social status were judged by their footwear. It was important for women to have small, dainty feet, which usually meant forcing their feet into shoes and boots that were up to two sizes too small to make their feet appear more delicate. (Does this remind anyone of Cinderella?)

You will recall that Alexander Turney Stewart, founder of Garden City, made his fortune in “dry goods” (aka textiles and clothing). Stewart opened this country’s first department store – aptly named the A.T. Stewart Department Store — on Broadway and 10^th Street in New York City.

Can’t make the “Sneak Preview?” Don’t worry, as the Exhibit will be open to the public at no charge every day (except Mondays) through Saturday, October 27th from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Due to last year’s enthusiastic reviews, we have expanded this year’s Exhibit to two weeks! You can also make special arrangements for a visit by calling (516) 741-8928.