The Garden City Historical Society’s “Fashion Through the Ages” exhibit runs through Sunday.
If you haven’t visited the “Fashion Through the Ages” Exhibit, then you don’t know what you’re missing! We even received a Citation from Nassau County Legislator John Giuffre honoring The Garden City Historical Society and its Exhibit.
But it’s not too late, as the Exhibit continues this week – Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12 pm-3 pm and it’s open to the public free of charge.
It’s such a unique experience to be so close to garments, some of which date back to the 1870’s – that’s WELL over 100 years old! Where did we get all this beautiful clothing? The garments have been donated to the Society over the years and have been stored upstairs in the Museum. The clothing and accessories date from the Victorian days through the 1930’s. Last year was the first time we put on such an exhibit, and I am pleased to report that the garments are not the same as those used in last year’s event.
There are quite a variety of garments on display. Check out the mourning dress, which would have been worn for a full two years! FYI – the men only had to observe for six months. The St. Mary’s school uniform and St. Paul’s varsity jacket, on display in the foyer, were donated by alumni. The exhibit continued in the three main parlors, with gowns perfect for wearing to a wedding in 1905 or for a night on the town in the 1930s — one more beautiful than the other. All these garments are paired with fashionable accessories – parasols, beaded evening bags, satin boots with satin buttons, and more. The piéce de résistance is the cream silk wedding gown with its long train, circa 1930s posed on the wonderful winding staircase of the Museum with a bouquet of dried hydrangeas. My personal favorite of the Exhibit is the “day Tea Dress.” Its modern equivalent would have been called a “house dress,” as it was worn with few undergarments (no corset) and would never have been worn outside the home — a must-see with its hand-painted bee buttons.
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 Stewart Department Store — on Broadway and 10th Street in New York City.
This Exhibit was the culmination of an almost two-year-long project which involved inventorying, photographing and cataloguing the collection. But the work isn’t over. The TGCHS needs much more help to authenticate the age and purpose of each garment. If you have any interest in helping with this project, please contact Penny Hinderstein at TGCHS or the AT Stewart Exchange Consignment Shop.
