Fashion Palaces

There is an exhibition in the Historical Museum about the old Amsterdam fashion houses. They have dresses and other kinds of clothes and accessories from the early part of the twentieth century up to the sixties. It is very much an exhibition about the era when there still was a great difference between women and ladies, and this was an exhibition about the ladies. There were various fashion houses in Amsterdam in the early twentieth century, some are still around, some have disappeared. The ones still there still have a pretty good reputation, I haven't actually visited all of them. I guess I'm not really a lady.

The exhibition was very stylish too, nicely lit, a lot of items on display, but all very tastefully done. I liked a display of hats, it made me want to start wearing a hat again. I had a lovely pink hat when I was about three I remember. Or rather I know because I've seen the pictures. But anyway, some nice hats here too.



Looking at this year's fashion, some of the dresses on display could be in the shops right now. There was a dress from 1955 which would look very nice for this year. I like it.



And some pretty black ones that are not unlike some of my own dresses. And I liked this piece as well, Very modern in some ways and dated in others.



They also had a great wall of posters and prints, with a lot of different images, advertisements from the different eras. Different styles of clothing, different styles of design, but again, mostly very tasteful.




One of the best things about the exhibition is near the end. An old-fashioned fitting room, with wooden models of dresses and suits, and mirrors all around. A great place to play with a camera...