'100 Years of Fashion' Exhibition at Northumberland Museum

(Photographs George Skipper)

The new exhibition at Bailiffgate Museum in Alnwick, Northumberland spans the last hundred years of fashion. It looks at haute couture evening wear through the decades and changing fashions and trends over the last 100 years. 

Designer dresses and accessories have been loaned by local resident and Supermodel Stella Tennant. Plus there are evening gowns, suits, handbags, shoes and hats worn on special occasions by residents of Northumberland over the years.  

Some highlights include a Chanel little black dress and pieces by the design houses of Vivienne Westwood, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Prada, John Galliano, Gucci, Stella McCartney and more.

The exhibition also highlights fashion after the end of the First World War with flapper dresses; traditional men's suits from the Second World War; 26in wide flares with flower power shirts from the 1960s and 1970s; Doc Marten working boots appropriated by skinheads, punks, goths and grunge and the power of the stiletto heel.

When you visit the Museum you can also play dress up with their replica vintage clothes and have your photo taken on a make-believe red carpet.

Museum curator Hilary Waugh says: 'We are thrilled to have been loaned such fabulous clothes to share with the public.  I know like me, visitors will love being up so close that you can study the designs and see every stitch, bead and detail.'  

Photos courtesy of the Museum by George Skipper

About Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery:

Bailiffgate is an award-winning, independent museum and gallery led and run by volunteers. It is housed in a Grade 2 listed former church over three floors, in the historic Castle Quarter of Alnwick, Northumberland. The Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays throughout the year from 10am to 4pm.  Admission: Adults £4; Concessions £3; Children (5-16) £1; Under 5s Free.

The exhibition runs from 6th April to 8th September 2019.