By: Kim Manning
The elaborate world of fashion has stemmed across the world for centuries with all its bejeweled essence and fabulous followers and in a place where fashion is a way of life, Florence houses the Galleria Del Costume. Located in the Palazzo Pitti, the rigid castle-like structure straight south of the Ponte Vecchio, the Palazzo is home to multiple museums. However, the Museum of Costume is one that caught my eye because of its natural ability to time-laps right in front of your eyes.
As you walk into the exhibit, a large sign greets you and explains the importance of fashion in the world granting you to “respond to the need for novelty which is the essence of fashion itself.”
From evening gowns to change purses, the Museum of Costume gathers items dating back to the late 1700s with side-by-side comparison to those in the mid to late 1900s.
The gowns vary different shapes and sizes depending on the time they were popular. Many different styles were made to make certain parts of the body look larger or smaller than they actually were depending on what was considered “beautiful” at the time.
Each piece has intricate stitching, shining jewels and unique cuts that continue to progress as the time goes on. All of the clothing and accessories that are on exhibit are obviously used, yet surprisingly well kept. Everything is intact and fabrics are bright.
The gallery also showcases shoes, headdresses, coats and men’s fashion from the 1790s and more recent.
A glass box displayed several old fashion magazines that date back to February 1949; which was one of my favorite parts. And as you leave, the front entrance has fashion books about shoes, history, bags and more for the fashion aficionado in all of us.
*Before you plan your trip, check out which temporary gallery is there for the time being. When I went, there was an exhibit by Andrea Zittel called Between Art and Life, as seen in the photo on the right.
As you walk into the exhibit, a large sign greets you and explains the importance of fashion in the world granting you to “respond to the need for novelty which is the essence of fashion itself.”
From evening gowns to change purses, the Museum of Costume gathers items dating back to the late 1700s with side-by-side comparison to those in the mid to late 1900s.
The gowns vary different shapes and sizes depending on the time they were popular. Many different styles were made to make certain parts of the body look larger or smaller than they actually were depending on what was considered “beautiful” at the time.
Each piece has intricate stitching, shining jewels and unique cuts that continue to progress as the time goes on. All of the clothing and accessories that are on exhibit are obviously used, yet surprisingly well kept. Everything is intact and fabrics are bright.
The gallery also showcases shoes, headdresses, coats and men’s fashion from the 1790s and more recent.
A glass box displayed several old fashion magazines that date back to February 1949; which was one of my favorite parts. And as you leave, the front entrance has fashion books about shoes, history, bags and more for the fashion aficionado in all of us.
*Before you plan your trip, check out which temporary gallery is there for the time being. When I went, there was an exhibit by Andrea Zittel called Between Art and Life, as seen in the photo on the right.
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