A Chance Encounter!!
A couple of months ago we happened to stumble upon a fabulous costume exhibition in our local museum and felt we just had to share the images of these beautiful delights. Some of the dresses date back to the 1840's.
The curator told us the museum have about 300 dresses dating back from the early 1800's through to the 1970's, all gifted by people of our local area to The McLean Museum.
Greenock has a fascinating history of importing goods from around the world. This meant that local dressmakers had access to unique silks, lace and adornments from far flung places such as China, India, America and of course Europe.
The beautiful and exquisitely detailed wedding dresses on display from the 1840's through to the Edwardian era were coloured or cream as the no commonly known white wedding dress only became fashionable in the 1920's.
One particular dress made of silk taffeta was made for a couple who were married in a local catholic church in Greenock. The detail and stitching on the dresses are SO precise and it is amazing to think they were made entirely by hand. No Singer sewing machines here!!
Sadly for now this small selection of dresses from the large collection have been packed away in boxes and will remain in storage.
Thank you for reading.
The 2 Janes.
