FASHION FLASHBACK
Dressing Wheeling from the Inside Out: 1840-1910

WHEELING, W.Va. (April 10, 2009)- - Can you imagine a busy woman of today, who juggles everything from work, family, friends, hobbies, fitness and community activities, changing into elaborate clothing four to five times every day?

That was the norm for women in the Victorian era. And it was no easy task- no cotton tees and cargo pants for these ladies. It was bustles, bonnets and beads!

Oglebay Institute presents “Dressing Wheeling From the Inside Out: 1840- 1910,” which chronicles women’s fashions during the Victorian era, gives a unique look into the lives of the women who wore them and illustrates how Wheeling fashion changed during a 70-year period.

On display at the Mansion Museum in Oglebay, the exhibit includes many of the finest dresses from the Museums’ collection, accessories such as hats, gloves, parasols, hand fans, purses and shoes along with undergarments such as hoops and corsets.

The exhibit is part of the Museum’s 2009 programming series “Passion for Fashion,” which also includes the monthly Seven Sundays to Remember Lecture Series featuring experts on historic fashion trends.

Visitors to “Dressing Wheeling from the Inside Out” will marvel at the detailed beauty of each piece, but after looking at items like cage crinolines and corsets, most women will be glad that fashion has changed to fit modern-day lifestyles.

“During the Victoria era, a woman of a certain social standing changed clothes several times per day,” Museums curator Megan Clark said. “This exhibit showcases a variety of dress styles such as day dresses, afternoon dresses, walking dresses, visiting dresses, dinner dresses and ball gowns. It also features special sections on wedding dresses and mourning dresses.”

Most of the articles on display were worn in the Wheeling area, and some were locally made.

In the early 1800s Wheeling transformed from a frontier settlement to a bustling cosmopolitan area. The demand for stylish ladies fashions flourished with the growing population, and as Wheeling began to industrialize, higher incomes supported these luxuries.

“Wheeling closely followed the fashion trends of England and Paris,” Clark said. “So all of the pieces in the exhibit were very much in vogue during this time period.”

Most of the exhibit pieces have been tucked away in the Museums’ archives for many years, and Clark says she is glad to give them a breath of fresh air.

“One of the great things about using items from our collection is that we can showcase pieces visitors don’t usually get to see. We have so many amazing items in storage, but we just don’t have the space to display everything. I think people will enjoy viewing and learning about these gems in our collection.”

Exhibit-goers will enjoy the visually appealing displays and the detailed history of the items, the era and those that wore them. They should also appreciate the painstaking behind-the-scenes work that makes exhibits like this possible.

“You start with a general idea and a blank exhibit space that you must fill with items that fit together historically, work together visually, are interesting and educational for the public and, whenever possible, have a local connection. The possibilities are endless, which is the most difficult, yet most exciting aspect of the process.”

Clark began the process by reading several books on Victorian fashion, researching online materials and spending countless hours in the archives sorting through the extensive collection. She then selected items for display based on two main criteria: is the piece a good representation from this time period and is it structurally sound.

“Exhibits are hard on all historical items, especially textiles because they are so fragile. These are all natural fibers, and they break down over time,” she said. “Preservation and presentation are both extremely important to the integrity of the exhibit and the artifacts. You have to find a balance between the two.”

Clark said that in addition to viewing the wonderful fabrics, the intricate details and feminine touches of Victoria fashions, it is also interesting to see how trends were often “recycled” during this 70-year period, when Queen Victoria defined an era.

“It’s just like today,” she said. “Who would have thought that 1970s fashions would ever be back in vogue?”

“Dressing Wheeling From the Inside Out” opens to the public April 24 and remains on display through October 11. The 2009 Seven Sundays Lecture series kicks off April 26 with “Preserving the Past While Inspiring the Future: The Drexel Historic Costume Collection,” presented by Clare Sauro of the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, Philadelphia, PA.

Call the Mansion Museum at 304.242.7272 for more information or visit on the web at www.OIonline.com