Victorian, Edwardian, and Modern Costumes from CUT!

Yesterday I showed you some of the earlier era gowns from the Bowers Museum's CUT! Costumes and the Cinema exhibit. Here are the post-Romantic era costumes:

Once again, underpinnings are important. Have a cage crinoline. 

And a lobster tail bustle. 

I love it when they put in details nobody's likely to see, like the lace and tiny tucks on these drawers. 

Structure underneath the gown is required to get the amount of poof in Carlotta's dress from Phantom of the Opera.
Although this seems to need another petticoat, judging from the line going across the skirt.

The back of Carlotta's dress.

I'd never heard of The Land of the Blind, but this is a Red Dress, capital letters deserved. Ridiculously difficult to photograph, though. 

A bit less voluminous: classic bustle gown from Portrait of a Lady. 

The frilly back.  

More smocking goodness, from Miss Potter. 

Scarlett's Johansson's dress from The Prestige.

If ever a dress looked like a wedding cake, this would be it. 

Moving onto the Edwardian era: Uma Thurman's military-inspired outfit from The Golden Bowl. 

I believe this was an original Edwardian piece layered over a new underdress. Oh, that pouter pigeon front! 

Kate Winslet's dressing gown from Finding Neverland. 

First thought: absolutely breathtaking. Second thought: good golly, that must be a beast to move around in. 

Seriously. That. Detailing. 

Maggie Smith's dress from Gosford Park and a beaded gorgeousness from Mrs. Dalloway. 

Teens era. This coral dress could be from Downton Abbey, except that it's actually from In Love and War.

The most modern thing I took a picture of: a gorgeous teal-gray bias cut gown, but I don't remember what movie it's from! I want to (and Mr. Cation wants me to) make a gown like this so badly. 

For an aspiring costumer like myself, it was like two hours of heaven. I took so many pictures, hoping to capture all the exquisite details, but unfortunately the dim lighting made some of them quite fuzzy. Next time, I'm bringing a sketchbook! It's funny, since I've become interested in costumes and historical fashion, I've gone to so many more museums (and been more interested once I'm there!). From the De Young's Gaultier and Nureyev costume exhibits, to the Legion of Honor's Cult of Beauty exhibit, to the incomparable V&A, and of course the FIDM museum's yearly award-winning-costume exhibits, an interest in clothing has given a focus to my museum attendance.

Even a scrimshaw exhibit has fashion bits in it! Look at that classic Romantic era gown. Apparently, whalers used to use Godey's Lady's Book as source material for their carvings. Who would have thought?!

See, I've always believed strongly in the importance of museums; my dad started us young on going to look at art and science museums, but there was never really anything I particularly wanted to see of my own accord. Now, instead of cursorily checking out museums because I should, I actually enjoy going (what a revolutionary thought!). Costume exhibits are especially fun, but even having a rudimentary grasp of historical fashion has given me a framework to hang actual history on, if you know what I mean. I'm learning so much more about world history now that I need to research things like the textile industry, peasant life, and political statements through clothing color. If only I had discovered this earlier, who knows, I might be a history teacher instead of a science teacher! This just gives me more reason to keep incorporating things beyond the curriculum/textbook, because one never knows what might catch a student's eye and inspire more learning. Here's to not being a lazy teacher!