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Friday, July 19, 2013

Russian Fashion: 1850 - 1915

A fan that was also a calendar!
This week I had the pleasure of attending a wonderful exhibit of Russian fashion from the 1800s to the 1990s. I love watching costume dramas so I adored every bit of the exhibit and found myself wondering what it would have been like to wear those clothes. Just to walk a few meters in a crinoline must have been quite a challenge! Another thing that I couldn't help wondering was how on earth they managed to keep the hems of those long dresses from getting covered in mud? While I appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship that went into the making of each item I am relieved to live in the present! The exhibit had two parts to it and these photos barely show a quarter of the first half of the exhibit, so I did my best to take photos of only the most exquisite pieces. In my next post I will share with you the second half of the exhibit - flapper dresses and floral 50s frocks!

24 comments:

  1. Magical!!! I adore this really adore it. I love Russian history and fashion.

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  2. These are absolutely stunning. But I agree - present is better re: muddy hems :)

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  3. Goodness gracious, I don't think I have ever seen such gorgeous gowns! I wish more exhibitions like this were on display in Australia...I attended one about royals last year and it was truly stunning!

    I always wonder how ladies of such an era kept their dresses clear of mud too! Likewise, I think I prefer living in this time and place a whole lot more!

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  4. Sooo beautiful! Lovely photographs as well!! Uuuggggghh so jealous! The details are amazing hey!!

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  5. What a stunning collection! The dresses are so beautiful, but as you say it must have been pretty difficult doing just about anything in them!

    Looking forward to your next post :)

    Www.mancunianvintage.com

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  6. This post blew my mind as a history (of fashion) geek. Magical pieces, those edwardian gowns are something I've been dreaming of..! Looking forward to see more :)

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  7. The word breathtaking sometimes gets brandished about with a little too much ease, but these pieces - so incredibly rich in history, beauty and awe - truly live up to that description. What an immensely fantastic joy it must have been to see them in person. I'm beyond enamored and engaged by your photographs of them - thank you dearly for posting about this magnificent exhibit.

    ♥ Jessica

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  8. Sweetheart thank you so much for posting those incredible photos, I am drooling over the dresses! I can't get enough of clothes from that era, the fabric, the design and the finish are all so exquisite. My couturier granny Kiki used to have a singer sewing machine like that, sadly I think it got lost when she died. What a fabulous exhibit, can't wait to see the second half!

    I've never seen the film Picnic at Hanging Rock but have heard of it, set in the Edwardian time is it? I will check it out following your recommendation as it seems I've been channelling that look unconsciously anyway!

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  9. These dresses are absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for sharing! Reminds me of Anna Karenina!
    xx
    http://thescreensiren.com

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  10. Oh those dresses are absolutely beautiful! The amount of hours it must have taken to make them is too much to comprehend. I'm looking forward to seeing your other pictures x

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  11. Thank you so much for these pictures, I wish I could see this :)
    Amazing dresses, prints, details...

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  12. These dresses are beautiful! I want to try one on really badly lol. Can't wait to see part 2!

    Mabel
    Life of Mabel

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  13. So beautiful! You've no idea how much I've been dying to see these pictures!!!!

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  14. Thanks for sharing these photos! They are soooo lovely! I went to see the exhibition two weeks ago and got on my sister's last nerve by taking pics of EVERYTHING. :)

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  15. these are so gorgeous, i especially love the frothy pink beaded gown. lovely photos of such wonderful works of art. xo

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  16. Oh wow, those dresses are incredible! It would be lovely to live a life of luxury and be able to get away with wearing such wonderful (and impractical) clothes. xxx

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  17. so beautiful! I can't wait to see the flapper dresses!

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  18. WOW WOW WOW!!! love those dresses! And I totally agree with you. I want wear every single one ... especially the empire dresses!

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  19. Wow!!!!!! So beautiful thank you for sharing these wonderful photos. Every garment is a work of art. x

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  20. Oh heaven in glass cabinets......just so beautiful.
    Love V

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  21. Such a Beautiful exhibition. If you visit STockholm you had to visit Jean Paul Gaultiers "from sidewalk to catwalk".

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  22. Wow, wow, wow!! I love those fans!!! The polka dots! And a map of Versailles!!! Wonderful!
    ~xoxo, CoriLynn

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  23. I have just spent a good 45 minutes catching up on all of your posts from your Russia trip! (i've been away from the internet for too long!) What an amazing time you've had! I've always been mesmerised at costume exhibitions...I bet you found it hard to pick your favourites! I have been rather obsessed with the 1920's lately (probably due to Gatsby! haha) So I love the 1920's gowns you photographed!
    xoxo Amie @ Spoonful of Vintage

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  24. These dresses are so beautiful! thank you for sharing. xx

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