Inside Victoria's Closet: A Look at GCV&M's Current Exhibit

Today's blog post is all about the current exhibit - Victoria's Closet: Fashions of the 1840s - at the Genesee Country Village & Museum, home to the Susan Greene Costume Collection.  This is a post that I have been waiting to write for some time, and, having seen the exhibit in person (finally!), I am so excited to share both a preview of the highlights and a bit of the behind-the-scenes fun.

Victoria's Closet, Fashions of the 1840s
Genesee Country Village & Museum

In a word, Victoria's Closet is phenomenal - it's truly fit for a queen!  Patricia Tice, curator of the John L. Wehle Gallery and Susan Greene Costume Collection, could not have envisioned a more brilliant and timely idea, combining fashions and photography with all the splendor of a Queen and the warmth among family.  It's every BBC Victoria fan's dream - just think of all of those amazing costumes in season two!  Plus, what could be more perfect than an entire gallery full of 1840's fashions?!

From start to finish, I was just in awe of the creative talents, research and attention to detail that went into the making of this and every GCV&M exhibit.  I have such respect for the dedicated gallery staff - Patricia, Elizabeth, Darlene, Brandon - and their team of volunteers who brought Victoria's Closet to life, which opened to the public for the first time on May 12, 2018.  So, if you haven't already, make sure to plan your visit to see Victoria's Closet: Fashions of the 1840s and prepare to be amazed!

Inside the Victoria's Closet Exhibit

In this exhibit, you literally and figuratively step into Victoria's closet.  Greeted by the gallery doors, dressed as if they belong to a wardrobe, you enter a magical world, the Narnia of 1840s fashions...

The entrance to the exhibit

There's something for everyone here - men's, women's and children's fashions are all represented in case after case of fully dressed and posed figures:

Dresses for every occasion, including three wedding dresses:

There's a real intimacy to this exhibit.  Not only in the ins and outs of dress, but in the glimpse of a young queen and her family's life.  Excerpts from Victoria's diary and personal letters accompany many of the extant garments, and eye-catching infographics on the royal family members, the silhouettes and trends of fashion line the walls.  The exhibit's design and integration of information is just as exquisite as the clothing. 

A rainbow of children's clothing!

In addition to the larger cases, there are standing cases along the center walkways with bonnets, caps, shoes, accessories and ornaments of every type.  Make sure to open the 32 study drawers for even more extant treasures! 

Undergarments for the entire family: 

Quilted and corded petticoats

And finally, this may have been my favorite dress of the exhibit:  

Just look at that stunning fabric and the 22" waist!

After viewing the galleries, make sure to stop by the "fashion photo op!"  (a.k.a. where education meets entertainment WIN)  Here you can "dress up" and have your picture taken at the photo-op booth, which is behind a giant picture frame! 

Clothing and accessories for the "fashion photo op"
There are even corded petticoats - wow!

The photo-op booth 

There's even a carriage and several fully dressed forms in the entrance hall that provide a stylish backdrop for the "fashion photo op."  Don't miss the dalmatian advertising the other, fantastic exhibit - Working Like a Dog!  

Behind-the-Scenes Bonus

And now, for something a little different...At the end of last summer, in preparation for the exhibit, I had the chance to participate in a secret project...the making of, err rather modeling for mannequins!

Modeling for mannequins!
(Photograph by Ruby Foote, GCV&M photographer)

When Patricia and her sister, Elizabeth, asked, I was so happy to say "yes" to such a neat project!  Working for a living history museum, one never knows what they'll be asked to do next, and that's all part of the fun.  This time, I laced up (or rather down to 22"-23") to be wrapped in layers and layers of duct tape.  These "duct tape dummies" (made over a t-shirt and plastic wrap to protect exposed skin) of my corseted measurements could then be covered in archival safe materials and used for adjustable mannequins.

After a few afternoons of Elizabeth patiently wrapping me, we probably ended up with at least ten or so torsos:

Getting taped!
(Photograph by Ruby Foote)

Each duct tape torso had to be carefully cut off
using the t-shirt underneath to keep the shape.
(Photograph by Ruby Foote)

We also attempted a few arms in a bent position over stocking material, though these were much more difficult to cut off:

Cutting off my "arm" in progress
(Photograph by Ruby Foote)

Our official museum photographer, Ruby, stopped by one of the duct taping sessions and graciously captured all of the in-progress pictures for this blog post - a million thanks to you, Ruby! :) 

Here's a competed torso with two arms:   

A "duct tape dummy" of me!
(Photograph by Ruby Foote)

So, the mannequins went from looking something like this:

Wow, I have boxy ribs apparently...

To being stuffed, taking in or padding out certain areas as needed:

Looking at some of the dress options for the exhibit 

Then, after being covered in acid free and archival safe materials, assembled and dressed to exhibit ready:

One of the final forms in the exhibit -
from duct tape to a fully dressed and accessorized mannequin!

Seeing the exhibit (and all of the me-sized extant dresses haha!) makes me want to sew an 1840s dress or five...fan fronts, bias cut sleeves, ombré roller prints, what's there not to love?!  Thank you so much, Patricia and Elizabeth, for allowing me to be a part of your behind-the-scenes fun and for creating such an inspirational, must-see costume exhibit!