19th century garments to see new light at Granger House fashion shows

Most of us find trash, not treasure, when we spring clean our closets.

When the staff at Granger House starting digging through drawers and closets in the 1800s Victorian mansion in Marion, though, they discovered dozens of fascinating garments that had been misplaced or forgotten over time.

'We didn't even realize what cool things we had,” says Kathy Wilson, executive director and historian at Granger House. 'It was like a treasure hunt.”

Once the collection had been unearthed, Wilson decided to put it on display for visitors.

Fashion Forward: A Weekend of Historic Clothing, an exhibit of historic clothing and accessories from the 1860s to 1920s including everyday work dresses and elegant bridal gowns as well as underwear, capes and parasols will be on display April 25 and 26 at the historic home.

'You can see how the styles changed with the times,” Wilson says. 'This is your chance to get up close and personal with these pieces.”

Related programming is scheduled throughout the weekend as well, including a fashion show at Indian Creek Country Club with clothes from both then and now.

Both the exhibit and the events focus on the fashion of everyday people.

'When you go to a museum of textiles you typically see what the rich and famous would have worn,” she says. 'It's not as common to see clothes that the average woman might have worn around the house or out to visit a friend. This exhibit really focuses on average wardrobe pieces you'd find in the middle class woman's closet.”

One of the trickiest parts about putting the exhibition together, said Wilson, was finding the necessary dress forms to display the pieces.

Victorian women typically had 20-to 22-inch waists, so 'modern dress forms are too big,” Wilson says. In the end, the Benton County Historical Society loaned a set of dress forms to be used.

'Visitors will definitely notice the size of people back then,” adds Wilson. 'It's one thing to be told Victorian women were small, but to see what they really looks like is another thing.”

Visitors also will realize that clothing has long reflected the role of women in the world.

'One of the key roles for women was to further the success of her husband and you did that by ensuring you were following the social order. That is what clothing demonstrated.”

The exhibit and fashion show on April 25 also will reveal that women have always tried to be fashion forward.

'I think it's important to give people the opportunity to realize that the people in the past were real people. They kept up on the trends of the day and they worked within their means to emulate what was popular fashion of the time,” Wilson says.

The show - Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Now & Then at 2 p.m. April 25 at the Indian Creek Country Club - will feature modern spring clothing lines from Christopher & Banks and CJ Banks.

'We plan to show how you'd dress as a Victorian woman and compare it with modern day fashions,” Wilson says. 'Attendees will get to see all the layers a woman had to put on before leaving the house.”

There's also a program at 7 p.m. April 25 and 2 p.m. April that highlight elements of the exhibit.

Proceeds from the events will fund new storage for the collection. 'We really want to stress the need for the proper packaging and storage for these pieces,” says Wilson. 'It is essential we do that moving forward but that cost can add up quickly.”

Weekend passes for all events are also available. For more information and to purchase tickets: www.grangerhousemuseum.org.

IF YOU GO

Fashion Forward Exhibition at Granger House

' When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 25 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 26

' Where: Granger House, 970 10th St., Marion

' Cost: $7 for adults. Weekend passes for all events are also available.

Putting Your Best Foot Forward: Now & Then Fashion Show

' When: 2 p.m. April 25

' Where: Indian Creek Country Club, 2401 Indian Creek Rd., Marion

' Cost: $15 adults, $10 students

I Have to Wear WHAT?

' When: 7 p.m. April 25

' Where: Granger House, 970 10th St., Marion

' Cost: $10 adults, $5 students; includes program, exhibit and tour

Clothing to Die For - Really!

' When: 2 p.m. April 26

' Where: Granger House, 970 10th St., Marion

' Cost: $10 adults, $5 students; includes program, exhibit and tour