Fashion History Museum
74 Queen Street East N3C 2B1 Cambridge, ON, Canada

Horsehair fabric (called crin) was commonly used for upholstery in the 19th century, but it was also used to stiffen petticoats (thus the origin of the name crinoline) and, when woven loosely, it was also used to make lightweight summer hats and bonnets.

The costumes from The Crown - Season 4

From now until January 2 the windows of the FHM are lit up every night from 5 to 10 p.m.! The show was created by lighting artist Gareth Carr as part of Cambridge's Winter Illumination display.

If you started watching The Crown yesterday, you might find this artifact of the week interesting. It is a wool Jaeger suit, worn in 1986 by the woman who guided Charles and Diana on a tour of the Vancouver Aquarium, during their visit to Expo 86.

Artifact of the week: Wool suit by 'H. Claire, 10 Rue Royale, Paris' c. 1923.

Merchandising fashion in the past...

Artifact of the week: Gold velvet Nehru suit by Brioni, Italian, c. 1968

Although this Canadian company has hit rough times and almost gone bankrupt at least once per decade since the early 1960s, this time it looks like it won't rebound.

Artifact of the week: Boy's shirt made from Native-tanned and smoked deer hide, with beaded and fringed trim, acquired c. 1928 in Calgary, Alberta, made by Niitsitapi (Blackfoot). Donated by Penny Watson, 19.101.02

Interesting article about a lost breed of dog whose hair was used by the Coast Salish to create yarn.

K-pop style is rising and could become the next big young fashion that grew out of a music-based fan group, like Hippies, Punks, and Goths.

A bonus puzzle for the holiday weekend

Smile, the past wasn't always bad...

Artifact of the week: Blue linen dress and jacket, labelled A.E. Lelong, 18 Place de la Madeleine, Paris, c. 1910 (FHM 19.01.02) Textile dealer Arthur Lelong and his couturier wife Éléonore, moved to 18 Place de la Madeleine in 1888. Their more famous son Lucien was born in 1889. Lucien had just joined the family business when the Great War broke out in August 1914 and he was mobilized. Picking up after the war, he renamed the family couture business Lucien Lelong in 1921.

Interesting references to, and images of English smocking

https://youtu.be/vgB1pi16AwQ

Artifact of the week: We acquired this hopsack floral print dress by Montreal designer Vali a few years back, but just came across this article about "Weekend looks" from the June 1965 issue of Chatelaine magazine that identifies the dress as perfect "for patio parties or a sunset stroll along a sandy shore." Original price - $50.00

An original and interesting approach by Moschino to presenting a spring fashion show during COVID-19

How about some lace graffiti on the FHM?