Virtual Lecture Series: Introduction to 19th-Century Western Fashion (1840-1869)

Description:

This curator-led three-part series offers students an introductory overview of 19th-century Western fashions for men, women, and children. Each 2-hour module covers roughly 4 decades, beginning in the 1790s and ending just before WWI. Graduates of this complete course will be able to visually identify specific 19th-century fashion eras with their associated silhouettes. This course will educate students on 19th-century garment terminology, the structures and components of clothing, social traditions of dress, and the mechanics behind how 19th-century fashion and garments were created. Graduates of the complete 3-part course will receive a certificate of completion.

Audience:

This 3-part course was designed for the beginner student who has an interest in 19th-century fashion and would like to learn more. No previous knowledge of 19th-century fashion is needed to enjoy this class – the beginner is the ideal student! Students will receive a digital bibliography upon completion of each module. This digital bibliography will include source material lists, images of the garments and accessories presented, and images of the fashion plates and fashion periodicals used in this course. Digital access to the curator Brandon W. Brooks of GCV&M will also be made possible for interested students who may have additional questions, concerns, or recommendations. All ages 16+ are welcome.

Sources:

Source material for this 3-part course consists of primary sources from the Susan Greene Costume Collection, as well as garments from sister institutions in and around Western New York State. Extant garments and accessories for men, women, and children, 19th-century imagery (Daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, photography). Original fashion plates and fashion publications (The Workwoman’s Guide, Ladies Magazine – Godey’s Lady’s Book, Peterson’s Magazine, The Delineator, Ladies’ Home Journal).

Limitations:

The fashions and garments in this course may have content-related limitations. Many of the textile and garment source materials in this course originate from a largely white, middle-class American demographic, with only some working-class clothing, and wealthy fashionable garments. This course and the collections mission of GCV&M strive to expand its collection breadth to represent a more accurate tapestry of American fashion across the 19th century.