"Living Fashion" exhibition, MoMu Antwerp (Mar-Aug 2012)

We are again in the weeks where the news about fashion in the main international cities 
are  full with mentions to catwalks and presentations for A/W collections.  The nowness 
of these events influence the obvious reflection on the importance of timelessness.


  To help understanding the meaning of wearing fashion, the MoMu Antwerp produced in 
2012 an exhibition that displayed part of the collection of Mrs. Jacoba de Jonge, which at
 that time was being researched, and now is part of the museum's archives.


The exhibit called "Living Fashion, Women's daily wear 1750-1950", curated by 
Karen Van Godtsenhoven and Wim Mertens, both curators at the Mode Museum
explored the idea of middle class women's garde robe for every day circumstances.
The period the exposition covered is ample, and showed the transformations and 
impositions of fashion rules over a long lapse, and reflects how changes in garments
 and habits of wearing them were somehow a product of historical and social changes.


The exhibition was divided into 13 sections each one of them presenting the different
 aspects of apparels and accessories, establishing a conversation on how and when to
wear them and translating the the evolution of textiles and patterns.  The design of the
layout followed the idea of juxtaposing home and street wear according to social rules. 


At the entrance of the expo there was a video showing some interesting aspects
 of working with archives and collections and there was a sing with information 
about delicate conditions under what the dress, costumes and textiles must be 
exhibited, therefore the very bleak lighting was used in all the halls that 
sometimes colored warmly some garments.


These are images for some of the pieces shown and the general views of the exhibit.