A Visit to the Bath Fashion Museum

A couple of weeks ago me and Mr. Starcross had a rare day off together during the week and decided to drive to Bath. We'd been planning this trip for months and I was so happy we were finally on the road!

Besides seeing the incredibly impressive Roman Baths, wandering the streets and visiting local shops and cafes, we also went to the Bath Fashion Museum.

The Bath Fashion Museum is known as one of the best collections of fashion in the world (yes, I said world!) and we were certainly not disappointed. We saw an exhibition of Georgian fashion followed by an opportunity to dress up. Normally they only let kids do that! I was delighted to find that the costumes were in our sizes too!

Mr. Starcross and me taking a mirror selfie in our Georgian costumes

Another section of the museum showcased some behind the scenes insights and a display of fashion through the 1800s. It was really well laid out and documented and I know feel I have a much better sense of the development of fashion through both the Georgian and Victorian periods.

It was especially interesting to see how the nineteenth century went from Jane Austen style, largely white and pastel coloured, empire dresses to fuller skirts and bustles with darker more serene colours towards the end of the century - the Oscar Wilde period, as I think of it.

This is one of Queen Victoria's dresses

Another great display showed some transitions in fashion in the twentieth century and some Bellville Sassoon pieces and accompanied fashion illustrations.

I love the Mermaid scallops on this Bellville Sasoon dress

I was delighted to see how closely one of Bellville Sassoons design resembles my own Nougat dress version.

      

Bath was great and is so worth a visit if you haven't been before. The city makes you feel like you are on the film set of Pride and Prejudice and has a truly unique feeling to it. Lots of majestic open spaces, and yet quite cosy.

Have you visited the Bath Fashion museum? Have any of you been to any other must-see fashion museums, exhibitions, etc. in the UK that you recommend? And have you heard, I'm planning a museum visit to The Glamour of Italian Fashion at the V&A on Sunday, 6 April, and am looking for people who'd like to join me! It would be super to be going to the exhibition with other sewing fanatics enthusiasts!