Guest Blog Post by curator Nicola Wilson.
Underwear underpins fashion. It helps to shape the body and creates a foundation for clothing.
The current exhibition at
Callendar House in Falkirk ‘A History of Underwear’ aims to look at the history of underwear and allows visitors to get close to some of the museum collection’s most intimate items. The exhibition is underpinned by the Christian Dior quote “Without proper foundations there can be no fashion.”
The exhibition traces the development and evolution of how underwear has been used for the attainment of the perfect figure throughout the ages. Over the centuries, our ideas of beauty and fashion have changed dramatically and our underwear has always supported these changes. Fashion is a reflection of society. Designs seek to flatter and meet current ideals of beauty. Innovative fabrics help fashions to flow, bulk, and fall and sit where the designer wants them to.
The exhibition focuses on how underwear has been used as a foundation for fashion, from the Victorian era right through to modern day. Split over two galleries the exhibition is themed into key stories including corsets, crinolines, knickers, bras and male underwear.
A History of Underwear
6 February - 2 May
Photo credit: Jim Stewart
