Upcoming History of Fashion and Costume Symposia

Atlanta, GA (May 31-June 2, 1012): The Costume Society of America National Symposium
       This is guaranteed to be an exciting event. First, the key-note speaker Andrew Bolton. Yes, the same Andrew Bolton who, as Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute as the Metropolitan Museum of Art was responsible for Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century (2004), Chanel (2005), AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion (2006), and most recently Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (2011) - to name just a few. Bolton has also authored many books and won several awards & acknowledgements. Some might recall that before joining the Metropolitan Museum of Art Bolton had a fruitful nine year run at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London as well. Though the details of the rest of this symposium are under raps, it's needless to say - this event will be a real treat.

The New England branch of the Costume Society of America will be meeting for a single day symposium  21 April 2012 in Duxbury, MA. This event will include visits to The Nathaniel Windsor Jr House, The Hedge House, Headquarters of the Plymouth Antiquarian Society and The Pilgrim Hall Museum.  Though that is an extremely rigorous schedule I encourage anyone who has the time to explore as much as they can in that area - the American Antiquarian Society, New England Historic and Genealogical Society, the Vassall-Craigie-Appleton-Longfellow House (Washington's Headquarters) in Cambridge, Massachusetts Historical Society and many others are, by New England standards, just a hair's breadth away and well worth the extra time and energy to explore.

The Marietta Museum of Georgia is getting ready for this year's Angel's Project (I believe the date is May 29th - but don't hold me to it!). The Angel's Project is an ongoing tradition of the Costume Society of America. Every year one museum or historic home is chosen for this one day event. Professionals and accomplished hobbyists volunteer collection care, management and conservation skills to a small deserving collection at an institution. Most of the supplies are donated by museum industry businesses or the Costume Society of America (CSA). If you're interested in participating at The Margaret Mitchell House for this year's Angels Project please contact Patti Borello at patti.a.borrello@wmich.edu for details.

Other upcoming Symposia include:

Redefining, Redesigning Fashion hosted by The College of Design at the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN). Deadline for papers is May 1st.

Surface Design will be hosted by the International Surface Design Association (San Antonio, TX) in early June. Deadline for papers is March 1st.


Influences on American Bed Quilts: Baltimore to Bengal will be held in November and hosted by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA). Deadline for papers March 30th.

Internationally...

The Textile Commision's symposium "Celebration" is coming up in April. Lectures will include juxtapositions of upstairs and downstairs for the preparation of 19th century dress balls for the House of Orange (and I thought Downton was impressive!), a history of cotton fabrics produced in African countries, the history of the hat, and much more.

The Museum of London, London England, will be hosting "The Body in the Museum: New Approaches to the Display of Dress" set for March 17th. This event is really focused on museum professionals, as it hones in on such subjects as materials to use and avoid for both long and short-term exhibitions, how to create character and movement using mannequins and other challenges concerning achieving the full potential of clothing on mannequins, working with artists, designers as well as other label representatives in addition to other curatorial, design and conservator focused topics. Being a Museum of London event there are sure to be a plethora of examples on display to complement the lectures (oh eye candy!!).