We are now in the time of the year where we reflect on all that we have done throughout the year! (No, I’m not reflecting on a decade- that would take a month…) 2019 was a busy year for me, with a long trip to the UK in February, and then a trip to Edmonton in November and Toronto in December. Like any good historian, museums were one of my top priorities. And I was lucky enough to catch some amazing exhibitions on my travels. These are my top 5 museum exhibitions of 2019, and I hope that you enjoy them!
Museums have come a long way in the last 30 years. Exhibition staging is becoming more creative, more artistic, and more engaging for the visitor. (It is a specific and difficult skill!) I was blown away by many of the exhibitions that I saw this year, and it was tough to narrow it down. Some of these are temporary exhibitions, and some of these are permanent exhibitions (which I will note). I hope you enjoy these top 5 museum exhibitions of 2019, and that you had a chance to visit them!
1. Dior: Designer of Dreams, V&A
Dior: Designer of Dreams was always going to be at the top of my list, and I’m sure many others. The exhibition ran from 2 February to 1 September 2019, and now holds the title for most visited exhibition. Nearly 600,000 people visited in the seven month run, with tickets selling out within minutes of being released. Members could visit for free whenever they wanted, but everyone else had to book tickets at £24, absolutely worth it. (Interestingly, the 2015 Alexander McQueen exhibition had more daily visitors, but I’m curious if the ticketing system was the same.) An overwhelming success, it is still everywhere on social media. Turns out the 70 years of a prolific design house will bring in fashion historians and fans alike!
The New Look, the Dior Line, and Dior in Britain– The exhibition certainly opened with a bang, with the original Bar Suit greeting you. The staging of these three rooms was incredible- they were all different but very well staged. The use of mirrors (see above) in the Dior Line was stunning in person. Seeing Princess Margaret’s 21st birthday dress was a particular highlight!
Historicism, Travels, and the Garden– Historicism and the Garden were two of my favourite rooms in the exhibition! Clearly I was going to love the Historicism room, as an historian. I loved the information provided on the historical inspiration for the pieces, and to see that carried throughout different designers. And the Garden was just gorgeous. The gowns are of course beautiful, but the staging was, as well, and now I may be on the hunt for more floral pieces…
Designers for Dior and the Atelier– Dior has had a number of notable designers over the years, and all have contributed to the house in different ways. I loved seeing the evolution of the house, and having a spotlight on each designer. And the Atelier’s cotton toiles are gorgeous on their own, but give great insight into the process!
DIORAMA– DIORAMA was quite a small section the linked the Atelier with the Ballroom, and was rainbow of different Dior pieces. Handbags, beauty, millinery, miniature dresses, shoes, and more!
2. Royal Women, Fashion Museum Bath
The Royal Women exhibition in Bath could not be more different from the Dior exhibition at the V&A, but I loved it just as much. The exhibition focused on the women in the royal family who weren’t rulers; ie. sisters, mothers, daughters, wives. Royal Women featured, Queen Alexandra (consort to Edward VII), Queen Mary (consort to George V), Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (consort to George VI), and Princess Margaret (daughter to George VI, and sister to Queen Elizabeth II). These women held not a small amount of influence, and their wardrobes set fashion trends. (The exhibition closed on 28 April 2019.)
For Alexandra and Mary– Alexandra held a long tenure as Princess of Wales, and was known for her fashion. She started trends, and people flocked to wear her styles. (Women even copied her limp, left from a childhood illness.) Mary focused far more on dependability and endurance, with a certain gravitas.
For Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret– I think that a lot us still around shifted our fashion focus to Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, but the Queen Mother had some incredible fashion moments. Her Norman Hartnell gowns are gorgeous, and were quite well designed for her. And I don’t think that there was a royal as fashion forward as Princess Margaret! As a young royal, she introduced Dior to Britain and cemented his place quickly.
3. Russia: Royalty and the Romanovs, Queen’s Gallery (Buckingham Palace)
The Romanovs were a complicated and complex dynasty, and oftentimes the focus is on their end. However, the Royal Collection Trust and the Queen’s Gallery examined the relationship between the royal families in Britain and Russia, a fascinating look. From Peter the Great’s trip to London to learn about western military and naval workings to the close friendship between Nicholas II and George V, the exhibition was well done. There were several fantastic portraits, photographs, clothing, and personal items were shown, as well. If you want tangible evidence of the Romanovs, this exhibition was perfect. The exhibition originally opened at the Queen’s Gallery at Buck House, and then moved to the Queen’s Gallery at Holyroodhouse. (It closed 3 November 2019.)
4. The Gold Standard: Glittering Footwear From Around the Globe, Bata Shoe Museum
The full post on the Bata Shoe Museum will be coming in January, but I wanted to share one of my favourite exhibitions there. Gold is valuable; it has been true for millenia, and holds its place today. However, you might ask what gold has to do with shoes. The Gold Standard “explores the meanings and cultural uses of golden footwear across the globe.” Obviously, pure gold shoes aren’t really going to happen. However, gold is used to adorn and ornament them, for a variety of reasons. Some cultures use it for theatre and performance, others for religious, and also for status. These shoes below are French, from the early 20th century. They were “made by the famed Italian shoemaker Pietro Yantorny and features gold-thread embroidery.” (This exhibition runs through 2019.)
5. Jane Austen Centre
The Jane Austen Centre in Bath doesn’t have any individual exhibitions, but is dedicated to the life and works of Jane Austen. Part museum, part interaction, you learn about Jane’s life, her works, and life in Bath when she lived there. It does focus slightly more on Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, her two works set in Bath, but the others are discussed as well. I love that the Centre makes her life fun and engaging and really digs into Regency Bath. There are Oliver biscuits to try, if you want to snack like Jane, and Regency gowns to wear. And if you are feeling particularly inspired, a Jane Austen themed tea! If you are in Bath, you absolutely need to stop by the Centre and take in Jane’s life.
What are your top 5 museum exhibitions of 2019?
Cheers,
The Historian
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