Scroll down to view all our fabulous presentations, each lasting up to 1¼ hours and featuring beautiful displays of original fashions and accessories. We explore a wide range of fascinating topics - fashion, history, politics, art and literature. Words can't quite describe... Come and see us in action!
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*New for 2025*
Doing dishes and dodging doodlebugs... what was everyday life like for women of World War Two? In Housewife At War the Two Lucys journey back to the forties discover what their grandmothers were up to, from home-baking and tea-making, to war work in uniform. This fascinating new History Wardrobe presentation features fabulous fashions, from Utility clothes to the New Look. But behind the aprons and rank badges, and after VE Day celebrations, there are secrets to uncover and mysteries to solve…
*New for 2025*
From the nostalgia of Gone With the Wind to the sassy fashions of Katherine Hepburn, ordinary
women have long been inspired to recreate the glamour of film stars, hoping to feel halfway to
Hollywood themselves through movie-imagined clothes.
Like picture-goers of the thirties and forties, we invite you to escape into the world of cinema’s
golden age, with sensational styles, stories from behind the camera and a show-stopping
transformation…
*New for 2025*
Following the success of the New York Times bestseller The Dressmakers of Auschwitz, historian Lucy
Adlington’s new book Four Red Sweaters bears testament to the memories that the most fragile
garments can hold, and to the love that never unravels even in the darkest moments of history.
Join Lucy as she recounts powerful true stories of friendship, survival and resilience during the
Holocaust, from a Kindertransport refugee to a daring armed revolt, all centring on knitting skills and
an intriguing selection of humble woollens.
Mini, maxi, plastic fantastic! Mary Quant was one of the most dynamic and influential designers of the 1960s. Her bold, bright styles made Haute Couture look to the High Street for inspiration. Lucy Ridley browses the rails of History Wardrobe's Quant collection, exploring key trends of the era and showcasing fabulous fashions, including frocks, tights, boots, make-up and the intriguingly titled Booby Trap...
Do you fancy a spot of Regency cricket? Or is enchanting embroidery more your thing? This delightful new talk explores pleasures and pastimes in Jane Austen’s era, featuring marvellous original fashions for sport and dancing, and hilarious readings from Austen’s novels.
Sleek, chic and super modern… Fashions of the 1920s showcasing sensational dressmaking skills. From slinky bohemian pjs to beautiful bias-cut gowns, we explore a fascinating array of home-made and couture-quality clothes from this dazzling decade.
They sewed to survive… At the height of the Holocaust twenty-five young Jewish inmates of Auschwitz-Birkenau were selected to create beautiful fashions for elite Nazi women, in a dedicated salon established by the camp commandant’s wife. Join historian Lucy Adlington to find out more about their lives and fates as she discusses her bestselling book The Dressmakers of Auschwitz: a remarkable true story of resilience, camaraderie and quiet heroism in the most extreme circumstances.
Dress historian Lucy Adlington invites you to explore garments and textiles from her unique collection spanning three centuries. From a Regency tennis dress, to mysterious WW2 embroideries and a rather illustrious pair of trousers, Tracing Lost Lives uncovers the stories clothes tell and the memories they hold. Whether woven, knitted or stitched, textiles can reveal fascinating clues about those who made, wore and cherished them.
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