Jan Taminiau, collection Nature Extends, 2011. Photo courtesy Koen Hauser. Gemeentemuseum Den Haag

Romantic Fashions exhibition at Gemeentemuseum Den Haag

Rustling silk, breathtaking embroidery, frills and flounces, vast crinolines. Sharply tailored suits for dandies and elegant ball gowns for ladies. This major 19th-century fashion exhibition at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag features costumes from the time of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Eline Vere and Downton Abbey.

Vivienne Westwood, Ensemble, 2014. Photo courtesy Koen Hauser. Gemeentemuseum Den Haag

In addition to entire costumes in all their glory, the show will include glamorous accessories, tightly laced corsets and original fashion prints and photographs. With the help of the Prince Bernhard Culture Fund, many items have been restored especially for the occasion and will be on show to the public for the very first time.

Image courtesy of Nanette Bos

The inclusion of contemporary creations shows how the 19th century still influences life today, as modern designers continue to draw inspiration from its forms, silhouettes and techniques. Famous examples include the magnificent embroidery of Jan Taminiau, the dandyism of Vivienne Westwood, and the (often dark) romanticism of Jean Paul Gaultier and Edwin Oudshoorn.

Jan Taminiau, Evening dress, 2011. Photo courtesy Koen Hauser. Gemeentemuseum Den Haag

The 19th century was an exciting and turbulent era of dramatic social change. Fashion was no longer the exclusive preserve of rulers and their wealthy aristocratic courtiers; it played a major role in the new social order. As the century progressed, new fashion trends were disseminated ever faster as fashion magazines emerged and became increasingly influential. The female fashion silhouette changed constantly, men’s clothing became less restricted and children’s dress was no longer simply a miniature version of what adults wore.

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