Exhibition: Age of Glamour at Lotherton Hall

Age of Glamour, a fabulous exhibition of women’s fashions from the fifties, will be the first exhibition to open following the extensive refurbishment of the Fashion Galleries at historic Lotherton Hall, situated between Leeds and York. This ground breaking exhibition will showcase a major loan from the V&A – a red Dior cocktail dress (the acclaimed ‘Ecarlate’, from Dior’s La Ligne Y collection of 1955) – plus pieces from renowned designers, Balenciaga (Ball Gown, by Cristóbal Balenciaga, 1951) and Norman Hartnell. The displays will also show luxury ready to wear dresses from British designer labels such as Frank Usher, Susan Small and Horrockses, and explore the post-war period when fashion delighted in a return to elegance. The exhibition celebrates the opening of one of the largest spaces in the north of England providing a regular programme of fashion and textile exhibitions.

Visitors will gain an understanding of the fashion system at the time and how the renowned names of French couture may have led the way in creating the fifties style, but that it was really an era which saw the coming of age of ‘off the peg’, as the glamour of Paris was copied and recreated at every level, from exclusive labels sold in department stores, to the home dressmaker. Some of the country’s earliest department stores recognised that the design achievements of these great couture houses could be represented within their own ranges and stores, such as Marks & Spencer, Marshall & Snelgrove, Schofields and Lewis’, and all helped to bring this exclusive style to the high street. With strong links to the north of England, their representation within the exhibition will allow this period of fashion history to be placed into context of Leeds and Yorkshire and provide a snapshot of the population’s desires and eventual achievement to have glamour hanging in their own wardrobes following the austerity of the war years.

This exhibition appeals to a broad range of visitors from families with children of all ages, fashion and vintage devotees, design students to historic house enthusiasts. The exhibition also clarifies the journey of these designs to ‘high street’ with insights on shopping and leisure time in the 1950s, combined with achieving that classic 1950s silhouette with underwear and swimwear, new materials and accessories. The exhibition links nicely with other displays within this historic house, including domestic revolution, the family at Lotherton and fifties childhood creating an insight into how this special era redefined fashion across the globe and how the city of Leeds and Yorkshire played its part.

Imogen McGill

The exhibition runs from 8th May to 31st December 2015 at Lotherton Hall, Leeds. Click here to visit the website.