The Museum of Arts and Crafts in Hamburg (MKG) opened a new exhibition. “Dressed: 7 women – 200 years of fashion” provides an insight into the private clothing collections of seven fashion-conscious women of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The focus is on the personalities and biographies of the wearers, who are both performers and consumers of fashion. The fashion preferences of the women are as different as the biographies of the women: whether haute couture, everyday, protest or avant-garde fashion, the exhibition reflects the multifaceted wardrobes of the seven women. With around 150 pieces of clothing and accessories, their stories are recreated – and 200 years of fashion history are presented.
Elise Frankel
The exhibits by Elise Fränckel, born in 1807, show how modern the senator’s wife from Oldenburg, Holstein, dressed at the time.
Edith von Maltzan
Edith von Maltzan’s wardrobe reflects her exclusive existence. As the wife of a diplomat, her wardrobe consisted mainly of elegant evening and everyday wear.
Erika Holst
Erika Holst’s life was marked by the war years and tuberculosis. The MKG presents pieces from her daily wardrobe from the years 1935 to 1945.
Elke Dröscher
Yves Saint Laurent’s power dressing defined the wardrobe of Hamburg gallery owner and museum founder Elke Dröscher. The exhibition shows the Prêt-à-Porter clothing worn by cultural workers between 1968 and 1986.
Ines Ortner
Ines Ortner’s wardrobe reflects her socially critical attitude – she has been active in the Hamburg punk scene since the mid-eighties. Self-made clothes with an anti-authoritarian style reflect her rebellious life.
Angelica Blechschmidt
As the former editor-in-chief of German Vogue in the 1990s, Angelica Blechschmidt liked to wear black cocktail dresses and eye-catching jewellery. The exhibited pieces from her wardrobe come from well-known fashion houses from all over the world.
Anne Luehn
Art and design collector Anne Lühn appreciates international, avant-garde designers – many of the pieces she provides show an unusual aesthetic with asymmetrical elements.
The exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Hamburg is open until August 28.