Welcome
The Southern Counties Costume Society (SCCS) was formed in 1993 to bring together people interested in all aspects of textiles, clothing construction, accessories and ornamentation across the centuries.
Membership is widespread and activities are held throughout Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Sussex, Surrey and London. Events include lectures, study days, visits to museums, stately homes and private collections. These are held variously during the week, at weekends and in the evening.
The exchange of ideas and knowledge is always an enjoyable part of these events. Period and vintage dress, theatrical costumes, ethnic clothing, button making, re-enactment costumes, conservation and care of textiles, war-time austerity and haute couture have all featured in the Society’s programmes.
Email updates on events and exhibitions are circulated on a regular basis. Members receive three newsletters each year compiled from their contributions. These include articles and information about visits, events, exhibitions, useful websites and suppliers. Whilst our interests are serious the Society is friendly and fun. New members are welcomed at any time throughout the year.
ON INSTAGRAM
One of the exclusives available to SCCS members on the visit to The School of Historical Dress in London on Saturday 16th September is a look at a preview copy of the new revised Patterns of Fashion 4 on linen c.1540-1660 before it’s publication. @theschoolofhistoricaldress1
As well as a guided tour of the Blue exhibition, additional items from the School collection will be brought out for a close look. So whether your interest is research, making, embroidery, techniques or a general love of historical textiles and dress, there will be something exciting to see.
Members can book via the link in their email or see our private Facebook group. Not a member? You`re welcome to join! (No fee. Link in bio.)
#costumedesign #dresshistory #18thcenturydress #textileconservation #costumehistory #textilehistory #fashionhistory #filmcostume #theatrecostume #patternsoffashion #patternsoffashion4
There are still places available for our next in-person event, which is a return to The School of Historical Dress on Saturday 16th September. @theschoolofhistoricaldress1
We`ll be exploring how original dress and textiles from their collection and elsewhere are used as a primary sources for making informed interpretations for film, theatre, collaborations and events.
Jenny Tiramani will be sharing her extensive knowledge of period textiles and theatre and film costumes, and we`ll view items from the School Collections, including textiles from the renaissance and eighteenth century.
In addition, there will be a guided tour of the current exhibition ‘Blue – stories of wasteless and wasteful clothing told through blue textiles and dress from our collection’.
Why not become and member and join us? There`s no membership fee and we always welcome new members. Link in bio.
Photo courtesy of @timesmith_dress_history
#textilehistory #dresshistory #georgianfashion #18thcenturydress #fashionhistory #costumehistory #costumedesign #textileconservation #filmcostume #theatrecostume
What a fantastic day out yesterday for a group of members who met at the Queen`s Gallery for Style and Society: Dressing the Georgians. A fascinating exhibition with a real mixture of art, artefacts and stunning costume. The sun shone for a walk in the park and a cup of tea afterwards. Looking forward to future meet ups. #textilehistory #dresshistory #costumehistory #fashionhistory #georgianfashion #georgianbritain #18thcenturydress #regencyfashion #styleandsociety @royalcollectiontrust
We wanted to share an exciting project that SCCS member Rebecca is undertaking soon at Paxton House. Along with a fellow dress history student, she will be at the house over five days recreating an iconic 18th Century gown of the type that would have been worn by the house`s mistress in the 1770s. ALthough it`s not in our region, this will be an interesting project to follow.
More information available on the Paxton House website. Event runs from 3-7 April. @paxton_house
#costumehistory #dresshistory #fashionhistory #textilehistory #paxtonhouse
Thanks to everyone who joined our online AGM this evening. Lots of great discussion and exciting plans for 2023. Lovely to see everyone’s faces.
#costumehistory #costumedesign #fashionhistory #dresshistory
Wishing all our followers a very Happy New Year! This has to be one of the best fancy dress costumes for tonight`s celebrations, from the collections of Fashion Museum Bath
RIP Dame Vivienne Westwood
SCCS is saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Vivienne Westwood. One of our most influential British fashion designers. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64122181
Earlier this month SCCS members had a Pre-Christmas meet up online and heard from two of our previous bursary recipients.
Emily Gallagher, a PhD candidate at Birkbeck College, talked to us about her project exploring the collecting practices and writings of dress historian Cecil Cunnington. @e.mgallagher
Gabriella Venus, a student on the MA Historical Costume programme at Arts University Bournemouth, shared with us her project to create a female pirate costume inspired by the protagonist Dona St. Columb from Daphne du Maurier’s 1941 novel ‘Frenchman’s Creek’. @gabs_v
Photo credits: Emily Gallagher and Gabriella Venus
#costumehistory #fashionhistory #textilehistory #dresshistory #frenchmanscreek #costumedesign #daphnedumaurier
Introducing our new logo. We incorporated an art deco motif similar to our first logo from many years ago, combined with motifs taken from four centuries of textile designs. We wanted the new logo to reflect the diverse range of interests across all of our members and a little nod to our history. We hope you like it! #costumehistory #fashionhistory #dresshistory #textilehistory
Southern Counties Costume Society wish to express our very great sadness at the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time.
📷 Photograph by Cecil Beaton depicting Queen Elizabeth II on Coronation Day, Buckingham Palace, 1953. V&A Museum, accession number PH.311-1987.
It`s your last chance to book for our friends the @costume_society event this Saturday.
Fancy delving into the wonderful world of menswear this weekend?
Final chance to book tickets for ‘From Combinations to Micro Briefs (via the Antarctic): A Visit to the Wolsey Menswear Archive’ at the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland in Wigston. It is happening on Saturday, May 28th between 11 am-1.45 pm.
Wolsey has been producing fine gauge knitwear in Leicester since the 1740s and you will hear about the company and its products from archivist Adam Goodwin and Costume Society Chair Philip Warren. This looks like a fantastic event!
https://costumesociety.org.uk/events/details/a-visit-to-the-wolsey-menswear-archive-in-leicestershire
What a glorious day we had yesterday for our trip to Salisbury Museum! It was fantastic to have members and guest speakers get together in person again.
We started the day with a fascinating talk by SCCS President Alison Carter on "Egyptomania" in Western fashion (connected to the discovery of Tutankhamun`s tomb 100 years ago). Dr Caroline Ness followed up with a talk on the promotion of British textiles and fashion after the Second World War. @carolineness4
Katy England then introduced us to the new Fashion Gallery at the Museum and the inspiring Look Again project, working with young people to curate and create the gallery. @lookagaintsm @salisburymuseum
After a sun-soaked lunch, we headed back in for a tour of the Fashion Gallery, a look at a stunning sequined 1930s gown and into the stores for a look at some 19th Century clothing and accessories.
Thank you to all who organised and took part in the event and we hope to see you again soon.
#costumehistory #fashionhistory #dresshistory #egyptomania #1940sfashion #1950sfashion #dorset #museum #salisbury
We`re looking forward to our visit to Salisbury Museum on 17th May. As well as looking at the museum`s collection on display, we`ll also have talks from Alison Carter on orientalism and egyptomania, Dr Caroline Ness on promotional designs for British textiles (as in this picture), and a look at the Look Again project run by Katy England at The Salisbury Museum. Looking forward to seeing some of you there.
#egyptomania #orientalism #1940sfashion #1950sfashion #1960sfashion #fashionhistory #costumehistory #dresshistory @carolineness4
Image: British Nylon Spinners, The Ambassador, 3, 1958.
Photograph by C Ness courtesy of Fashion Museum, Bath
For the first time in a very long time, our committee members met at the weekend in person to discuss some exciting plans for the future. We can’t wait to share them with you! You might also spot in the picture some newsletters we looked over going back to the early days of the Society. #fashionhistory #dresshistory #costumehistory
Happy May Day. It is a bank holiday weekend here in the UK with many traditional events taking place including Hastings Jack in the Green on the Sussex coast, they`ll be lots of green costumes on display!
We`re excited for this evening`s event! There`s still time to book to join us at 7.30pm (BST) for "A Celebration of Royal Fashion".
Tickets are £7 for SCCS members and £10 for non-members. Ticket sales close today 5pm BST.
We`ll be joined by two fantastic speakers. Dr Kate Strasdin`s talk is entitled "Inside the Royal Wardrobe - Queen Alexandra`s Approach to Style". Textile conservator Deborah Phipps talk will be on "Royal Fashion", focusing on her work to display HM The Queen’s clothing for exhibition.
Tickets are £7 for SCCS members and £10 for non-members. Ticket sales close on 6th April at 5pm BST.
Book tickets at https://bit.ly/sccsroyal (or see link in bio)
Photo on right copyright Deborah Phipps. By kind permission of the Royal Collection.
#costumehistory #fashionhistory #textilehistory #dresshistory #queenalexandra #queenelizabeth #queenelizabethii #royalfashion #edwardianfashion #museumlife
Tickets are still available for our online event on Wednesday 6th April at 7.30pm (GMT): A Celebration of Royal Fashion.
We`ll be joined by two fantastic speakers. Dr Kate Strasdin`s talk is entitled "Inside the Royal Wardrobe - Queen Alexandra`s Approach to Style". Textile conservator Deborah Phipps talk will be on "Royal Fashion", focusing on her work to displaying HM The Queen’s clothing for exhibition.
Tickets are £7 for SCCS members and £10 for non-members. Ticket sales close on 6th April at 5pm BST.
Book tickets at https://bit.ly/sccsroyal (or see link in bio)
Second photo copyright Deborah Phipps. By kind permission of the Royal Collection.
#costumehistory #fashionhistory #textilehistory #dresshistory #queenalexandra #queenelizabeth #queenelizabethii #royalfashion #edwardianfashion #museumlife
Introducing the second speaker for our online event `A Celebration of Royal Fashion`, taking place online on 6th April at 7.30pm. Deborah Phipps is a freelance textile conservator, who has worked for several major national institutions, historic houses, regional museums and private clients, including the Royal Collection. Her talk entitled "Royal Fashion" will focus on displaying HM The Queen’s clothing with particular reference to two large exhibitions held at Buckingham Palace, showing the preparation that is needed to display historic and contemporary clothing and will illustrate the process of successfully and safely mounting a variety of outfits for temporary shows. Book at https://bit.ly/sccsroyal (or see link in bio).
Photos copyright Deborah Phipps. By kind permission of the Royal Collection.
#costumehistory #fashionhistory #textilehistory #dresshistory #queenalexandra #queenelizabeth #queenelizabethii #royalfashion #edwardianfashion
With a week to go, introducing the first of our two speakers for our online event `A Celebration of Royal Fashion`, Dr Kate Strasdin is Senior Lecturer in Cultural Studies at Falmouth University. Her talk will focus on the clothing strategies of the ‘People’s Princess’, Queen Alexandra, how her working royal wardrobe was managed on a daily basis and the men and women around her who made that happen. This event takes place online on 6th April at 7.30pm. Book at https://bit.ly/sccsroyal (or see link in bio).
#costumehistory #fashionhistory #textilehistory #dresshistory #queenalexandra #queenelizabeth #queenelizabethii #royalfashion #edwardianfashion @katestrasdin
Photos courtesy of Kate Strasdin.
Today is international colour day. Before the 1850s, everything was dyed with natural dyes from plants, minerals, insects, molluscs, lichens and fungi.
This fabulous embroidery fragment, c. 1600-25 in the collections at @worthingmuseum shows some of the fabulous colours that can be achieved and how well they last - amazing to think this is 400 years old!
#southerncountiescostumesociety #worthingmuseum #jacobean #jacobeanembroidery #embroidery #seventeenthcentury #floral #colour #internationalcolourday #textileart #seventeenthcenturytextiles #historicfashion
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