If pictures in books dont suit your taste, then for a good grovel, a
CV, and a letter of introduction you can get into the Bath Museum of
Costume and fondle the real thing. Other museums have their own
rituals of supplication. <grin>
Well, my CV is not applicable because I haven't done much
costume professionally. I didn't need a letter of introduction, and
I didn't grovel, either. Of course, I was just looking at stockings,
not gowns - maybe they're fussier with the gowns. A lot of museums
are open to visits by dedicated amateurs, you just need to phone and
write ahead of time and understand that many places are understaffed.
It helps to belong to the Costume Society, and meet curators that
way. The more people you meet, the more cool stuff you can see, then
you meet more people, and see more stuff...
I started 20 years ago looking at lace at the Met in New York.
Somebody helpfully told me "all you have to do is make an
appointment." And it worked!
It's nice to arrive bearing gifts - chocolate is always correct.
And if going over there (wherever "over there" is), books published
over here are nice, too.
A lot of people have opportunities to visit collections, so if
the question is out there then people may remember to look when they
do have the chance to examine original gowns.
And then there are the symposium weekends, where a curator
and/or private collector brings their originals to show off.
So yes, I believe in looking at originals to learn the
techniques that were used.
Also, regarding American vs European - some collections in
America include European clothing.
-Carol
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