Lily Belle-its all in the details!

More shots of Lily Belle

Lily Belle's Going Away Dress and Train

This sumptuous dress needs no introduction- the design and details say it all. Enjoy the details of this fabulous going away dress. Layered elegance and more than a bit of simmering sensuality. We are currently conducting research on Lily Belle Folsom Ayres and will share what we learn about this newlywed.

Visit to Tracy Theatre Originals and the Tuck Museum

Strawbery Banke Museum staff and friends were recently invited by Ann Carnaby, owner of Tracy Theatre Orignals (info@tracytheatreoriginals.com; www.tracycostumes.com) and Betty Moore, executive director of the Tuck Museum, for a behind the scene visit. This was a very special afternoon for exploring elements of costume design in relation to historic costumes, contemporary design and, at the Tuck Museum, examining close connections between area fashion choices.

Ann is also designing a very special piece for "Thread: The Story of New England Fashion" but hush, hush is the word on that!

Encampment Weekend at Strawbery Banke

Come on out and join us for Civil War encampment weekend and free concert tonight!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/THIS-WEEKEND-Aug-20-21--Civil-War-Encampment---Concert.html?soid=1101360702314&aid=3gpKLE7CBP8

Black and White Photo Shoot

Responding to a recent request for sponsorship information, Chief Curator, Dr. Kimberly Alexander pulled together an impromptu fashion shoot at the gallery of Blue Tree. Thank you to Brian Smestad for his good nature and fabulous photos and Associate Curator, Tara Vose; Curatorial Intern, Bridget Swift and Summer Intern, Alexa Price for their humor! Here are a few shots to preview. And now you know some of the members of the Thread team from Strawbery Banke Museum!

Top to bottom:

Tara in black & gray long dress from Twice a Lady

Tara and Alexa, in vintage Edwardian whites

Kimberly in ruffled White House Black Market dress

Kimberly and Bridget in black and white polka dots from Twice a Lady

Men's Gear- Coming Soon!

We are currently developing a dossier of images of historic men's garments designed to inspire! There will be more to come later in the week, but we wanted to share a few teasers now. This stunning image by photographer Ellen McDermott and styled by creative partner, Bridget Sciales, was taken at the carpentry shed at Strawbery Banke Museum on August 7, 2011. The men's vests pictured range in materials from wool, cotton, cashmere and linen, with a variety of buttons. The striking printed cotton vest, with neoclassical design is of Revolutionary War vintage. While they may appear simple and similar to the modern eye, a contemporary would have recognized the difference in expense of materials, cut, detail and ornament, especially the buttons.

Ellen has captured, with these historic garments, a look that is nonetheless timeless and appeals to the modern sensibility, much as it would in a contemporary men's wear catalog. And the vest remains a practical, functional wardrobe item for many men today.

Photography, courtesy Ellen McDermott

Styling, Bridget Sciales

Set up, Jeff Hopper and Bridget Swift

Curatorial intern, Alexa Price

This summer Strawbery Banke welcomes Alexa Price as a curatorial intern. Alexa is a junior at the University of New Hampshire, where she studies 18^th and 19^th-century history. She also has a background in collections work, having held summer jobs and volunteer positions working with historical documents and object archives, both at UNH and the Exeter Historical Society.

Alexa is helping the Collections staff in preparing for next summer’s upcoming exhibit, “Thread: The Story of New England Fashion”, as well as doing current work for “Fitz John Porter: Hero or Coward?”

In addition to working with collections, Alexa has experience in historical sewing and has made clothing for Revolutionary War reenactments, as well as other eras. This summer she will be putting her experience to work for Strawbery Banke, creating children’s Civil War clothing for Strawbery Banke's Discovery Center. Children visiting the Fitz John Porter exhibit will have the chance to wear scaled-down versions of the Union Army uniforms, including military-issue shirts, sack coats, and trousers. There will also be canvas haversacks to complete the outfits. For practicality, the coats and trousers will be made from linen and canvas instead of wool, also allowing children to imagine what it would have been like wearing even heavier coats in the summer.

See more about the clothing here: http://silkbrocadepassionforfashion.blogspot.com/2011/06/civil-war-reproduction-clothing-for.html

Below are some examples of Alexa's previous work:

Day dresses and hats c. 1780



1947 swing dancing dress

1880-inspired prom gown