Visit to Platt House - Thursday 17th March 2011
20th Century Costumes
Our tour of the exhibition started with a description of Platt House, which was originally owned by a Cromwellian soldier named Platt. Over a period of time after having been used as a family home it was occupied as a college and then finally bought by Manchester City Council.
We started a tour of the gallery looking at fashions in the 1920s and 30s; one particular flappers style dress was described to us by Kate Day and Rosie Gnatiuk and had been designed by William Hartnell. He was also responsible for designing our present Queen's wedding dress in 1946. We then moved on to have a look at the 50s and 60s costumes and in particular a two-piece suit which had been designed by Christian Dior and it showed the great changes that had taken place during the 60s, in particular the mini skirt and more brightly coloured clothes.
We had a look at a display of hats made and worn during the 20th century, and also various boots and shoes covering this period. After looking at the items on display in the gallery we returned to the education suite and had a very interesting period of handling certain items with the help of Andrew Hunt and Adam Quinn. There was a top hat from the 1920s and then bowler hat which was worn widely in the 1950s and 60s.
We saw a little felt hat trimmed in ribbon which was reminiscent of a school uniform hat worn in the 1950s. There were a pair of 8 inch platform black leather shoes by Vivienne Westwood which were quite amazing and also a very mini mini skirt. After our handling sesison we were treated to tea and biscuits which we all thouroughly enjoyed.
Our thanks to the museum members who looked after us so well on our visit, and we understand that our group was the first of its kind to visit them and they were all very anxious for our feedback so that they could ensure that future visits would be as successful as ours.
Many thanks to Mary and her team of volunteer drivers who so kindly pick us up from home and deliver to our destinations and thus giving us a unique opertunity to visit a museum.
Our tour of the exhibition started with a description of Platt House, which was originally owned by a Cromwellian soldier named Platt. Over a period of time after having been used as a family home it was occupied as a college and then finally bought by Manchester City Council.
We started a tour of the gallery looking at fashions in the 1920s and 30s; one particular flappers style dress was described to us by Kate Day and Rosie Gnatiuk and had been designed by William Hartnell. He was also responsible for designing our present Queen's wedding dress in 1946. We then moved on to have a look at the 50s and 60s costumes and in particular a two-piece suit which had been designed by Christian Dior and it showed the great changes that had taken place during the 60s, in particular the mini skirt and more brightly coloured clothes.
We had a look at a display of hats made and worn during the 20th century, and also various boots and shoes covering this period. After looking at the items on display in the gallery we returned to the education suite and had a very interesting period of handling certain items with the help of Andrew Hunt and Adam Quinn. There was a top hat from the 1920s and then bowler hat which was worn widely in the 1950s and 60s.
We saw a little felt hat trimmed in ribbon which was reminiscent of a school uniform hat worn in the 1950s. There were a pair of 8 inch platform black leather shoes by Vivienne Westwood which were quite amazing and also a very mini mini skirt. After our handling sesison we were treated to tea and biscuits which we all thouroughly enjoyed.
Our thanks to the museum members who looked after us so well on our visit, and we understand that our group was the first of its kind to visit them and they were all very anxious for our feedback so that they could ensure that future visits would be as successful as ours.
Many thanks to Mary and her team of volunteer drivers who so kindly pick us up from home and deliver to our destinations and thus giving us a unique opertunity to visit a museum.
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