Welcome to the Vassar College Costume Collection's "Trying on History" Project!

This blog will chronicle our "Trying on History" project, and all our related work.

A visit to the Vassar College Costume Collection (VCCC) provides an exciting way for students to have a hands-on experience of history, not only through the ability to view a variety of clothing objects from different historic periods, but also through the kinetic experience of trying on reproductions of such clothing.

In recent years, many different groups, both Vassar classes and community groups, have made field trips to visit the VCCC. The focus for such visits is on the changing shape of fashion, and students are shown full garments on mannequins along with some of the actual bustles, hoops, and other undergarments that accompanied each change in shape. The historic objects are far too fragile to be tried on, but students are able to try on a selection of theatrical costume reproductions, especially corsets, hoops, bustles, and petticoats and the daywear that would be worn with them.

We have recently received funding from the Carolyn Grant '36 Endowment at Vassar for a new phase of this project: to provide for the construction of new reproduction garments to fit a wider range of sizes. This will also create an opportunity to create a stronger connection between the reproductions and the historic objects by reproducing objects from the collection, creating copies that are true to the original in all aspects except size, and can be experienced in motion.

Not only will these reproductions be tried on by physical visitors to the collection for years to come, but they will also be shared with virtual visitors to our eventual website. For now, this blog will serve as our link to the public. Here you will find information about our research, conservation, and construction techniques, and see some footage from our classroom visits. Enjoy your visit, and please share your comments!