Lijf met lange mouw van grijsblauwe ripszijde met ingeweven (?) bloemmotief, opgemaakt met gladde blauwe zijde in verschillende tinten en korte extra mouw van gladde zijde c. 1890 - 1895

Curator: What we have here is a late 19th-century bodice, circa 1890 to 1895, created by the talented Couvreur Soeurs. The description notes it is made of gray-blue ribbed silk, with what looks like an interwoven floral motif. Editor: Wow, it looks like a forgotten dream! So many delicate blues whispering secrets to each other. And the light... it’s captured somehow in the fabric, making it glow from within. Curator: The piece stands as a poignant reminder of the restrictive societal norms placed upon women during that period. The tight waist, the high neck, and long sleeves...it’s a form of sartorial imprisonment. How did it feel to wear it? Editor: Maybe both imprisonment and empowerment, you know? Like a beautiful, fragile birdcage. Did it restrict or protect? I wonder what kind of world it adorned. Imagine dancing in it – or maybe it was about stolen glances, secrets held tight. Curator: The floral pattern woven into the silk can be read as a symbol of repressed desires yearning for expression. Furthermore, the varying textures of silk employed in its construction represent a society of rigid hierarchy and coded behaviour. The dress’ materiality provides evidence for an intricate study in societal constraints. Editor: Interesting! It feels like gazing into an antique mirror, you catch glimpses of past lives. A little melancholy but also full of resilient beauty. Curator: Absolutely. This is an object laden with unspoken histories. Understanding its origins through a nuanced reading, especially considering issues of gender, class and the performativity of fashion opens up paths to explore both then and now. What does adornment signify today in similar or conflicting ways? Editor: I agree completely, you know...looking at this I’m wondering what stories we embed in what we wear, even today? Thank you. Curator: Indeed. Hopefully, we leave our listeners to consider the long echoes history can leave in something as simple as an article of clothing.