On Fri, Feb 25, 2011 at 5:10 AM, Elizabeth Walton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

I think the blue dress is authentic, from about 1908, but is unfastened at the back and worn incorrectly (causing even more damage). Evening dresses would have necklines more revealing than that one but with a very different shape and none of that baggy bunching at the shoulders. That dress appears to be a day dress that would go up to the neck, the fabric choices and line of the dress remind me of a few I have handled.

I hope they used ebay finds, but the dresses are in very good condition, are nice examples, and easily could be museum pieces.

Elizabeth Walton

On Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 11:48 PM, Jason B. Jones <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Yeah.

I'm fairly certain the sentence you quote is, umm, embellished.

The blog is by a student as a creative writing outlet, and clearly states:

a unique fusion of photography, fashion, art and design inspired by vintage

Not to mention, and please someone correct me (*cough* Perian *cough*), that sexy, little off the shoulder number would have been a bit risque for Victorian or even Edwardian eras, and is a modern throw back. I put my money on these young ladies being costumers, and reasonably good ones at that.

I'm sure no museum objects were harmed in the making of this blog.

Jason

On Thu, Feb 24, 2011 at 9:15 PM, . . <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hello!

I'm a long time lurker to the list. This afternoon, I was looking up information on vintage dresses and gowns when I came across this blogger's post: http://thedarlingsfables.tumblr.com/post/3489854698/a-pair-of-kindred-spirits   For those that don't like links, it says the following:

My friend Lesley and I used to work at a museum and one day after work we snuck some brilliant dresses off some mannequins and some other props and came up with these charming photos. I hope they bring you as much satisfaction and longing for summer as they do me.

The post is accompanied by an array of photos of the two ladies in what are clearly late 19th century/early 20th century gowns doing a variety of seemingly innocent activities; such as cloud watching in the grass or kneeling outside in the grass. However, those activities are extremely damaging to antique cotton and silk gowns not to mention any insects or chemicals they may have gotten on them thanks to lawn care.

I would love to believe that she was joking and did have permission -much in the same vain as I say when I tell people I'm going to "kidnap" my nephew- but I can't imagine a curator allowing someone to lay down outside in the grass in an antique dress that is part of the museum's collection.

So, if you all can help ease my mind and tell me she did actually have permission to wear the dresses, that would be awesome. Does anyone even recognize the gowns? I believe the lady lives in Canada but I'm unsure if the museum she "borrowed" these dresses from is there.   Does anyone know if she had permission or not? Is the museum even aware of what took place?

If she didn't have permission, how did she manage to get the artifacts out of the museum without anyone raising an eyebrow?   I really think this might be a larger discussion on museum security and procedures, particularly for trusted individuals in the museum.

I really hope someone recognizes the gowns and can help tell me yea or nay on whether or not this lady had permission to have those gowns.

Thank you,

Isabella

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