A fascinating journey into the history of women’s fashion it is now possible thanks to the exhibition “Real Clothes, Real Lives” inaugurated at New York Historical Society. Open until June 22, 2025the exhibition takes advantage of an important collection ofSmith College Universityhighlighting daily clothes often overlooked by historians and museums. Through a selection of approximately 200 years of fashionthe exhibition offers a unique perspective on the role thatclothing has had in the lives of women and on the multiple stories that lie behind each piece.
The link between fashion and women’s history
Carefully curated by a team of experts, including members of Smith College Historic Clothing Collection and of Center for Women’s History, “Real Clothes, Real Lives” presents a detailed exploration of the evolution of the female costume. Second Sarah Willie Lebretonpresident of Smith Collegethe clothes on display are “a testimony to the history of changes”suggesting that each piece tells a story of adaptation and resilience. Through visual evidence, the exhibition highlights not only the stylistic changes, but also the sociocultural transformations that have influenced women’s lives.
Louise Mirrerpresident and CEO of New-York Historical Societyadds that clothing has always had a crucial importance for women, as a reflection of their roles and identities over the centuries. It’s not just about clothes, but a medium through which women exhibited their aspirations and struggles.
The sections of the exhibition: a journey through five themes
The exhibition is divided into five thematic sectionseach of which offers a new point of view on thewomen’s clothing. The first section, “Home: All Work, No Pay”paying tribute to the practical clothes worn to carry out domestic tasks, highlights how these garments bear the signs of daily fatigue: stains, holes and seams that tell stories of dedication and work. This retrospection serves to underline the historical importance of these dresses in women’s lives, often invisible.
The second section, “Service: Capable and Accomplished”presents a collection of work uniformsthus tracing the evolution of female professional roles. The idea of how women have adapted to different professions is a recurring theme, highlighting their ability to face and overcome work challenges over time.
“Public Dress: In Good Taste”instead, focuses on the fashion of 19th and 20th centuriesemphasizing how women sought to conform to social norms regarding dress in public, influenced by factors such as class, age, ethnicity e religion. This section highlights the different identities that women had to negotiate, depending on the social context in which they lived.
The penultimate section “Rites of Passage: What She Wore” explores the meaning of clothing during significant events in women’s lives, while “Pushing the Boundaries: Rebel Wear” concludes the exhibition with a reflection on challenges to social norms and conventions. This final part of the exhibition offers a revolutionary look at how fashion can serve both as a form of personal expression that as a vehicle of rebellion against social expectations.
A catalog that accompanies the exhibition experience
The exhibition “Real Clothes, Real Lives” is completed by a catalog which includes beyond 300 images of clothes and accessories from Smith College Historic Clothing Collection. This publication not only enriches the visitor experience, but also serves as a valuable resource for scholars and enthusiasts moda e history. The catalog will allow further exploration of the themes covered in the exhibition, offering details on the individual garments and their historical significance.
In a world where the moda continues to evolve, “Real Clothes, Real Lives” invites us to reflect on how deeply theclothing betrays the experiences, aspirations and social tasks that women have faced throughout their history. In this way, the exhibition presents itself as an important narrative of women’s history, revealing the value of those we often consider simple clothes.