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I DO! Chicago Ties the Knot

on May 11, 2010 – 3:02 am
 
Wedding gown, 1880 & 1942. Silk satin, lace, glass beads, and net. No label. Worn by Annie Louisa Libby when she married William French Burrows, 1880. Worn again by granddaughter, Ruth Libby Burrows when she married Lawrence Dawson, 1942. [Image ©Chicago History Museum]
 

 

Museum unveils the unique history of Chicago weddings through fashion. An exhibition opening May 22, 2010 at the Chicago History Museum, examines wedding traditions and practices using the Museum’s extensive and diverse collection of wedding garments. Visitors will discover some of the surprising origins of common wedding traditions while viewing traditional and unexpected wedding dresses worn by Chicagoans. The exhibition runs through January 3, 2011.

Over the past two centuries Americans have increasingly romanticized, standardized, and commercialized weddings. The Museum’s expansive costume collection of nearly one thousand wedding gowns, suits, and accessories dating back to the 1720s allowed for the exhibition to unveil a unique view on wedding traditions. I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot also examines how America’s wedding industry emerged, and how Marshall Field & Company along with other retailers embraced a set of common customs and traditions from the past to create a new romantic ideal for weddings that is still followed today. “In 1924, Marshall Field & Company became the first retail store to offer a bridal registry. They realized the potential of a bride being a customer for not just one day, but a customer for life. These are the kinds of stories we hope to share through this exhibition,” stated Timothy Long, curator of the exhibition.

 
Silk Satin Wedding Corset, c.1880  [Image courtesy of Chicago History Museum]
 

The exhibition features approximately 50 costumes including bridal and wedding party ensembles, along with other artifacts. Visitors will see bridal gowns in other colors besides the classic white. “The color white was very difficult to produce. It was at times considered an ostentatious color that women could only wear once. Most women opted for a dress they could wear again,” said Long. Visitors will also discover the meaning behind veils, bouquets, and rings among other traditions.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the Museum is giving one lucky couple a historic wedding they will never forget. Newly engaged Chicago couples were encouraged to share their engagement story with the Museum to win the Ultimate Wedding worth $33,000.  The Museum wanted to know how Chicagoans propose, and the more Chicago themed, the better. “Collecting the stories of Chicagoans is one of the things we do best,” said Gary T. Johnson, Museum president. “We are excited to learn what makes us as Chicagoans unique in our proposals.”

 
Wedding Gown and Three Bridesmaid Dresses, 1970. Synthetic satin, net and lace appliqués, pearls. Made by N. A. Hanna, Inc. Wilmette, IL [Image courtesy of Chicago History Museum]
 

The Museum will host several programs that relate to bridal fashion including a behind-the-scenes bus tour, Work Spaces, Chic Places on June 5 and a history pub crawl on November 18 where participants can wear their old wedding gown, tux, or bridesmaid dress while learning about the roots of wedding traditions and champagne. The Museum is also presenting the second annual FashioNext design competition. Launched in September 2009, eight Chicago designers were chosen to design a wedding gown inspired by pieces from the I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot exhibition. Each designer submitted their sketches and fabric samples supplied by Brentano Fabrics and then those eight designers were narrowed down to three finalists. They are Carla Wang and Kenneth Park of Vwidon, Caroline DeVillo, and Katrin Schabl. The finale event will be held June 24 with a runway show announcing the winner. The design competition can be followed through the Museum’s website at FashioNext.

I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot would not have been possible without the generous support of the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum. The Costume Council will host a luncheon on May 21, as an exclusive preview and lunch with curator, Timothy Long. The luncheon will celebrate many of the themes from the exhibition and tickets are $225 per person. The Costume Council supports the Museum’s costume collection and exhibitions related to dress. The Museum would also like to acknowledge the Crown Family for their continued support.

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The Chicago History Museum, a major museum and research center, is located at 1601 N. Clark Street. The Museum can be reached by CTA buses 11, 22, 36, 72, 151, and 156. Parking is conveniently located one block north of the Museum at Clark and LaSalle Streets. Admission to the Museum is $14 adults, $12 seniors/students, free for children 12 years and younger. Admission is FREE on Mondays. Please call 312.642.4600 or visit us at www.chicagohistory.org. The Museum thanks the Chicago Park District, Illinois Arts Council and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs for their continued support.

Victorian Christmas

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