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Fashion hits the catwalk at museum

Nanaimo Museum's newest exhibit highlights female fashion trends.
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Nanaimo Museum interpretation curator Aimee Greenaway adjusts a necklace on a mannequin wearing a 1958 cocktail dress designed by James Galanos. The dress is made of cotton lace and ostrich feathers and is part of the museum’s latest exhibit Rationing to Ravishing: Women’s Fashions of the 1940s and 1950s

Vintage shoes, hats and dresses will dominate one downtown museum later this week.

Beginning on Friday (May 15), the Nanaimo Museum will unveil its newest exhibit called Rationing to Ravishing: Women’s Fashions of the 1940s and 1950s.

The exhibit, which runs until mid August, highlights female fashion trends during the mid-20th century.

Museum interpretation curator Aimee Greenaway said visitors will be able to see how fashion styles changed from simplistic during the Second World War to more sophisticated following the war.

“It is interesting because it shows how fashions reflect culture, economy and what is going on in the world,” Greenaway said.

The exhibit, which was developed by the Museum of Vancouver and curated by Ivan Sayers and Claus Jahnke, features a number of dresses, hats and other items such as shoes worn by the late actress Lauren Bacall.

“There are some interesting pieces that tie into international fashion,” Greenaway said.

Rationing to Ravishing runs until Aug. 23 at the Nanaimo Museum. For more information, please visit www.naniamomuseum.com or call 250-753-1821.

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