Since 21 January, the exhibition of clothing and accessories associated with ballroom fashion, “There Was a Ball – Fashion for Carnival”, has been on display at the Museum of Ceramics at 13 Mickiewicza Street.
The exhibition presents original garments, mainly richly decorated dresses embroidered with brocade and beads, as well as ball accessories from various periods. Among the most interesting pieces is a blue dress with a bodice decorated with glass beads, made in Paris, and an evening dress with black feather sleeves from around 1960. Also particularly striking is a typical Spanish carnival costume from the first quarter of the 20th century, referring to the traditions of bullfighting.
The accessories are also exceptionally interesting: a gold leather handbag designed by Paloma Picasso, as well as shoes: black satin and silver leather pumps by Manolo Blahnik and red satin and plastic pumps by St Laurent.
The exhibition is complemented by prints showing interesting proposals for 19th-century masquerade costumes, originating, among other sources, from fashion magazines, leaflets and guidebooks. The designs on display reveal a fascination with nature, historical figures, the heroes of literary and stage works, and even technological achievements. The Museum of Ceramics presents, among other works, graphics with designs for a costume in the form of the Eiffel Tower and costumes representing an edelweiss, a poppy, and birds: a raven and a bat.
Costume balls held during carnival were initially intended exclusively for members of the aristocracy. In the 19th century, they became popular among broader sections of society, leading to the emergence of new trends in carnival fashion.
Much time and attention was devoted to sewing costumes, and appearing in an original outfit was considered a matter of honor. Fashion magazines published numerous proposals that could inspire participants in masquerades; special brochures and guidebooks also appeared on the market.
The costumes often featured Turkish and Venetian motifs, elements of historic court fashion, and pastoral outfits. New elements in carnival fashion emerged after a period of intensified expeditions of exploration and archaeological discoveries, as well as with the growing knowledge of distant civilizations, such as ancient Mesopotamia, India and Japan. However, the exhibition at the Museum of Ceramics shows that virtually any element of the surrounding world—real or imagined—could become a source of inspiration.
The exhibition was prepared from the collections of the National Museum in Wrocław. It can be visited until the end of March.
Museum of Ceramics