Curator’s choice
World War II Utility Wear
April 2010
Utility Wear Black Wool Socks
1942-45
The production of clothing was restricted during WW II. Clothing factories were being used to produce essential guns, planes and bombs.
In 1939 the cost of clothing had risen by 69%. The wealthy could still purchase new clothes but many people were going without. As the situation worsened the government decided to ration clothing. On 1st June 1941 coupons for clothes were introduced. People still had to pay for garments but they also had to produce official coupons to make their purchase.
People swapped, mended, darned and knitted clothes but they still needed to buy new items. Although rationing made the purchase of clothing fair there was still a shortage of garments available to buy. In 1942 the government launched ‘Utility Wear’, a range of clothes designed and produced with economy in mind.
Norman Hartnell, Digby Morton and Berkertex designed ‘Utility Wear’ ranges. All clothes carried the utility mark “CC 41”, Civilian Clothing 1941.
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Practical and simple garments were made with the minimum of fabric. Turn ups, pleats and folds were banned and suits were only allowed up to three buttons and pockets. Skirts were short and decorative trimmings avoided.
Cheaper man made fabrics such as rayon replaced silk, low quality wool mixes and cotton became the standard. Silk stockings were replaced by heavy knitted stockings so many women opted to wear ankle socks or paint their legs with gravy browning or shoe polish.
On Bank Holiday Monday 31st May 2010 from 11am - 5pm we will be holding our Forties Festival where we will be celebrating the spirit and resilience of 1940s Britain at Hall Place. Why not join us for music, dancing and 1940s fashion!
Victorian Court Dress
Febuary 2010
This beautiful court dress of cream slipper satin, moire taffeta and georgette with blue china beads on the bodice belonged to a debutant called Wilhelmina Lillingstone.
It was made in about 1890 and would have been worn for Wilhelmina's presentation at court. There were strict regulations defining what a debutant should wear for her presentation at court a long train, a veil and three white feathers in the hair were all requirements.
This court dress was made with an alternative bodice intended for a wedding so the outfit could be worn more than once. The wedding ensamble will be on display as part of our Something Old Something New exhibition from the week begining the 15th of March.
Ancient Egyptian Pre-Dynastic Black Topped Beakers
Jauary 2010
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Bexley holds a collection of Egyptian pottery vessels. Amongst the group are 12 pre-dynastic black topped beakers of varying shapes and sizes from the Naqada I period (4,000-3,600 BC). Two of these 12 beakers were broken and a recent AIM grant has allowed us to have them conserved and reconstructed and put on display as part of the Ancient Egypt Exhibition.
They were handmade without a turntable. The Egyptian potter coiled the clay and then smoothed the ridges to give a flat surface. The black topped decoration was achieved by placing the glazed pot rim upside down on an open fire. They would have been included within an Egyptian burial, intended to contain food and drink for the dead. They are one of the stars of our collection and very significant objects.
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One of our whole pre-dynastic Egyptian beakers
Pre-dynastic beaker undergoing restoration at the Museum of London Conservation Studios
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