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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

UK travel

Aaaargh help! Help! Help! Need fashion museum in London - and the V&A galleries are shut! AAAAAAAARGH!

29 replies

Northernlurker · 27/09/2011 17:53

dd1 is doing an extended project at school. She is interested in the history of fashion in the 20th century and I promised her I would take her to London to go to the V&A. We are going in a couple of weeks and I've just gone online and the unspeakable V&A appears to have shut it's fashion gallery. Huge WTF moment from me but I will not be defeated!

So where's good to go? I need 20th century for her to look at and sketch. I would like to do some touristy shopping stuff as well so don't want to be trekking to the back of beyond and it needs to be somewhere open on a Saturday.

i see the museum of london has a fashion section - any good?

HELP ME!!!

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LapsedPacifist · 27/09/2011 17:58

Oh dear. There is a Fashion Museum in Bath if that's any use? Only 1 hour 20 mins from London?

Northernlurker · 27/09/2011 18:00

We are in York! London was a bit of an expedition - Bath isn't going to work.

Thanks though.

I just cannot believe that the entire bloody collection is shut but that's what it looks like online.

AAAAARGH!

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HerdOfTinyElephants · 27/09/2011 18:01

IIRC the Museum of London has one fashion case for each decade in the 20th century, so would do at a pinch. There's somewhere else pricking at the edges of my memory, though...

Northernlurker · 27/09/2011 18:02

Ok well that's better than nothing thanks. Sounds worth a look - and I've always quite fancied the museum as a whole as well.

I'm so disappointed

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tethersend · 27/09/2011 18:03

Zandra Rhodes has the Fashion and Textile museum...

piprabbit · 27/09/2011 18:03

The Museum of London has a small exhibition of 20th century fashion - displayed alongside contemporary objects and news from each decade. here.

There's the Fashion and Textile Museum www.ftmlondon.org, but it seems to have very specific exhibitions.

Not sure that helps.

Northernlurker · 27/09/2011 18:05

Does the fashion and textile museum have a core collection or is it just the Tommy Nutter exhibition atm?

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HerdOfTinyElephants · 27/09/2011 18:05

There's the Fashion and Textile Museum but I think they just have changing exhibitions rather than a standing collection -- you could call them and ask, though (and, actually, if you do call them they could probably give you some other suggestions on where to go)

Northernlurker · 27/09/2011 18:09

Thanks I will ring them and the wretched V&A too and ask them what they suggest. Bastards - how dare they shut!

but also

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piprabbit · 27/09/2011 18:10

The best fashion museum I've been to is the Museum of Costume in Bath.

Could you rearrange your plans to head in that direction instead?

ElderberrySyrup · 27/09/2011 18:11

you know the Castle Museum in York has a lot of costume in its collection incl wartime utility clothing? Apols if you've already been there.

piprabbit · 27/09/2011 18:13

Sorry - just reread and realised that Bath isn't an option.

ElderberrySyrup · 27/09/2011 18:16

Platt Hall in Manchester, gallery of costume (that way you get the fun day out as well).

Northernlurker · 27/09/2011 18:23

Elderberry - we've been to the Castle museum many times - there isn't anything there that will particularly excite her tbh. We want 1920s and 1950s stuff.

I have just sent the V&A a firm e-mail.

I've even checked trains to Bath - 9-10 hours on the train isn't really doable.

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Northernlurker · 27/09/2011 18:26

Ah Manchester might be a possible............thanks

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PastGrace · 27/09/2011 18:41

Not much help, but the V&A have a lot of their stuff online here, so once your DD has got some more ideas this may be a good place to get pictures, even if the museum is shut. Also, this looks like it might be quite a good resource for her.

The only other thought I had was going to some vintage shops and looking at the clothes there, but it would probably be a bit vague and take ages.

Northernlurker · 27/09/2011 18:43

Thanks. That's not a bad idea actually - we could fit some time in for that if I can work out where to look!

The website is good but we want a site visit too.

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ElderberrySyrup · 27/09/2011 18:50

Do you know this shop? It's a coffeeshop and vintage shop (so you can sit and Mumsnet drink coffee while she looks at clothes) and they are very nice in there and I don't think they would mind her sketching clothes. The only thing is that it's not very big and also the clothes don't have sizes on other than some with old labels (an old 16 is about a modern 12) so it can be a bit frustrating to actually shop there.
There are a couple more vintage clothes shops in York too, she's in the right place if shops are any use.

PastGrace · 27/09/2011 18:51

Radio Days is one of my faves. It's just near Waterloo Station, and the people who run it have always been friendly when I've gone in, so might be worth calling and asking if they have anything interesting?

PastGrace · 27/09/2011 18:51

Never been here but you can browse by decade on their website.

Northernlurker · 27/09/2011 18:55

Elderberry - I know where that is, never been in though. Is there still a vintage shop off Grape Lane? I used to go in there as a student.

Thanks for all the suggestions - am evolving a plan.

Has anybody been to the Enchanted Palace exhibition at Kensington Palace? It's not in 'period' as such as far as I can see but it looks like fun.

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Northernlurker · 27/09/2011 18:56

Oh and pastgrace I love that website.
I can see the oyster card is going to come in for heavy use!

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PastGrace · 27/09/2011 19:06

Yes! Enchanted Palace is AMAZING!

It's a bit...different. It's hard to describe it as an exhibition, because it's more than that - I think the term they use is "interactive exhibition". It isn't period, but it is beautiful.

There are actors who go around in period costume so it's a bit like a play within a museum (but you can ignore them and potter around at your own pace). They go into rooms and do little scenes about the things in the rooms.

I went with my mum and my (then 23 year old) sister because she was having a tough time at work. She loved it because it was a bit escapist, I loved it because of the hats (the hats!) and the dresses and also because I love Kensington Palace, and my mum enjoyed the learning about the princesses parts, so definitely something for everyone!

Northernlurker · 27/09/2011 19:15

Ok right well that's a definate then - we are both really in to the princess history stuff

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yellowraincoat · 27/09/2011 19:25

Are you sure the VandA fashion section is closed? I'm sure a friend said they were there recently.

This any good kids fashion festival

If you're looking for vintage shops too, there's loads round Brick Lane.

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