Classic Pairings

As far as costume collections go, the Darien Historical Society (DHS) has one of the most impressive inventories in the county, with more than 3,000 pieces, the oldest of which dates back to 1780. Darien residents donated most of the clothes and accessories, but for the past four decades, the collection has been carefully managed and fastidiously maintained by Babs White, the costume curator at DHS. Now White, who was a fashion artist at Women’s Wear Daily, and her team of volunteers offer the public a chance to enjoy a pretty piece of this unique collection.

Fashion Transformed: La Belle Époque to Moderne is a small but lovely exhibit of women’s clothing designed from 1900 through 1920, with an emphasis on the French-inspired fashions that became all the rage as women abandoned their corsets. “It all started in 1908 when the French designer Paul Poiret introduced a radical new silhouette, the empire waist,” says White, who speaks as smoothly as the fine silk in her collection. The exhibit is a must-see for any fashion-crazy diva who knows her Lemaire from her Chapeau Le Grand Chic.

See the exhibit now through January 27. For more information visit historical.darien.org  »