The Costume Gallery of Florence is housed in the seventeenth-century wing of Palazzo Pitti, known as the Palazzina della Meridiana. It was founded in 1983 and through both major acquisitions and public and private donations, its collection now boasts over 6,000 objects, making it one of the best, and most important, fashion museums in the whole world. For any serious history or fashion buffs, as well as well-read fashionistas, it's a must-see in one of Italy's most historic fashion centres.
Just find yourself a villa with internet in Florence and spend a day wandering around the stunning museum and its treasure trove of a collection.
The Palazzina della Meridiana (meaning “small palace of the sundial”) is one of the pavillions of the Pitti Palace which overlooks the Boboli Gardens. The sundial for which the building was named, was made by Vincenzo Viviani in 1699 and placed in the vestibule of the apartment of Ferdinando de’ Medici. The Pitti Palace is neoclassical in style and was built between 1776 and 1816 by the architects Gaspare Paoletti and Pasquale Poccianti on behalf of the Grand Duke Peter Leopold of Lorraine.
The Palazzina della Meridiana (meaning “small palace of the sundial”) is one of the pavillions of the Pitti Palace which overlooks the Boboli Gardens. The sundial for which the building was named, was made by Vincenzo Viviani in 1699 and placed in the vestibule of the apartment of Ferdinando de’ Medici. The Pitti Palace is neoclassical in style and was built between 1776 and 1816 by the architects Gaspare Paoletti and Pasquale Poccianti on behalf of the Grand Duke Peter Leopold of Lorraine.
The building remained a residence of the families that ruled Tuscany and by the House of Savoy right until 1946. In fact, the Lorraine/Savoy rooms exhibit collections of historical clothes and accessories which had previously been stored in the palace´s warehouses. All of the families who inhabited the palace — the Lorraine family, Bourbon-Parma family, Elisa Bonaparte Baiocchi and Savoy family — have also all left something of their tastes and times, both in furnishings and décor.
The Costume Gallery was founded under the direction of Kristen Aschengreen Piacenti and is home to a collection of clothing and fashion accessories dating from the sixteenth century to the present.
All dresses are displayed on mannequins with body structure typical of the period in which the dress was made, showcasing how the female form was altered using corsets and the like over the centuries. The rooms, equipped with air-conditioned display stands, exhibit different selections of clothes every two years. Some rooms, such the dancing hall, are used for temporary exhibitions.
The Costume Gallery was founded under the direction of Kristen Aschengreen Piacenti and is home to a collection of clothing and fashion accessories dating from the sixteenth century to the present.
All dresses are displayed on mannequins with body structure typical of the period in which the dress was made, showcasing how the female form was altered using corsets and the like over the centuries. The rooms, equipped with air-conditioned display stands, exhibit different selections of clothes every two years. Some rooms, such the dancing hall, are used for temporary exhibitions.
The collection includes court and gala gowns, haute couture dresses and pieces crafted by contemporary luxury designers such as Roberto Cavalli, Givenchy, Emilio Pucci, Jean Paul Gaultier, Saint Laurent, Armani, Missoni and Valentino. A selection of theatrical, film and TV costumes, accessories and jewellery are also on view here, as well as a paper archive containing design sketches and fashion magazines. Furthermore, the Costume Gallery also houses a textile conservation workshop, essential for the maintenance of clothing and accessories. There really is no better place for fashion-lovers to learn more about the history of fashion and clothing in Florence.
Photo credits
picture 2: Sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Sailko / CC BY 2.5
picture 2: Sailko / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Sailko / CC BY 2.5
