The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle presents an extensive exhibition highlighting the unique fashion and textile collection of co-founder Joséphine Bowes, running until March 2026.
The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle has launched a new exhibition titled “Joséphine: A Woman of Taste and Fashion,” which opened to the public on Saturday, March 22, 2023. The exhibition aims to provide an in-depth look at Joséphine Bowes’ unique and varied collecting style, showcasing an extensive display of textiles that reach from floor to ceiling.
This exhibition is set to be housed in the museum’s Fashion and Textile Gallery and will continue until March 2026. The event follows the earlier exhibition “From Joséphine Bowes: Trendsetters and Trailblazers,” which celebrated the 200th anniversary of the museum’s co-founder, Joséphine Bowes.
Visitors to the exhibition can anticipate an impressive array of woven and embroidered chair covers, textiles, lace, and notable items acquired during the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1867. For the first time in many years, surviving pieces of clothing and accessories that once belonged to Joséphine will be exhibited, alongside historical garments from the 1850s and 1860s.
In addition to the garments, the exhibition will feature archival materials related to Joséphine’s fashion interests, providing a personal glimpse into the clothing and accessories she owned throughout her life. The collection will also spotlight recent additions of French haute couture, including pieces secured through Art Fund’s New Collecting Award in 2015, as well as contributions from the Friends of The Bowes Museum.
The exhibition will include works by renowned 20th-century designers such as Elsa Schiaparelli and Yves Saint Laurent, aimed at embodying what Joséphine may have worn had she been alive during the modern era. Iconic items from other notable French designers, including Jacques Fath, Jeanne Paquin, Madeleine Vionnet, and hats by Simone Mirman, will also be on display.
Historically significant, the exhibition will reflect on the introduction of French couture styles to the North East of England soon after Joséphine’s death in 1874. Notably, John James Fenwick, the founder of Fenwicks in Newcastle, began importing fashion from Paris in the mid-1880s, expanding the accessibility of high fashion to the region.
Complementing the exhibition, a series of events have been planned for textile, fashion, and history enthusiasts, all included with daily admission or membership. Monthly spotlight tours, led by Rachel Whitworth, the Curator of Fashion and Textiles, will provide a concise introduction to the exhibition and its highlights. Additionally, three themed talks are scheduled as part of The Curator Series, encompassing topics on Joséphine’s passion for fashion, her textile acquisitions, and the broader history of French fashion.
Commenting on the exhibition, Rachel Whitworth remarked, “This exciting exhibition, entirely drawn from The Bowes Museum’s permanent collection, is an opportunity to celebrate Joséphine Bowes as a woman both of and ahead of her time. She was a discerning collector of textiles and purchased clothes from the most fashionable couturiers and dressmakers of her time.” Whitworth also highlighted that many items in the exhibition are being displayed for the first time, affording fresh insights into how the museum’s collection was formed.
“Joséphine: A Woman of Taste and Fashion” is positioned in the Fashion and Textiles Gallery at The Bowes Museum, with entry included in general admission and membership options available for visitors.
Source: Noah Wire Services
