TEXTILES

Historical costumes—why they should not be worn

It is often very tempting to wear an historic costume for festive occasions, especially when celebrating historic events. Some people feel that garments can't be fully appreciated unless they are worn. This is understandable; but the preservation of historic costume demands that the temptation to wear the costume be resisted.

A fabric may appear strong; but when it is strained, even slightly, it can tear or the seam stitching can break. This damage is increased when the garment isn't a good fit on the person wearing it—or if the person does not have the correct undergarments to support the costume. Remember, body shapes have changed and modern undergarments do not necessarily give the right body shape for historical costumes.

The actions of dressing and undressing can cause a lot of damage to fragile items.

Sitting down or raising your arms in a fragile costume could result in irreparable damage.

Body oils can transfer from the skin to the garment. This can cause disfiguring stains, and the soiling can attract insects.

Food and drink could be spilt on the garment, resulting in unsightly staining. The chemicals in food and drink could also react adversely with the textile itself, or with the dyes in the textile.

The way women move has changed. For example, some dresses were designed so that women could not raise their arms without damaging the dress.

The stress and strain caused by wearing a garment can be immediate and dramatic, or it can contribute to the gradual weakening of the item. Even seemingly minor damage can ruin an historic costume. So it is best to avoid wearing historic costumes from your collection.