PAST EXHIBITIONS
FROCK ON!
December 1, 2021 - December 30, 2022
From Flappers to Rappers, Frock On explored a hundred years of teenage culture, music and fashions. In 1922 the word 'teenager' was coined, capturing a new era for a generation that would strive to define themselves differently from their parents.
SPECS APPEAL (AKA 20/20)
December 1, 2021 - December 30, 2022
This display looks at a 200 year overview of the history of eyewear. Originally intended to launch in 2020, COVID delayed it's debut, and the title was changed as nobody wants to be reminded of 2020!
THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF FASHION
December 1, 2021 - December 30, 2022
This was the first year we presented a general history of fashion. We are going to keep this format for the foreseeable future, but change the garments annually so that visitors will always see something new.
MADE IN FRANCE
March 16 - December 22, 2019
French fashion has held its reputation for luxurious excellence since the reign of Louis XIV when keeping up with changing Paris modes became an expression of success and good taste. This exhibition showcases the golden age of French couture, from the late 19th century to the 1960s.
BES BEN: THE MAD HATTER OF CHICAGO
July 3 - November 3, 2019
Benjamin B. Green-Field (1898-1988) was the creative genius behind the Bes-Ben label. His flamboyant and humorous themed millinery creations were known for their use of unusual trimmings. This exhibition featured many Bes Ben hats from the private collection of Mary Robak.
VICTORIA 200
March 13 - June 30, 2019
On the occasion of her 200th birthday, Queen Victoria's influence over black and white fashion (mourning and wedding) is recounted, along with the garments named for Balmoral, her Scottish home.
TITANIC DRESSES
April 5, 2018 - February 5, 2019
Our 1911 silk and lace wedding or presentation gown by Lucile was installed at the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee where it was seen by 550,000 visitors in 10 months.
Lucy Christiana Sutherland was born in London, England in 1863 but after her father died the family returned to her mother’s parental home in Guelph, Ontario until 1872. In 1894, Lucy opened her fashion business in London’s West End, making clothes for many of the top English actresses of the day. Lucile and her second husband Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon were famous survivors of the Titanic, which brought business to Lucile, making her a leading designer of the 1910s. However, her designs did not suit the 1920s, and Lucile left her own company in 1922.
101 TALES OF FASHION
March 14 - December 23, 2018
101 Tales of colour, design, textiles, scandal, origin, invention, luxury, obsession, human interest, and even murder.
DRESSING TORONTO
November 1 - 30, 2018
An exhibition created for Toronto's Myseum about how Torontonians acquired their clothes from the time of Confederation in 1867 until the end of the 20th century.
FASHIONING CANADA SINCE 1867
March 15 - December 17, 2017
Exhibition honouring Canada's sesquicentennial of our nation's most historically and culturally significant fashions since confederation.
JANE AUSTEN’S WORLD: 1792 - 1817
July 19 - December 17, 2017
Exploring the fashions Jane Austen would have been familiar with during her writing career.
THEN, NOW, NEXT: CANADA 150 FASHION RETROSPECTIVE
September 13 - October 27, 2017
Exhibition created for Yorkville Village in honour of Canada's sesquicentennial. Project created by Len D. Henry, partnering with Toronto Incubator and Ryerson University.
FASHIONING EXPO 67
March 17 - October 1, 2017
Loan of Montreal-made garments from 1967 to the McCord Museum, Montreal.
THE HOUSE OF DIOR: 1947 - 1962
March 15 - July 9, 2017
Exhibition looking at the first fifteen years of the business at the House of Dior, from New Look to fashion empire.
A WALK IN HER SHOES
October 11, 2016 - January 15, 2017
Loan exhibition of 20th century footwear to the Esse Purse Museum, Little Rock, Arkansas
WILD AND RARE: FASHION AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
October 6 - December 18, 2016
Exhibition exploring the uncomfortable tension between fashion and nature by examining the historical use of wild and rare species in fashion across the 19th and 20th centuries. Guest Curator Lisa Cox, Barker Veterinary Museum, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
TYING THE KNOT
May 4 - December 18, 2016
Exploring 200 years of traditional wedding attire, including the museum's oldest known Canadian dress worn for a Quebec City wedding in 1816.
THE MCFEE ACQUISITION
September 30 - October 2, 2016
Temporary exhibition for Culture Days showcasing a recent transfer to the FHM from the Victoria & Albert Museum in London of dresses worn by three Canadian sisters between c. 1920 and 1934.
WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION
June 1 - September 25, 2016
Photography exhibition by Walter Seger of Ken Carson (Barbie's boyfriend) on holiday.
BARBIE’S BOYFRIEND KEN: THE VINTAGE YEARS 1961-1968
June 1 - September 25, 2016
The complete wardrobe made by Mattel for Ken Carson (Barbie Roberts' boyfriend) between 1961 and 1968. From the collection of James Fowler. Curated by James Fowler.
CHANGING TIDES: 100 YEARS OF ICONIC SWIMWEAR
May 10 - August 7, 2016
Exhibition of 20th century swimwear created for the Esse Purse Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas.
THROW ME SOMETHING SISTER? MUSES, MARDI GRAS, AND GLITTERED SHOES
March 12 - May 29, 2016
Shoe Sculptures created by Mardi Gras Krewe of Muses, Guest curator Angela Brayham
TO MEET THE QUEEN
March 12 - May 29, 2016
What to Wear in the Presence of Royalty featuring a ball gown worn to the 1860 Prince of Wales Ball in London, Ontario, on loan from Elgin County Museum, St. Thomas, Ontario.
A CANADIAN FASHION STORY: PAT MCDONAGH 1967 – 2014
May 2 to May 6, 2016
Hosted at the Seneca College Fashion Resource Centre in Toronto, ON.
A CANADIAN FASHION STORY:
PAT MCDONAGH 1967 – 2014
March 12 - April 24, 2016
A retrospective of the over forty year career of Pat McDonagh (1934-2014).
SPORTING CANADIANS
June 27 - December 20, 2015
Exhibition of sportswear from the 1860s to the 1920s for Black Creek Pioneer Village, Toronto.
BACK TO THE 80S
June 27 - December 20, 2015
Inaugural exhibition at the new home of the Fashion History Museum. The 80s theme was determined when it was realized the timing of the exhibition correlated with the 'future' date from the 1980s film 'Back to the Future'. As well, the clock on the museum was broken at the time, just like the clock tower in the film.
TREASURES FROM THE COLLECTION
June 27 - December 20, 2015
A selection of highlights that showcased the breadth of the FHM collection.
WAIST MANAGEMENT
May 11 - August 29, 2015
A travelling exhibition about the history of ladies underwear, hosted by Elgin County Museum, St. Thomas, ON.
WAIST MANAGEMENT
November 1, 2014 - February 16, 2015
A travelling exhibition about the history of ladies underwear hosted by the Peel Art Gallery Museum & Archives, Brampton, ON.
STREETSTYLE
May 27, 2014 - January 20, 2015
Exhibition about the relationship between fashion and architecture created for the Waterloo Region Museum, Kitchener, ON.
THE POLITICS OF FASHION AND THE FASHION OF POLITICS
September 1 – December 7, 2014
Loan of garments from the 1960s and 1970s for an exhibition created by the Design X-Change, Toronto, ON.
WAIST MANAGEMENT
January 11 - April 14, 2014
A travelling exhibition about the history of ladies underwear hosted by Guelph Civic Museum.
MODE: FASHIONS OF THE 1960S
December 5 - December 22, 2013
Exhibition created for pilot gallery at Southworks, Cambridge, to accompany the launch of Jonathan Walford's book 'Sixties Fashion: From Less is More to Youthquake'.
IT’S IN THE BAG: AN ANTHOLOGY OF PURSE STYLES
July 27 - December 22, 2013
Exhibition of purse styles for pilot gallery at Southworks
FASHION FOR THE FUTURE: ACQUISITIONS FROM THE NEW MILLENNIUM
July 27 - December 3, 2013
Exhibition showcasing acquisitions representing 21st century fashion. At Southworks - pilot gallery for the FHM in Cambridge.
PAISLEY AND PLAID: RECURRING PATTERNS IN FASHION
July 27 - December 3, 2013
Feature exhibition tracing the historical use of paisley and plaid patterns in fashion. At Southworks - pilot gallery for the FHM in Cambridge.
12.12.12: LIFE IN THREE CENTURIES
September 22, 2012 – April 30, 2013
Exhibition about life and fashion in three years: 1812 - 1912 - 2012, Hosted by Markham Museum, Markham, ON.
NUCLEAR FASHION – SELLING STYLE TO SUBURBIA 1946 - 1964
October 2 - December, 2012
Travelling exhibition about fashion and brand advertising during the postwar baby boom. Hosted by Joseph Brant Museum in Burlington, Ontario.
THEY’RE AT THE POST
May 16 - September 28, 2012
Loan of morning suit and grey silk dress - garments worn to horse races in the 1920s. City of Waterloo Museum, Waterloo, ON.
A SHOE STORY
May 23 - June 16, 2012
Exhibition of footwear created for Manama Mall, Bahrain.
12.12.12: LIFE IN THREE CENTURIES
January 21 - March 10, 2012
Exhibition about life and fashion in three years: 1812 - 1912 - 2012, Hosted by Guelph Civic Museum, Guelph, ON.
WINTER SPORTS
December, 2011
Winter sportswear exhibition created for Ball's Falls Centre for Conservation, Lincoln, Ontario.
NUCLEAR FASHION – SELLING STYLE TO SUBURBIA 1946 - 1964
May - September, 2011
Travelling exhibition about fashion and brand advertising during the postwar baby boom. Hosted by City of Waterloo Museum, Waterloo, Ontario.
TITANIC: DRESSING FOR THREE CLASSES
October 2010 - January 2011
Loan of outfits representing the three classes of passengers. Waterloo Region Children's Museum, Kitchener, Ontario.
THE TOWERING ART OF THE SHOE
May 2010
Shoe exhibition created for the New Town Plaza, Sha Tin, Hong Kong.
OPEN DRAWERS LAUNCH OF THE FASHION HISTORY MUSEUM
August 15 - August 30, 2009
Official launch of the Fashion History Museum, exhibition of recent donations at Guelph Civic Museum.
TALKIN' BOUT MY GENERATION: HOW YOUTH REVOLUTIONIZED AND MUSIC CHANGED THE WORLD
June - September, 2009
Loan of ten 1960s outfits to the Waterloo Region Children's Museum, Kitchener, Ontario.
TRAVELLING EXHIBITS
Before 2009
READY TO TEAR:
A HISTORY OF PAPER FASHION
2001 to 2008
Ready to Tear/Pret a Papier, a bilingual exhibition about the history of the use of paper in fashion launched in Montreal at Musee de Marcil. Six venues hosted the exhibition across Canada between 2001 and 2008.
WARDROBE
2004 to 2008
WARdrobe, an exhibition about fashion during World War II, was launched at the Guelph Civic Museum in 2004 and travelled to four museums across Ontario between 2004 and 2008.