WOMEN'S
FASHION HISTORY EXPLORED IN NEW EXHIBITION
Exhibit
depicts the history of Atlanta's women through clothing
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Women on Pedestals represents mid-19th century Atlanta as the
city matured from its rough, merchant-town youth to reflect
the patriarchy of the plantation system in the American South.
An olive green silk brocade day dress highlighted in this section
shows that, in 1860, up-to-the-minute fashion made its way to
the frontier.
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Women on Parade picks up around the turn of the century, when
Atlanta women became more visible in public life. They initiated
reform movements, campaigned for the vote and increasingly worked
for wages. By the 1920s, many women embraced modernity with
shorter dresses, bobbed hair and daring dances. A brown tweed
bicycling suit with leather trim, circa 1895, reflects the freedom
associated with the era's bicycling craze.
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Women in Pants introduces visitors to the eras of the Depression
and World War II, when the landscape of women's employment changed.
After their wartime contributions, many women continued to work
outside the home, but were typically relegated to the bottom
rung of the economic ladder-unskilled jobs with low wages. However,
not all women's roles were menial, as exhibited in an adventurous
female pilot's flight suit and accessories, circa 1935.
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Women in Politics witnesses the many challenges to earlier concepts
of women's roles, rights and sexuality during the third quarter
of 20th century. Many important individual and collective "firsts"
for women occurred and women's changing status was reflected
in clothing, laws, advertising, movies and television. Embroidered
denim hip hugger jeans and a matching jacket from the early
1970s help bring this era to life.
- Women
Share Power finds us on the threshold of a new century we consider
how far women have come in the quest for equality. The incredible
freedom Atlanta women share bears the weight of responsibility.
Can women have it all, do it all, and at what cost? And who
are Atlanta women today? An emblem of this section is a dark
blue United Nations/U.S. Police Monitor uniform worn in Bosnia
Herzegovina in 1998-1999.
The
Atlanta History Center is open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and
Sun., noon-5:30 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for students
13+ and seniors 65+, $7 for youths 4-12 and free for children
3 and under.
For
more information, visit www.AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.
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