Dover Library presents a history of fashion from the 1700s to 1950s

posted on 1/17/2024

Ever wonder what made skirts so big in the 19th century? Why hemlines fluctuated through history? Or why top hats grew out of fashion?

Discover the answer to these questions and more when the Dover Public Library hosts "The History of Fashion: 1700s to 1950s" at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24.

Katie Raynes, the role-playing coordinator at the Strawbery Banke Museum, will take participants on a trek through history to learn about various fashion trends — why they changed and how fashion differed between wealthy and average people.

The presentation will be in person and can be viewed virtually from home. Those wishing to livestream the program must visit the library's website to register and receive a link. Aside from a PowerPoint presentation, the event will feature historical costumes on display and models demonstrating outfits from different periods.

Raynes is responsible for maintaining the museum's costume collection and researching historical fashion. Raynes has a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in history and a master’s degree in English literature from the University of New Hampshire. They have published several best-selling LGBTQA+ fiction novels.

The program is free and open to the public. 

For more information, visit library.dover.nh.gov or call (603) 516-6050.