Brussels Costume and Lace Museum

Following a few days in Germany, our route home left us with a few hours to spare in Brussels in Belgium. Once we had visited lots of chocolate shops and wandered around

image from museum website

the Grande Place, we decided to spend an hour or so in a museum. We hadn’t made any plans for our time in Brussels, but while googling things to do I came across the Brussels Costume and Lace Museum. It is only a few minutes walk from the Grande Place and at only €8 a ticket is well worth a visit!

The current exhibition is called ‘Just married, a History of Marriage’. The exhibition shows wedding fashions from the 1700’s right up to modern day, and is predominantly Belgian made, Belgian designers or have been given to the museum by Belgian citizens. The garments on display have been carefully chosen from the museum’s collection and are mostly women’s clothing, although there are a few men’s suits too.

1957

The exhibition is on until 3rd September, so be quick to visit if you want to! However, if you are unable to get there in person there are some fabulous pictures of some of the exhibits, as well  on the website. The garments on display are absolutely beautiful – my particular favourite was a stunning gala dress dating from 1907. Happily you are allowed to take photographs in the museum, of course with no flash, so I took a lot as we did have to return the guidebooks! There is also a video on my instagram account of my favourite gown, so check it out in the sidebar.

The museum is definitely one I want to visit again if I ever find myself in Brussels – it reminded me of the London Fashion and Textile as the display is shown on rotation – a new exhibition is due in October which is solely about lace and I can imagine how stunning it will be!

 

Yves Saint Laurent, 1985

Jean-Paul Gaultier, 2010

1910

Ray-Saillart, 1949

1895

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