Fashionistas have the chance to see retro gems on the catwalk next month when the Marks & Spencer Company Archive in Leeds hosts its first vintage fashion show ‘Dressed in Time’.
Taking place on 7th May, the free show will feature fashion from the 1930s to the present day. The clothes and accessories have been carefully chosen from the 70,000-piece archive based at the University of Leeds and will showcase the very best of M&S. From glamorous gowns and beach pyjamas worn in the 1930s, wartime fashion from the 1940s, vibrant colours and prints of the 1950s and 60s, right through to 70s flares and 80s power dressing, the event will bring the fashion styles of the past to life.
The M&S fashion show also includes the vintage styles and trends that inspired British fashion icon Alexa Chung to curate her new collection for the retailer, Archive by Alexa. Key pieces from this latest M&S collection will also be seen on the catwalk alongside the vintage items that inspired their creation.
Katie Entwistle, M&S Archive Officer, commented: “It’s the first time we have staged a fashion show at the Archive and it’s an exciting opportunity to showcase some of the fashion gems that make up the collection and explore the fascinating history of fashion at M&S.
“One of my favourite pieces in the show is a fantastic 1970s blue striped women’s suit, with flared trousers and wide lapels…Whatever your favourite fashion decade, the show will transport you to the past while demonstrating how the designs of yesteryear have influenced today’s most modern trends.”
The ‘Dressed in Time’ fashion event takes place at University of Leeds from 11.00am until 3.15pm with three fashion shows scheduled for 11-11.45am; 12.45-1.30pm and 2.30-3.15pm.
Booking is essential as places are limited. Entry is free.
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A sneak peek at the M&S ‘Dressed in Time’ fashion trends that will be gracing the catwalk…
1930s: Knitted swim suits, beach pyjamas, glamourous nightwear and posh party frocks.
1940s: Fashion on the ration featuring utility clothing and the wide-shouldered, slim-waisted, narrow-hipped silhouettes synonymous with the era.
1950s: Full-skirted dresses, ‘slacks’ – trousers – for women and new easy-care garments made from Bri-Nylon and Terylene.
1960s: The rise of the teenager, clothes for working women and the mod-look for men.
1970s: Flares, wide collars, elegant maxi dresses and a resurgence of demand for natural fibres such as wool, denim and cheesecloth.
1980s: ‘Dallas’ inspired power-dressing, new romantic frills and ruffles and a fitness craze that resulted in new sportswear ranges.