In terms of underwear as well as outerwear, ladies’ fashion has come a long way since the 1850s.
That evolution is never more evident than in the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society’s new exhibition, “Naughty Newnan: From Corsets to Couture,” displaying undergarments and designer lingerie dating from the 1850s to the 1990s.
The display opens just in time for Valentine’s Day and includes a look at the history of sending Valentine’s cards and how this special day has been observed in Newnan through the years.
Following the recent holiday exhibition at the McRitchie-Hollis Museum showing party dresses from the 1850s to1950s, the staff has gone back into the NCHS collections to show the sorts of garments that would have been worn under those dresses. Trousseau and designer items also have been shared by historical society members.
Displayed with an original 1850s blue silk dress from a Newnan family are examples of the voluminous layers of undergarments, from drawers and chemise to lace-trimmed petticoats, a lady of that day would wear under that outer dress.
Along with delicate undergarments is nightwear and lounge wear, as well as a look at Coweta County area mills that produced hosiery and ladies’ intimates. There is even a pair of men’s BVDs from the 1920s shared by Newnan-Coweta Historical Society member and local historian Elizabeth Beers along with items from her mother’s 1920s wedding trousseau.
A highlight is a set of lingerie handmade by nuns in New Orleans for the trousseau of a young bride about 1915 and featuring fine hand embroidery.
From the 1800s to the early 1900s corsets evolved to shaping girdles with garters to support hosiery. Black wool stockings of the early 1900s gave way to white cotton hosiery in the 1920s to the popular seamed nylon stockings of the 1930s and ’40s.
Stiff crinolines created the look for poodle skirts of the 1950s.
See 1990s negligee sets from fashion designers Dior and Flora Nikrooz shared from the collection of Newnan-Coweta Historical Society member Pamela Prange, along with two creations and sketches from Prange’s own fashion design career.
The McRitchie-Hollis Museum is at the corner of Jackson and Clark Streets just north of downtown Newnan. Hours are 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
