This weekend, I’d planned to see Mr Darcy’s shirt at Bankfield Museum and got much more than I bargained for. Not only did I get a glimpse of the famous wet shirt, but I also got to see a fabulous presentation by History Wardrobe, and I heard something that may shock you all. Well, it surprised me.
Mr Darcy’s Wet Shirt
As soon as I learned that Bankfield Museum had purchased Mr Darcy’s shirt, I knew I had to see it. This is not just a reproduction Regency shirt made for a TV series. This is the one worn by Colin Firth for his portrayal of Mr Darcy in the 1995 BBC production of Pride and Prejudice. Yes, this is the shirt that had women swooning when the usually stuffy Darcy jumped into the lake at Pemberley for a quick swim. How scandalous!
I dragged my mum along with me, and as soon as we arrived at the museum, I headed straight to the room where I knew the shirt was on display only to discover it was closed due to a private event. Well, I was disappointed, but that did not last long because the event was a presentation by History Wardrobe, and they had spare tickets. Yay!
Here it is! Please forgive the angle and glare from the display case. The History Wardrobe display had been set up in front of the shirt.
Maternity Fashion
I’ve been to several presentations by History Wardrobe. I adore their inciteful and good-humoured take on women’s history as told through clothing. This presentation covered maternity wear and baby clothing and explored some of the “expert” opinions on pregnancy and childbirth–some of which my mum remembered being advised to do in the late 70s and early 80s.
I recommend you see a presentation by History Wardrobe if you get the chance. They make history entertaining, and I always learn something new. This time, I’m still in shock after they revealed a tale overheard at a bus stop.
Alternative Contraceptives
As long as humans have been having sex, we’ve also tried to create means of preventing pregnancy. One may presume the invention of disposable condoms would have put an end to some of the “slap and dash” methods. Check out my blog post on Safe Sex in the Eighteenth Century for more details about the history of condoms.
As someone who lived through the safe sex campaigns of the 90s, the importance of being prepared has not diminished. But in the 60s and 70s, getting hold of condoms was more difficult for the unmarried woman. One can understand why they may have had to be inventive at times.
Rain Hood Condoms
According to History Wardrobe, at least one young woman got very creative with her rain hood when she was caught without a condom. Well, my jaw dropped. Not only because of the likely discomfort of excessive amounts of crinkly plastic but also because a rain hood is something I associate with my grandmother. (I’m still cringing while I write this.)
My dear granny always carried a rain hood with her to protect her carefully crafted hairdo. First, because in Yorkshire a rain hood was a necessity, and second, hoods were a separate item of clothing from a coat. (I don’t know when this changed; that’s research for another day.) Regardless, I’ve always viewed the rain hood as one of the most unattractive fashion accessories. I cannot contemplate wearing one, let alone getting one involved in “sexy times”.
After this revelation, we ventured upstairs to see the exhibition, The Art of Making Historical Fashion. Here are some beautiful examples on display.
In short, I had a fabulously entertaining, informative, and slightly shocking time. What were you up to this weekend?
