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Past Events, Programs & Workshops

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Book Launch:
Unsinkable Lucile

October 2, 2022

Author Hugh Brewster and artist Laurie McGaw launched their book Unsinkable Lucile, about the famous fashion designer who was raised in Canada, and survived the sinking of the Titanic as Lady Duff-Gordon.

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Encore Vintage

June - September, 2022

We had a pop-up shop this summer, just down the street from the museum and it was a great success! After all expenses, we made about $5,000 profit, which went towards purchasing a rare pelisse (coat) and pair of boots, from the 1820s. The shop was a also a great marketing tool for the museum.

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A Dandy Sunday
with Zack Pinsent

December 15, 2019

It was a delight to welcome Regency dandy tailor and fashion historian Zack Pinsent to our museum during his first visit to Canada. Zack dressed himself in front of the audience, while explaining the origin and use of each garment, from shirt to shoes.

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An Afternoon
with Iris Simpson

November 9, 2019

Fashion retailer, educator, designer, and stylist Iris Simpson joined FHM's Chair Kenn Norman to chat about her insider view to the world of fashion and her experiences in a career that ranged from Eaton's to the Paris couture shows of Yves Saint Laurent.

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Tambour Headmaster
Bob Haven

July 15 - 28, 2019

We hosted our first artist in residence when Bob Haven agreed to come up to our museum from his home in Kentucky and spend two weeks in the gallery recreating a 1920s beaded dress from our collection, teach two workshops on tambour beadwork, as well as lecture on the history of beadwork. Due to popular demand, Bob returned in October for an encore tambour beading workshop!

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Chicago's Mad Hatter with Elizabeth Jachimowicz

July 2, 2019

Author and former Curator of Costume at the Chicago History Museum, Elizabeth Jachimowicz spoke at the launch of our exhibiiton Bes Ben, The Mad Hatter of Chicago. Her book about Bes Ben was published in the spring of 2020.

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Victoria's 200th Birthday

May 24, 2019

Museum Volunteer Kathy Dwyer graced us with her presence as Queen Victoria for a meet and greet on the sovereign's 200th birthday. However, HM wasn't amused when she caught sight of one of her unmentionables on display.

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Victorian Tea

May 18, 2019

This year's event was a Victorian tea, recreating recipes from the 1898 Galt Cook Book. Food historian Carolyn Blackstock, who in 2014 blogged her way through the Galt cookbook as she tested every recipe, spoke about her experiences and reactions to some of the cuisine she created. The recipes met with mixed success with our 'tea totalers'- the date sandwiches were a hit, the potted meat was not...

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Tango Tea

September 15, 2018

High tea and tangos with demonstrations and instruction in period dances by internationally renowned historical dancers Richard Powers and Kimber Rudo. The afternoon's entertainment included silent films, a few rounds of World War I Name That Tune, some Price is Right games for 1910s groceries, and a surprise visit from Emmeline Pankhurst who implored on the behalf of women's suffrage.

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Wardrobe in Film
with Ian Drummond

June 9, 2018

As a supplier of costumes for film and television productions, Ian Drummond spoke about his experiences of working with the costume departments of many productions including: On the Basis of Sex, Hairspray, Chicago, Cinderella Man, Dark Shadows, and more...

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Regency Bonnet-Making

August 20, 2017 & January 14, 2018

A day-long workshop recreating a circa 1812 impressed rag-paper 'bonnet-board' bonnet trimmed with silk ribbons from the FHM collection. The workshop was so popular that it was repeated.

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Jane Austen Country Ball

September 23, 2017

Jane Austen's world was experienced through an evening of festivities the authoress herself would have known. A country ball complete with Regency music, dance, card games, and a buffet supper of period cuisine.

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Jane Austen Close-Up & Behind the Scenes Tour

May 27/28, 2017

Behind the scenes tour in storage with museum curator Jonathan Walford of the museum's Regency collection of shoes, hats, bonnets, shawls, and dresses.

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Chapeau et Champagne

February 11, 2017

A fashion show of hats from the founder's collection as well as contemporary creations from Toronto milliner Karyn Gingras of Lilliput Hats.

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An Uneasy Place
with Lisa Cox

November 12, 2016

The Uneasy Place of Animals in Fashion History was presented by Lisa Cox, curator of the C.A.V. Barker Museum of Canadian Veterinary History at University of Guelph, and co-curator of the FHM exhibition Wild and Rare

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Culture Days
Identification Clinic

October 1, 2016

Lace collector and expert Nancy Pye; Ethnographic textiles expert and co-founder of Toronto's Textile Museum, Simon Waegemaekers; Textile Conservator Christine Feniak; and FHM Curator Jonathan Walford were on hand for the public to bring in their textile treasures for identification.

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Magical Moments
with Angela Brayham

 

April 28, 2016

Magical Moments: Women, Mardi Gras, and Glittered Shoes, a talk by Angela Brayham, Director/Curator of Gallery Stratford, and guest curator of the exhibition Throw Me Something Sister?, about the highly coveted glittered shoes created by the all-female Krewe of Muses for New Orleans' Mardi Gras.

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Prepare to Meet Thy Monarch with Alexandra Kim

April 9, 2016

Prepare to Meet Thy Monarch guest lecture by the former curator at the royal dress collection at Kensington Palace, during FHM exhibition To Meet the Queen. 

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Chapeau et Champagne

February 13, 2016

A fashion show of hats from the founder's collection as well as contemporary creations from Cambridge milliner - The Hauteur Hatter - Lori Lavers.

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