Costume

1930s dark blue wool gabardine ski suit comprising of a jacket, trousers and a cap with ear flaps. Made by H.A Beal of Regent Street in London.
Leather motorcycling outfit worn during the 1930s. The leather coat, gloves, hat and boots would have protected the wearer from the cold wind, rain, mud and dirt from the roads, and the risk of injury in an accident.

Woman's jacket embellished with bronze coins. Designed by Rifat Ozbeck, 1991.

Woman's knitted jumper. Made by the designer John Ashpool, 1974.
Our collections hold over 300 knitted or crocheted garments from the 1920s through to the present day.

Evening dress of red silk chiffon by Zandra Rhodes, 1974. This dress is made from a print called Lace Mountain and has a finely pleated collar trimmed with tiny bronze beads.

Woman's side saddle riding outfit made from a black striped wool broadcloth, worn c1900.
Man's three piece suit of grey herringbone wool. Made by C.F Hoggett and Son of Leicester in 1910.

Woman's cream silk wedding dress trimmed with lace, velvet buttons and French Knot embroidery. The dress was worn by Lilian Clift in Huncote on the 26th December 1914.
In order to except a wedding dress into our collections the wedding has to have taken place in Leicestershire excluding Leicester City.

Man's suit designed by Vivienne Westwood for her Anglomania Collection, Autumn/Winter 1993. The specially designed tartan is called McAndreas, after Vivienne Westwood's husband.

Detail of a man's court suit consisting of jacket, waistcoat and breeches, made from silk velvet and embroidered with a floral design.
Date: c1775.

Man's cut-away all in one knitted speed suit with trompe l'oeil belt.
Date: 1930s