Originally Published on January 28, 2022

In the latest volume of MODEST, we have a feature exploring storytelling through clothing; imagining how five figures from mythology and folklore would dress. Clothes are a powerful medium, visual and textural, they are rich in meaning. They can speak of a person’s values, ethnicity, history, likes and even dislikes. By choosing to dress, we participate in a huge fashion system, whether we believe we are fashionable or not.

In recent media, there has been an increased interest in connecting with our clothing. Campaigns such as “Loved Clothes Last” by Fashion Revolution are becoming mainstream. Last year, even Netflix released a clothing-centered series based on the book, Worn Stories by Emily Spivack. In that series, individuals share the stories behind garments or accessories and how they continue to impact their lives.

As we engage with the fashion world, we unfortunately are also exposed to fast fashion. This has become a destructive system of take and throw. In order to combat this narrative, we at MODEST want to highlight the work that individuals and organizations are doing to encourage people to consume more consciously and to better connect and fall in love with their clothing. Our clothes are us, they adorn our bodies and serve as mediums of storytelling, whether it’s an engagement ring passed through generations, a tattoo of a lost pet, or a carved necklace gifted to us by a friend in another country.

In understanding the stories our clothes tell, the Penn Museum of Philadelphia is exploring how storytelling and fashion are intrinsically linked. In a new exhibit, the museum excitedly features clothing worn by Marian Anderson, Grace Kelly, Scythian Warriors, and Samurai, to name just a few.

The Penn Museum is host to a large number of galleries containing artifacts from ancient Egypt, the Americas, Greece, Asia, Africa and more. Recently, they have decided to put together a new type of exhibition focusing on storytelling through fashion. MODEST had the pleasure to speak to the curators of the exhibit, The Stories We Wear.

THE STORIES WE WEAR

Curated by: Drs. Lauren Ristvet, Sarah Linn, & Jane Hickman

“The clothing, accessories, and decorations we put on our bodies tell stories about who we are. They shape how others see us and how we see ourselves. What we wear can prepare us for important events or transform us into someone new. Our clothes may be traditional or trendy. They can show that we belong or help us stand out. Our outfits communicate messages across time, culture, and language. Now and in the ancient past, close to home and far away, the stories we wear connect us.”

— OPENING QUOTE FROM THE EXHIBIT (PENN MUSEUM)

What was the inspiration behind this exhibit?

In the 1940s, the Penn Museum intended to bring in new audiences by presenting more diverse and themed exhibits. Among these were, Roots of All Evil, About Money, and 5,000 Years of Vanity: Jewelry and Adornments. In the present day, we wanted to bring back more eccentric exhibits such as these and that’s what led to us creating The Stories We Wear.

What we put on our bodies matters. It’s a representation of who we are. The choices we make in how we dress can tell others whether we are breaking from or continuing with tradition. This also includes bodily adornment such as tattoos and piercings. It was important for us to create an exhibit with a theme that touches everyone.

Working with the talented collection staff at the museum, even we as curators discovered the wealth of materials and artifacts we had in storage. Through the combined efforts of curators, collection staff, researchers, and individuals who still had connections to the pieces, we chose a select number of items to display.

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**THE EXHIBIT IS ORGANIZED BY FIVE THEMES:**
Dressing to Perform, Dressing for Work & Play, Dressing for Battle, Dressing for Ceremony, Dressing to Rule
Photo by Eddy Marenco, provided by the Penn Museum

Clothing and accessories are displayed in glass cases next to white panels with illustrative diagrams explaining each part of the featured items (see image below for an example).

**A Scythian Warrior’s Accessories —** Photo by Eric Sucar, provided by the Penn Museum

The way this information is presented is an innovative approach by the museum and is making archaeology and anthropology accessible to everyone through fashion.

How did you choose the pieces that made it into the final exhibit?

At the beginning we asked ourselves, “How can we tell a really good story without only talking about things in the past?” This led us to include tattooing and contemporary practices when deciding the criteria for what will make it into the final exhibit. Choosing to organize the artifacts by themes and then telling their stories under that umbrella made the most sense.

We also wanted our pieces to speak to one another. For example, in the “Dressing for Work and Play” section, we have a statue of a naked Greek athlete juxtaposed near football player Connor Barwin’s uniform. This provides a point of visual contrast and makes you curious to how the trends and context for athletic fashion has changed throughout history.

What is something that didn’t get included but you loved?

The museum has a huge collection of samurai material. Among this was elaborately lacquered horse armor, but we weren’t able to display it because of climate issues and the limited budget. The lacquer on the armor is sensitive and can crack, so we didn’t want to risk that happening. There were also beautiful Japanese wedding kimonos that we would have loved to display!

The most unique thing about this exhibit is that it encourages its visitors to become part of it. There are three interactive stations where you can draw or upload pictures of clothing, accessories, or tattoos that mean something to you. By doing this, you become one with the exhibit, which is quite impactful in comparison to traditional museum exhibitions.

What do you hope people take away from your exhibit?

This exhibit brought us out of our comfort zones because we were able to actively engage with the materials. The stories of some of the items are still living and that required us to talk to people who could provide us with more connected insights.

We spoke to a Hopi woman about Hopi wedding rituals to get more information about a Hopi Bridal dress on display.

We talked to the relatives of Dorothy and Christina Vossers, who made a dress during the Great Depression that was repaired and reused throughout their family history.

By working on this collection, we were made acutely aware that the stories behind clothing and adornment are still living to this day. That’s exciting and different in comparison to looking at something static, like a vase from a certain period in time.

The curators hope that The Stories We Wear will give you a moment to pause and self-reflect, by giving you a chance to consider what you are wearing and what it means to you.

People should see power in their clothing and adornments, because we use these to speak in our modern society. What you wear tells your story.

We’d like to express gratitude to Drs. Ristvet, Linn, & Hickman for taking their time to speak with us, to Jill DiSanto for connecting us, and to everyone at the Penn Museum that allowed us to visit and interact with this exhibit.

The Stories We Wear will be on view until June 12, 2022. When visiting, the museum requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination for ages 5+. For more information about safety protocols currently in place, please see the museum’s website.

WE DON’T WANT TO GIVE TOO MUCH AWAY, BUT IF YOU ARE NEAR PHILADELPHIA,

WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT THIS WONDERFUL EXHIBIT!

A Living Exhibit: The Stories We Wear

THE STORIES WE WEAR

People should see power in their clothing and adornments, because we use these to speak in our modern society. What you wear tells your story.

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