Ridgewood's Schoolhouse Museum Opens Exhibit on History of Women's Fashions From 1900s to 1960s

Clothes have a whole new meaning.

Ridgewood’s Schoolhouse Museum has opened its new exhibit, “Hemlines: An exhibit of Women’s Fashions,” featuring lingerie, hats, handbags, shoes, furs, jewelry, wedding attire and dresses from each of the decades beginning in the 1900s and ending in the 1960s.

Although Sheila Brogan, president of the Ridgewood Historical Society, knows that one could easily dismiss the exhibit as silly or unimportant, she says that “ever since Eve plucked that apple from the tree, humans have had to clothe themselves.”

“Women‘s fashion tells us so much about history,“ Brogan said. “By looking at women’s fashions, we can understand the role of women decade by decade.“

According to Brogan, women in the 1920s were reacting to the tragic losses of men during World War I and their new entrance in to the work force, while women in the 30’s looked to movie stars as fashion icons to escape the depression.

Women in the 1940s took to the work force again to replace the men who were fighting in the war, while consumerism took hold of women in the 50’s, and shorter dresses emerged in 1960’s with the hippie generation.

Brogan, who says area residents donated the items to the museum over the last 60 years, has some big hopes for the “eye catching” exhibit that “tells a great story about women and fashion.”

“I hope people will be able to relate the history of each decade with the fashions on display and appreciate the color, quality, and designs of the hats, dresses, shoes, handbags and jewelry,” she said.

Hemlines, designed by Brogan, Vicky Herbert, and Bari Falese will be on display at the Schoolhouse Museum, located at 650 E. Glen Avenue in Ridgewood, until July 26.

The Schoolhouse Museum is open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m.

For more information, contact the Schoolhouse Museum at 201-447-3242 or emailing info@ridgewoodhistoricalsociety.org