Mrs. Tilley's Tea Party
Lady Alice Tilley / Rachel Belyea / Gertrude Carpenter / Augusta Slipp
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Women's fashion often provides one of the most fascinating insights into the past.
Like most items of apparel, the dresses provide intimate and personal access into the life experiences of women, urban and rural, within the province and county. Serviceable or stylish, these garments demonstrate their owners' status and fashion sensibilities just as they also reveal something of society's attitudes towards the role of their wearers. |
| During the late 19th century, an era of vast social change, the role of women went through a dramatic change. The four dresses displayed for Mrs. Tilley's Tea Party represent that transformation very well. While women were meant to be most influential in maintaining the home, economic necessity lured thousands of them into the labour force. These new experiences resulted in attitudes and aspirations that conflicted with traditional expectations of women. |
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| In the context of a ladies' tea party hosted by Mrs. Thomas Tilley in the Parlour of the Tilley House Museum, this exhibition showcases some of the museum's remarkable collection of women's dresses, including gowns worn by Lady Alice Tilley, Rachel Belyea, Gertrude Carpenter and Augusta Slipp. Four fascinating women with intriguing stories to tell. |
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