Fashion

Back in May, not long after I had started my archive traineeship, I arranged to visit the Gallery of Costume at Platt Fields. I couldn't have predicted in my wildest dreams that by September I would be staying across the road from Platt Hall, at Appleby Lodge.

Whilst I was there I helped unpack this amazing dress, Widow 2009, by Susie MacMurray, now a permanent part of their collection.I also got to see Gladstone's collection of hats, including his summer panamas. There is also an intriguing hat from Anglezarke, near Chorley - early 17th c., felted, faded, almost puritan in style.Every store room was full of treasures. Rails of beautiful dresses, dating from the mid 19thc to the 1970s, prison uniforms, fashion magazines, old photos, new Dior acquisitions for the current exhibition. It was like a dream. It was a glimpse into the expanding world I had entered with this new job, weaving together past experience and present interests.