1970s: Group of Salford Angels WI

We at Salford Angels are a fashion conscious bunch, as you can probably tell from some of our photos that have appeared here, so with that in mind, we decided to arrange a trip to the Manchester Museum of Costume at Platt Fields.

It was a beautiful sunny day and the park that surrounds the museum looked fantastic and very well looked after by the city council, but the museum is a building to behold. Once inside you see the fantastic staircase with original ironwork and amazing moulded ceiling. The hall was originally the home of the Worsley family, and on display upstairs are some of the original clothes worn by Thomas Worsley in the 1700s, including one of his powder wigs.  Along with them are fashions from the 1600s through to the 1890s.

Downstairs are 2 temporary exhibitions, Ossie Clarke 1967-1977, a must for any Austin Powers fans, and the highlight for us, From Suffragette to Supermodel 1910-2010. This looks at the changing face of women’s clothes, shoes, hats and handbags, and features items by Chanel , Dior, Versache, Vivienne Westwood  and Bruce Oldfield alongside high street labels like Marks & Spencer, Kendals, H&M and Top Shop to name a few. The changes through the decades are quite dramatic, but you also see a constant ‘retro’ theme going on with each generation taking a spin on a style from a few decades before.

1920’s: Emma Foster, Karen Sutton, Suzanne Rigg

All photos by Janine McDonald, Salford Angels

Entry to the museum is free and is open every day 10am – 5pm, there’s a great little shop, oh and there also happens to be a coffee shop selling great cakes – result!

Salford Angels WI meet every 3^rd Thursday of the month at The Angel Centre, Chapel St, 7pm. Follow us on Facebook, visit us at www.salfordangelswi.co.uk, or call Suzanne on 07581471530

1990’s: Steph Todd, Lorraine Meacher, Sue Pheasey, Margaret Savage and Charlotte Pritchard