The Costume Society is a United Kingdom-based charity established in 1965 to advance the study and preservation of historic and contemporary dress. Registered under charity number 262401, it supports academic research, hosts educational events, and publishes scholarly works on fashion history and textile conservation[3].

History

Founded following a meeting at the Victoria and Albert Museum in October 1964, the Society emerged during a period of growing interest in fashion history as a scholarly discipline. Early leadership included figures such as Charles Harvard Gibbs-Smith, a Victoria and Albert Museum curator, and Donald Beeson King, an art historian specializing in textiles. Subsequent chairs included Roy Strong, former director of the V&A, and Anne Buck, curator of Manchester’s Platt Hall costume collection[3].

Activities

The Society publishes the peer-reviewed journal Costume biannually, featuring global dress studies from prehistory to modern times[3][4]. Members receive the bi-annual magazine The Thread, detailing events, exhibitions, and grants[4]. It organizes conferences, study days, and museum visits, often collaborating with institutions to showcase private collections[2][4].

Membership and Outreach

Open to enthusiasts, academics, and professionals in fields like fashion design, museum curation, and theatre, the Society fosters networking through events and publications[4]. It provides financial support via awards for students, researchers, and emerging curators[2][4]. As a charity, it relies entirely on subscriptions and donations to fund its educational programs[1][3].

Leadership

Historical chairs include June Swann, an expert in footwear history, and Deirdre Murphy, senior curator at Kensington Palace. The current chair is Philip Warren[3].

[1] https://costumesociety.org.uk [2] https://costumesociety.org.uk/about [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Costume_Society [4] https://costumesociety.org.uk/join [5] https://www.instagram.com/costume_society/