Talk: The Line of Beauty by Grace Evans

The Line of Beauty: Fashions of the 18th Century with Grace Evans, Keeper of Costume, Chertsey Museum. The nationally significant Olive Matthews Collection at Chertsey Museum comprises over 6,000 items of British fashionable dress and accessories. It is particularly renowned for its outstanding 18th century holdings, which rival those of much larger institutions. These beautifully preserved examples of men’s, women’s and children’s dress provide a remarkable insight into the elegance and craftsmanship of the period. Using high-quality images from the Matthews Collection, Grace Evans will explore the refined silhouettes, intricate detailing and eye-catching styles that defined fashion in the 1700s. Grace Evans is a Curator, Lecturer and Author, and currently holds the post of Keeper of Costume at Chertsey Museum. Having curated the Olive Matthews Collection of dress and textiles since 2001, she has developed a broad and detailed understanding of this nationally significant group of items. She interprets the collection through exhibitions, talks and publications, both online and in print form. Her publications include the paper ‘Marriage a la mode, An 18th Century Wedding Ensemble from the Olive Matthews Collection, Chertsey Museum’ for the Costume Society journal. She has also published the following books: Fashion in Focus, Treasures from the Olive Matthews Collection and Titanic Style, Dress and Fashion on the Voyage.