MODE * CHAPEAU

Collecting fashion is an art unto itself. Compiling a collection requires time, knowledge, passion, a keen eye, and a bit of luck. This double bill presents iconic items from two remarkable private collections formed in Utrecht. 

From a young age on, Van Emmerik would admire the clothing worn on family photographs, particularly by his grandmother. She also happened to have a studio for children’s clothing, housed on an 18th century estate on the outskirts of Utrecht, at Oosterkade/Helling 1. She also gave him bits of left-over fabric. It all sparked a profound fascination for fashion, and Van Emmerik became a passionate collector of fashion from the first half of the twentieth century. He now owns the country’s largest private collection of fashion from this era, with more than 300 dresses worn by affluent ladies in that period. The items range from spectacular evening gowns decorated with sequins to couture made of rustling silk.

Until 2009, the museum of hats and collector’s shop Gossip & Whispering could be found at just a stone’s throw from Centraal Museum. As a young girl, founder Tiny Meihuizen-Wijker took a fancy to the hats that ladies wore to church. She admired the exuberant designs, striking colours and remarkable details. The most eccentric hats were sure to spark all sorts of gossip and whispering – hence the name of her later establishment. To wear a hat is to make a statement. Her collection eventually grew to over 1200 hats, ranging from dainty bucket hats from the 1920s to extravagant models sporting flowers and bird feathers.

Centraal Museum is now offering the public the first-ever opportunity to admire these remarkable collections, which have otherwise remained largely hidden from view.