Conrad Mansion opens a most ‘suitable’ new exhibit

The Conrad Mansion’s newest historic clothing tour and exhibit, titled “Suiting Everyone: Women in Suits 1890-1970,” will be on display May through October.

Although women first borrowed suit jackets from men in the 1890s, the man’s suit first appeared three hundred years earlier in the late 1600s. Those late 1600s suits only resemble the current version of the man’s suit in that they consisted of three pieces: a loosely fitted coat (jacket) and waistcoat (vest) ending at the knee, and the precursor to trousers in the form of full knee-length breeches, like a woman’s divided skirt.

Two schools of thought exist about the development of the man’s suit. One is men’s fashions stagnated with those plain suits, and the other is men adapted to modern clothing much earlier than women. More functional than their previous clothing, the suit allowed men to transition into what eventually became white collar work. Likewise, when women began to participate in activities outside the home in the 1890s, they also adopted the more functional suit, but with more variety than the men’s versions.

To provide context, the exhibit opens with a look at three men’s coats like those worn in the 1890s. In addition to women’s versions of the man’s tailored jacket, the remainder of the exhibit includes a 1907 bolero jacket, two 1915-1923 suits with long loose jackets, a late 1920s cardigan suit, a 1940s dinner suit, a 1960s Chanel knock-off suit, and a 1960s “space age” pants suit.

A special fashion tour of “Suiting Everyone: Women in Suits 1890-1970” will be held the last Thursday of the month, including today, May 26, through October, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Conrad Mansion. There will be a Q&A session with light refreshments following the fashion tour. Call 406-755-2166 to reserve your spot. The Suiting Everyone Fashion Tour is $25 per person.

The Historic Conrad Mansion Museum is located at 330 Woodland Ave. in Kalispell. Beginning May 15, the Conrad Mansion is open for self-guided and docent-guided tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which includes the historic clothing exhibit. Docent-guided tours are $20; self-guided tours are $15 and there are discounts for seniors and children. All proceeds benefit the Conrad Mansion. Tickets are non-refundable.

The Conrad Mansion Museum’s regular tour season runs from May 15 to Oct. 15. Visit www.conradmansion.com or call 406-755-2166 for more information.