Costume and Accessories

The Museum has an interesting collection of clothing worn in Fife. The garments are mainly for women and children, the earliest being a mid-18th century gown of grey silk woven with a design of roses. When discovered in Ceres it had been used for theatricals but it has recently been restored to its original beauty. The Playfair family have lent two remarkably fine gowns discovered wrapped in a blanket-chest in one of the family homes: the first, a late 18th century Sack Back of beige silk with vivid rose design is complete except for the stomacher: the second, a brown and silver taffeta dress of about 1855, had with it a photograph of the original wearer. The Sack Back is believed to have been worn by the lady who became the wife of Principal Playfair of St. Andrews University:

Most of the clothes are from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, and to complete the outfits there are elegant accessories such as fans, parasols and Paisley and other shawls. Inevitably, perhaps, it is the 'Sunday Best' of the wealthier members of society that has been preserved, but some everyday garments including late 19th century serge skirts, flannel underwear and servant's bonnets have also survived.

The passing of the old habit of going into deep mourning brings to the Museum many of the outmoded heavy black clothes, and such mourning tokens as hair bracelets, mourning rings and jet jewelry. A well-padded overcoat would have kept the gentlemen warm in the icy blasts at the winter funerals. The finest of the black gowns is a heavily beaded black satin trimmed with purple for the bride's mother to wear at her daughter's marriage in 1899.

Some of the costume, particularly baby robes, collars, cuffs and petticoats are decorated with fine whitework embroidery. In addition there are examples of the crochet, macrame, knitting and beadwork, which were produced in such large quantities in the 19th century households, and the tools with which they were made.

Representing the efforts of young needlewomen are samplers, including one worked with needlemade lace, dated 1797, made by Janet Syme aged 12. An unusual item is a book from the 1850s containing both instructions for teaching needlework and worked examples. More unusual still is a wire dummy, complete with adjustable bustle, found in a Ceres attic, and, once, no doubt, the pride of a local dressmaker.

A recent revival of the art has made patchwork a popular exhibit, patterns include diamond, hexagon and log cabin and the very striking three-dimensional black box.

Other items in the collection include:

• Country afternoon dress circa 1865
• Sunday best dress worn in Ceres, late 1860's
• Dinner gown made in 1897 by Madame Moffat for Mrs. Brown of St Andrews
• Heavy black mourning gown made in 1912 by McKerchar of Cupar
• Edwardian riding habit for a Lady riding side-saddle
• Decorative crown of a kirking bonnet; worn by a new bride on her first Sunday in church, Kirkcaldy
• Victorian bonnets
• Long Christening robes in Ayrshire-type work worn by Fife families