Collections
Urban dress and Fashion
The collection includes clothes and accessories associated with the life and activity of urban dwellers from the start of the 20th century – so, since European fashion dynamically invaded Greek cities, sidelining local dress – as well as clothing from certain geographically remote settlements where the urban spirit had taken hold early on.
This unit includes samples that reach as far as the 1960s and 1970s, by which time local costumes had been fully abandoned. It also includes certain items of clothing and fashion accessories from the last few decades of the 20th century, but also – and not at all paradoxically – from the 21st century. Due to their social, technical, artistic, industrial and general historical significance, these are deemed to be useful acquisitions for the CMLE’s research purposes.
Highlights
The bridal dress of Vangelitsa Litina (1859-1893), cousin of LtE founder Callirhoe Parren. She wore it in 1874, when, at the age of 15, she married textile merchant Andreas M. Kouris at Platania Amariou Rethymnis. CMLE, Accession No. 14669. Donated by Kleoniki Kouri and Maria Siganou. Photo: Studio Kominis.
Bodice in handmade bobbin lace. 20th century. CMLE, Accession No. 16345. Photo: Studio Kominis.
City dress from Boeotia. It belonged to the Lamia-born great-grandmother of Nikos Athanasiou, who served as Ambassador of Greece. It was then bequeathed to his grandmother Vassiliki Konniaviti, then to his mother, Kiki Athanasiou, and finally, accessorised with an “Amalia” jacket and a fez, it was worn by his first wife Maria N. Athanasiou, as the Ambassador’s wife, on national holidays and at appearances abroad. CMLE, Accession No. 14449. Donated by the family of Nikos Athanasiou. Photo: Studio Kominis.
Hat pins on a “cushion” placed on a base in the shape of a woman’s high-heeled shoe. CMLE, Accession No. 16482/1-20. Donated by Era Lambria. Photo: Hara Dendia.
Two-piece city outfit from Kalymnos. It belonged to Nomiki Pelekanou-Mavrou. CMLE, Accession No. 16094/1-2. Donated by Panayiotis and Alexandra Triandafyllidou. Photo: Studio Kominis.
Tailcoat, made by the tailors to the Royal Court “Soulopoulos Brothers, Athens”, 1937. It was sewn to order for Theofanis Despotopoulos (1900-1953), who wore it to the wedding of Crown Prince Paul of Greece and Princess Frederica of Hanover in 1938. CMLE, Accession No. 15142/1. Donated by Vassilis Despotopoulos. Photo: Studio Kominis.
Velvet cape, circa 1900. It belonged to Fotini Maroussopoulou-Vozani (Tripoli, Arkadia, 1863 – Athens, 1948), who married Grigorios Vozanis from Stenimachos in Eastern Rumelia in 1882. CMLE, Accession No. 17426. Donated by Fotini Nikolaidou-Stergiopoulou. Photo: Studio Kominis.
Formal outfit, 1970s. It belonged to Pandora Papadatou-Tsaldari (1921-2006), wife of the President of the Hellenic Parliament Athanasios Tsaldaris (1921-1997). It was worn at the Presidential Mansion at an event hosted by the President of the Hellenic Republic. CMLE, Accession No. 14992. Donated by Eleni Tsaldari. Photo: Studio Kominis.
Dressing table set with clothes brushes and other accessories including a mirror, a button hook, etc. It belonged to Maria Sefertzi-Pechlivanou (Naousa, ca. 1895-Thessaloniki, 1975), and was given as dowry by her parents Georgios Sefertzis and Eleni Kokkinou-Sefertzi at her wedding to Miltiadis Pechlivanos in 1913 in Naousa. CMLE, Accession No. 15859. Donated by Evi Kerhoula. Photo: Studio Kominis.
Hat by Italian company Borsalino. Circa 1920. Made of rabbit fur that looks like pink felt fabric with feathers. It belonged to Alexandra Leventopoulou, daughter of I. Koulouris (Tinos, 6/8/1904-Kallithea, 1/4/1987). CMLE, Accession No. 17390. Donated by Vassiliki Iliopoulou-Katopodi. Photo: Studio Kominis.
Skirt suit from the 1960, sewn by Nitsa Rhiga, who ran House of Couture Nitsa Rhiga in Lamia. CMLE, Accession No. 16506/1-2. Donated by Julia Aretaiou.
Fur muff, circa 1900. It belonged to Fotini Maroussopoulou-Vozani (Tripoli, Arkadia 1863–Athens 1948), who married Grigorios Vozanis from Stenimachos in Eastern Rumelia in 1882. CMLE, Accession No. 17428. Donated by Fotini Nikolaidou-Stergiopoulou. Photo: Studio Kominis.
Two-piece ensemble in printed silk fabric by Tseklenis Fashion House, sewn by Angelopoulos Fashion House. 1960s-1970s. It belonged to Anna Kesisi. CMLE, Accession No. 16478/1-2. Donated by Popi Douvli-Kesisi. Photo: Studio Kominis.
Manicure set. Label: Christo Tsitsilopoulo, 27 Rue d’ Hermès Athènes. CMLE, Accession No. 16626. Donated by Era Lambria. Photo: Studio Kominis.
Fichu from the early 20th century. It served as a protective shawl that a woman would arrange around her shoulders while caring for her hair, to stop loose hairs from falling on her clothes. (It’s missing the ribbons that were used to arrange and tighten the shawl on the shoulders and around the neck.) It belonged to Frosso Karydi (Smyrna, 1916–Athens, 1999). CMLE, Accession No. 16626. Donated by Penny Saccopoulou-Valtazanou. Photo: Hara Dendia.