Fashion on Stage

The Gemeentemuseum’s textile collection includes many costumes once worn by stars of the Dutch and international stage. They date from the period between 1923 and the present and include creations by Dutch, French and English fashion designers. There are designs by Frank Govers, Fong Leng, Cristobal Balenciaga, Pierre Balmain, Charles Creed, Jacques Griffe and Edward Molyneux.

This exhibition focuses on a number of female celebrities who once wore them: revue artist Louisette (1882_1965), actress Fie Carelsen (1890-1975), concert singers Else Rijkens (1898-1953) and Adèle Addison (b. 1925), TV presenter Mies Bouman (b. 1929), jazz singer Ann Burton (1933-1989) and the singers Conny Vandenbos (1937-2001) – from whose estate the Gemeentemuseum recently acquired a number of items of clothing – and Liesbeth List (b. 1941). The exhibition includes not only photographs of the stars wearing the outfits on display, but also video and sound recordings which bring their stage fashions to life.