Costume Society of America's Conversations on Dress & Wintherthur presents
Ann Lowe: American Couturier

 Webinar Series
September 20, 2023
7:00 PM Eastern / 4:00 PM Pacific
Free webinar, open to all

Registration deadline: September 19, 2023

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Wintherthur museum in Wilmington, Delaware presents Ann Lowe: American Couturier, a retrospective of this forgotten African American fashion designer. The curatorial team (Kim Collison and Alexandra Deutsch) worked with Elizabeth Way of the Museum at FIT to select garments for the exhibition, which were then sent to the conservation team at Winterthur. Katherine Sahmel and Heather Hansen meticulously stabilized and properly mounted each ensemble. Lowe famously designed Jacqueline Bouvier’s wedding dress (and the bridal parties') to her marriage to JFK, but due to its value and condition, the dress is not allowed to be exhibited. And so, the curators asked designer and UD professor Katya Roesle to recreate the wedding gown. She enlisted several students to help in the recreation process, during which they learned many of Lowe’s signature couture techniques and learned valuable insight into her skills as a designer, draftswoman, and seamstress.

From the JFK library in Boston, the archives at FIT, to the sprawling 175 room former estate of Henry Francis Du Pont. Through this three part series, discover what it took to mount the first retrospective of this significant (though often forgotten) American fashion designer and pioneer, Ann Lowe. Join us to explore the who, how, and why behind the exhibit, from the passionate academics bringing Lowe from the servants entrance to the grand ballroom. The first two sessions of this series are available to watch here. The third session will take place on September 20th at 7:00 pm Eastern/4:00 pm Western.

Host & Moderator:
Graham Wetzbarger, CSA VP of Technology

In the third and final installment we will walk the exhibition live with curators Kim Collison and Alexandra Deutsch. Besides showing off gorgeous garments, they will be discussing methodology, highlight struggles, reception and more.