In 2013 Russia celebrates 400 years of the Romanov dynasty. To celebrate this anniversary the organizers of the exhibition “Russian Empresses: Fashion and Style. Late XVIII – early XX centuries” prepared an unusual show, Voice of Russia reports. Garments that used to adorn Russian royalty are exhibited in the Federal Archive exhibition hall in Moscow.
Russian empresses, the wives and mothers of the Russian emperors, were first and foremost women who loved luxurious garments. They not only followed the fashion trends, but also often set the fashion themselves. Their garments, accessories, jewelry impressed the viewers by their refinement and luxuriousness and were a part of the image of the Russian empire.
The objects presented at the exhibition that include the garments from the collection of the State Hermitage Museum and the Gatchina Memorial Estate, as well as archive documents, paintings and graphic art, porcelain and jewelry, attract a lot of viewers. These are the living witnesses of Russian history, for example, the decree signed by Peter the Great (1672-1725) dated January 4, 1700 regarding “wearing the clothing in Hungarian manner”, which in fact started a new era in the life of a huge country. For the first time in history the decree of 1718 “About the assembly” or “About the order of gathering in private homes and about persons taking part in such gatherings” bearing the real signature of the emperor, is exhibited.
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Russkiy Mir Foundation Information Service
