The Museum of Kyiv History, together with the Museum of Fashion History, presents a unique exhibition of children’s clothing from 1820 to 1920, showcasing how children’s fashion evolved over a century.

What did children wear two centuries ago? Did children even have fashion, and if so, what did it look like? Why did boys wear skirts and dresses until the age of six, while girls were dressed in tight corsets from birth? How did clothing influence a child’s leisure time? Why were young ladies often forced to simply watch their brothers play? And under what circumstances was a boy finally granted the right to wear men’s clothing?

“Children’s clothing is a special pride of my collection, as today it is very rare for museums to collect children’s costumes. Very few have survived. Families had many children back then, and garments were passed down from one child to another until they remained presentable, only then discarded. That’s why acquiring pieces for a collection in good condition is nearly impossible. But we have such a unique collection, and we are delighted to present it to the public,” says collector and founder of the Museum of Fashion History, Maryna Ivanova.

The exhibition features more than 20 children’s costumes, as well as fascinating details connected to children’s fashion of past centuries: accessories, toys, footwear, and photographs.

Visitors can see wedding wreaths, a brooch made from the hair of a deceased child, young ladies’ ball notebooks listing the gentlemen they would dance with that evening, miniature hats paired with gloves, and toy “safe-dogs” in which children could hide coins or other valuables. In addition, the exhibition includes photographs of children wearing different outfits from each period.

Reference: The Museum of Fashion History’s collection is listed in the Guinness Book of Records of Ukraine as “the largest collection of original antique costumes in Ukraine.” Children’s costumes make up 10% of the collection and will be presented at the Museum of Kyiv History.