LENOX, Mass. — Kiki Smith, a Professor of Costume Design at Smith College, will speak at Ventfort Hall on Tuesday, June 17 at 4 pm about the historic clothing collection at Smith College.

 

A tea will be served after her presentation.

 

According to a press release:

 

What can we learn from an old worn house dress or a group of aprons?  How about a 1940's Girl Scout uniform? Using illustrations from her book, Real Clothes, Real Lives: 200 Years of What Women Wore, Kiki will speak about the historic clothing collection at Smith College, what it includes and why the pieces are great resources for research in many areas. The collection was founded 45 years ago by a student and is based there in the basement of the Theatre Building near the Costume Shop. The collection now numbers over 4000 pieces.

 

Kiki Smith has been a professor of Costume Design at the Smith College Theatre Department in Northampton for over 50 year and is the Director of the Smith College Historic Clothing Collection. Her book "Real Clothes, Real Lives: 200 Years of What Women Wore" (Rizzoli), published in September 2023, documents garments and accessories that are what she calls "real" clothes worn by "real" women for all aspects of their lives.  It has developed a focus on the "uniforms" of women's many roles and jobs. An exhibit of selections from the book was part of a 9-month exhibition at the New York Historical in New York City, opening in September 2024. She is also a professional costume and set designer, working with theatre companies including Shakespeare & Co. in Lenox, MA and the Talking Band in New York, and received an Obie Award for a production with that company. She is an Alum of Smith College with advanced degrees in Theatre design from the University of Virginia and the University of Texas in Austin.

 

Tickets are $45. Members receive a discount code for $5 off all ticket prices. Students 22 and under are $22. Ticket pricing includes access to the mansion throughout the day of this event from 10 am to 4 pm. Reservations are strongly encouraged as seats are limited. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. For reservations visit https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or call (413) 637-3206. All tickets are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable. The historical mansion is located at 104 Walker St. in Lenox.