My name is Monika. Quite a few years ago I studied art history, aspiring to become a costume designer for theatre and film. It was the history of clothes that had been my great passion and art history degree was to help me see costume in a wider, historical and cultural context. And it did. I learnt to understand how fashionable garment links with architecture of its times, how you can decode hidden meanings in paintings studying costumes, their color, cut, choice of accessories. How you can date the painting looking closely at the dresses it presents. Fascinating.
After getting my degree I worked for: tourist industry, PR agency, a very well known culture institution, radio and a big TV station. Never as a costume designer although otherwise I consider my career very rewarding. The closest I got to my dream job was teaching fashion history to art college students which brought me plenty of joy.
Now I live in the Netherlands, a “heart of Europe”. I know, quite a few other regions claim that title too. And although the dispute remains unresolved I think the Dutch have got pretty strong reasons to declare they are the ones, with fantastic culture and art scene always only a stone thrown away – spectacular exhibitions to see or events to attend.
I will write about them here, focusing on those with fashion history element. Also about clothes worn in the past since my passion for the subject is as strong as when I first discovered it. And I would like to do it in fun, casual, non lecturing way, as if I talk to a good friend.
Thank you for visiting my blog and feel warmly invited to follow my track through discovering history, museums, galleries and beautiful things.