18 WWW.CHARLESTONWOMENPODCAST.COM | WWW.READCW.COM | WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/CHARLESTONWOMEN CHARLESTON MUSEUM: Where Past Meets Present Local designers reimagine historic fashion for the modern woman BY L.C. LEACH III Want a modern-day glimpse into the world of historic fashion? Look no further than the dresses, gowns, jewelry and bags featured in Charleston Museum's current exhibit, Reimagined Fashion. Running through Jan. 18, 2026, and featuring the work and creations of 18 local designers, Reimagined Fashion not only displays fabrics and styles popular long ago but shows the heavy influence they bring to a contemporary approach. "We are always eager to show how the past is so deeply interlocked with our present and our future," said Virginia Theerman, the museum's curator of textiles. "For the past 18 months, local designers were invited to take inspiration from our collections and create something new." FASHION FORWARD, INSPIRED BY YESTERDAY If you think paper dresses had their day at the height of Beatlemania, Venezuelan Daniel Velasco's simple blackand-white interpretation of a 1960s style might have you thinking they're on the verge of a comeback. Or if you like the color red, it will be hard to resist Sirena Smith's floral resin jewelry and circle purse, paired with a red-orange silk velvet evening dress and golden-toed shoes from the museum's collection in her display "A Night Out," inspired by the look of the 1920s and created to suit a modern woman out on the town. "The '20s still appeal to us now because it was a transitional moment for women in many areas, including gender roles and fashion," Theerman said. "While recovering from World War I and the Spanish flu pandemic, people reexamined their priorities and what they really wanted from their lives." Looking for something light and subtle in a silk gown? A Night Out in the 1920s and 2020s The 18 local designers. (A-Z) Andrea Jahde of Jahde Leather Atelier, Andrea Tuton of APlus, Emily and Dana Brereton of Indigo Bee Co., Gina Iacovelli of Mementos Entwined, Gina Marie Roberts of Brooke Wilder, Jared Major of Major Vintage, Jess Nicoles of J.Stark, Jessica Knuff of Dotsuwa Designs, Jocelyn Patterson of Gola Sweetgrass, Keiko Striplin of The Tiny Tassel, Leigh Magar of Madame Magar, Morgan MacAnanny of Morgan Kimberly Bridal, Nicholas Overstreet of Boysterous Co., Paige Hathaway Thorn of Paige Thorn Silks, Paulina Rodriguez of Lina Rosa Jewelry, Sarah Kay Yawney of Penelope Design Studio, Shaniequa L. Washington of Zuriel Kingdom Collections, Sirena Smith of Lucky Luna Clay. FEATURE
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1