'Power Dressing' February 2025 - November 2026 Power Dressing: 1770-1990 Fashion and textiles have long been signifiers of power and wealth. Throughout the ages, the colour and fabric of garments communicated the status of the wearer. Certain fabrics and colours have even been banned for lower classes. The style of a garment can enable the wearer to create a statement and take up space. The production of textiles has the power to create fortunes and destabilise entire economies. This exhibition is split into two rooms. The Powerful Silhouette focuses on how emphasis on shoulders in women's wear can create a commanding figure, from the shoulder pads of the 1980s to Romantic leg-of-mutton sleeves of the 1820s. Power & Textiles examines the cultural and economic significance of certain fabrics through time, from sumptuary laws and velvet to paisley shawls and The British Empire. See handout for more information.

Calling all Fashion Designers! Be inspired by our 'Youthquake:1960s' exhibition to design your own garments. We will use our Youthquake:1960s exhibition as a starting point to spark creativity in designing some exciting and innovative garments. Students from Arts University Bournemouth and local 6th forms worked with the staff from the Fashion Museum to bring this dynamic exhibition to life. We will also examine the the sketches, paintings and collage work of Heidy and Isabelle Becks. All materials will be supplied but feel free to bring your own pens, pencils and colouring materials with you. Under 16s must be accompanied by a parent/carer https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/calling-all-fashion-designers-tickets-1984958686866?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Get egg-cited and make some Easter chicks and Easter baskets! Have some eggs-tra special fun at our workshop and decorate an Easter hat to wear at all your Easter activities. We will be decorating an Easter hat with chicks, bunnies, flowers and stickers. All materials are supplied. A drink and a biscuit are also included in the price, as is a look around the Museum, if you wish. All children must be accompanied by a parent/carer. This workshop must have at least 4 attendees to run. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/step-out-in-style-this-spring-tickets-1984761806993?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Get egg-cited and make some Easter chicks and Easter baskets! Join our Easter workshop and decorate some Easter chicks and construct an Easter basket. Get egg-cited and make some Easter chicks and Easter baskets! Join us at the Blandford Fashion Museum on April 2, 2026 at 1:30 PM for a fun, hands-on Easter craft session! We'll be making cute Easter chicks and colorful Easter baskets—perfect for celebrating the season. Don’t miss out on this egg-cellent event! All materials are supplied. Children must be accompanied by a parent/carer. A drink and a biscuit are included in the price and you may also look around the Fashion Museum if you wish. This workshop must have 4 attendees to run. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/get-egg-cited-and-make-some-easter-chicks-and-easter-baskets-tickets-1984769484958?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

'Youthquake:1960s' 16th February 2026 Blandford Fashion Museum is excited to present the 'Youthquake:1960s' exhibition, as part of the Fashioning Our Future project with The Salisbury Museum. Thanks to funding received from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Fashioning Our Future project, students from Arts University Bournemouth and local Sixth Forms have been working with the museum team to bring to life this dynamic exhibition. Choosing objects from the museum’s extensive fashion collection, the students explored 1960s boutique fashion alongside homemade garments encapsulating the free-spirited energy of the 1960s. Many of the garments featured in the exhibition represent innovative sartorial statements expressed during the 1960s era through bold garments made at home. This adventurous attitude to style is a theme that resonated with the students, aligning with their concerns around sustainability and making conscious fashion choices. In addition to marveling at the glorious 1960s fashions on display, visitors can also step into fashions of the era with a specially selected collection of garments for dressing up and handling. From crochet to patchwork, bold minidresses and boho maxi dresses, expect to be immersed in the 1960s era in this fantastic fashion exhibition.

Pants - a Brief History Dive into the wild ride of pants through history—styles, stories, and all the crazy twists! Join Anya Gliski for a fun, in-person dive into the world of pants! Discover how this everyday wardrobe staple evolved through the ages, from ancient times to modern fashion statements. Whether you're a history buff, a fashion lover, or just curious, Pants - a Brief History is the perfect chance to learn and laugh together. Don’t miss out on this casual and engaging event! https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pants-a-brief-history-tickets-1984766701633

'Laura Ashley : From Kitchen to Catwalk' Extended until Summer 2026 In 1953, inspired by a Women's Institute exhibition at the V and A Museum, Laura and Bernard Ashley started printing fabrics in their kitchen. They soon started selling tea towels, and in 1955 opened a showroom in Old Burlington Street in London. Gardening aprons and smocks marked a move towards garments. In 1959, Laura Ashley started to use flower motifs, something the company would become well known for. Once the Ashley family relocated to Mid Wales and opened a shop in Machylleth, Laura Ashley began to experiment with historical styles. After initially having a small factory in Kent, an old social club in Carno provided a new location for the Welsh factory. Five years later, the company was so successful they moved to disused railway station to build a new factory. Through the 1960s and 1970s, there was a boom in small British led boutiques that would shape the British high street for the next few decades. Along with other British female designers, such as Mary Quant and Barbara Hulanicki (Biba), Laura Ashley became a household name and her dresses, especially her floral, prairie-style, maxi dresses became highly desirable and synonymous with the era. Throughout the 1970s, the Laura Ashley brand achieved international recognition and in 1980 they launched their homewares catalogue. Laura Ashley passed away in 1985 and the company was floated on the stock market. By the 2000s, the brand had started to fall out of favour and focused back on homewares. The late 2010s and early 2020s started to see a revival for the brand as original pieces appeared in vintage shops but the company went into administration

Magical Unicorns Join our magical Unicorn craft workshop. We will use simple sewing techniques to make a soft toy unicorn. We will weave a unicorn basket to store your treasures in. All materials are provided. A drink and a biscuit are included in the admission price. This workshop is suitable for all. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/magical-unicorns-tickets-1992995209321?aff=ebdsoporgprofile&_gl=1*1jwxu6*_up*MQ..*_ga*MzA3OTEwNzk0LjE3ODQxMjY2NTI.*_ga_TQVES5V6SH*czE3ODQxMjY2NTEkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODQxMjY2NTEkajYwJGwwJGgw

Easter decorations! Have some eggs-tra special fun at our workshop and decorate an Easter hat to wear at all your Easter activities. We will be decorating an Easter hat with chicks, bunnies, flowers and stickers. All materials are supplied. A drink and a biscuit are also included in the price, as is a look around the Museum, if you wish. All children must be accompanied by a parent/carer. This workshop must have at least 4 attendees to run. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/step-out-in-style-this-spring-tickets-1984761806993?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Tea Room Welcome to our award-winning tearoom and gift shop situated on the ground floor of the museum. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with a slice of cake or maybe a cream tea in our traditional tearoom! We offer gluten free cake and biscuits and plant-based milk. On a warm day, you can relax in our enclosed sunny courtyard. We allow well behaved dogs in the tearoom but please use the side entrance as only assistance dogs are allowed in the museum. All visitors are welcome whether you are visiting the museum or not. We have an accessible ground floor lavatory and baby changing facilities. Our gift shop sells affordable fashion related books and other souvenirs. New to 2026 we will be selling gift vouchers for that small perfect gift. Please ask at the till.

Easter decorations Get ready to crack open your creativity and whip up some cool Easter decorations with us! Join us at the Blandford Fashion Museum on April 2, 2026 at 10:30 AM for a fun, hands-on event where you can create your own Easter decorations! Don’t miss out on making your space extra special this Easter! We will stitch an easy pattern onto wooden eggs and make a window decoration. All materials are supplied. A drink and a biscuit are included in the price and you can also look around the Fashion Museum, if you wish. All children must be accompanied by a parent/carer. This workshop must have 4 attendees to run, so invite your friends to join you. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/easter-decorations-tickets-1984771603294?aff=ebdssbdestsearch