Chawton House launches exhibition on 18th‑century fashion and nightlife in Hampshire

Chawton House in Hampshire is hosting the exhibition “Dressing Up: Fashion and Nightlife in 18th‑Century Hampshire” from 3 October through 4 April. The show recreates the rituals of a night out between 1750 and 1820, displaying rare books, manuscripts, fashion plates, clothing and accessories such as an embroidered 1730s waistcoat and a 1799 fan made from magazine pages. It also presents wigs, cosmetics recipes, sedan chairs, gambling tokens and theatre tickets to illustrate everyday preparations and entertainments.

The exhibition is co‑curated by Dr Julie Gammon and Professor Maria Hayward of the University of Southampton, with support from the Ardeola Charitable Trust. Deputy director Kim Simpson said the collaboration “brings research to a wider audience” and highlights the vibrant Georgian social life of Hampshire.