This is a museum ..... not a snoozeum!

After my recent jaunt out to take in the sites of the town last week, Miss Mannequin is thrilled to report on what is happening over at The Museum of London, where five gloriously informative galleries have recently been relaunched. Not even a mile from my Barbican showgirl's home, this magnificent institution charts life in our fair capital. From the Great Fire of London onwards, the lower galleries tell the tale of the developments and grand schemes of London and more importantly perhaps, the everyday lives of its citizens. Miss Mannequin was most especially fascinated by the costumes and paraphernalia of London society (high and low brow) and came across many of my old mannequin mates.

A particular highlight was the beautifully engineered Pleasure Gardens gallery (of which i showed you a sneak preview last week), where Miss Mannequin imagined how much more interesting life was during the 18th and 19th Centuries when pleasure gardens were the height of novelty and fashion. Privately owned and often sited on the outskirts of great cities, pleasure gardens could be accessed (at a small fee) for the public to take a turn in, enjoying tree lined avenues, fountains, orchestras amongst the greenery and the like. Imagine taking refreshment in a night-time walled garden with fireworks popping overheard as you admire the fashion parade passing by you. Quite delightful. Miss Mannequin wholly approves and thinks we should resurrect such amusement immediately .... on the other hand, is that not what shopping malls and high streets have become these days? Not quite the same me-thinks!

The other high-point i want to tell you about from the galleries, is the exquisite mantua style Fanshawe dress on display. Named after it's owner (former Mayoress Anne Fanshawe), this beautifully preserved garment is exhibited on a cutaway mannequin (it takes all kinds - invisibility was never my thing though!). This wide, but narrow style of dress was popular around 1750 and held it shape with the aid of a panniered underskirt constructed from whalebone. Taking up to six months to weave the fabric alone, the expanse of material could be grandly displayed to show not only its beauty, but also the wealth of its owner! A bit of a problem for getting into carriages however!

Miss mannequin admired many other exhibits and will divulge more soon. In the meantime, you really should visit and .... don't forget to let me know what you think.

The Museum of London is at London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN

Penthouse to Pavement, Museum to Mall!

Miss Mannequin is all of a dither this week, thinking how to work the traumatic double booking that has occurred in next week's diary. How can it be that two so momentous occasions have colluded to take place on the same day: 28th May? Both in her hometown and both with her presence at their launch essential.

Firstly, the launch of the new galleries at her museum of choice: The Museum of London. But a hop, skip and jump away from my showroom on the cusp of the city, this beguiling museum is opening five new galleries featuring some fantastically co-ordinated stories documenting the lives, occupations and pastimes of Londoners throughout the ages. With a wealth of stunning costumes and artefacts on show (from the Lord  Mayor's coach to an exquisite Fanshawe dress), the galleries document the drama of London’s rich history from The Great Fire right through to the present day. I am especially interested, as my good friends at Gems Studio provided 167 custom made mannequins for this ambitious venture. The whole show is capped with a Pleasure Gardens inhabited by the most beautiful array of period costumes, topped off with gorgeous wire wigs by the talented Yasemen Hussein and delicious hat confections by brilliant Philip Treacy. How could I possibly stay away?

On the other hand 28th May brings about that other great fashionista event of this year - the launch of Sex in The City Pt 2! (Without this movie Miss Mannequin would cease to be so relevant)! The whirlygig of excitement is just too much to bear!!.

But wait a moment – I have the solution. If I plan carefully, I could do both. That’s it – I’ll slip over to St Pauls for the opening of the Museum of London in the A.M. gliding round the galleries, taking notes and improving my mannequin brain, then transfer to the West End in the P.M. for a glittery movie-fest of unrivalled glamour. What fun. I’ll meet you at the museum doors at 10am – you’ll recognise me, I’ll be the stunning blonde with the immaculate pout and a glass base plate under my arm!

The Pleasure Gardens at The Museum of London.