Sporting Life July 12, 2011

'Sporting Life' explores the relationship between active sportswear and fashion over the past 150 years. Participation in sports, for recreation as well as competition, has increased dramatically since the late nineteenth century. The clothing worn for such pursuits has often been influenced by fashion, and vice versa. Featuring more than 100 garments, accessories and textiles from the Museum's permanent collection, the exhibition discusses changes in silhouette, construction, and technology that have improved the performance and aesthetic of active sportswear. In addition, active sportswear garments are juxtaposed with the fashionable ready-to-wear garments they have inspired. Highlights include women's swimwear from the mid-nineteenth century and a woman's bicycling ensemble with divided skirt, circa 1888.