Despite driving many times past the National Museum of Costume at Shambellie House in Dumfries and Galloway, I never took the trouble to pop in.
Given its subsequent closure due to lack of visitor numbers, I now feel guilt as well as regret. To that end, I've decided a holiday isn't a holiday without a visit to a fashion museum – and the more bonkers the better. If you feel the same way and you're planning on holidaying in Japan, Croatia, Malaysia or even Independence, Missouri, over the summer, then read on – and see what you shouldn't be missing.
Iga-ryu Ninja Museum
OK, so it's not strictly fashion, but who doesn't love ninjas? Located in the town of Iga, this place has a facsimile of a typical ninja house, with secret compartments, revolving walls and trapdoors. Imagine how cool the shop must be.
Leila's Hair Museum
Founded 40 years ago in Independence, Missouri, by one Leila Cohoon, this museum bills itself as one of a kind (funny that) and contains wreaths and jewellery made from human hair. It was a big trend in Victorian times, apparently, and they do say fashion is cyclical -
The Bata Shoe Museum
This one's in Toronto and if ever you needed (more) proof that Canadians are weird, here it is: 10,000 pairs of shoes, from 19th-century chestnut-crushing clogs to slick Manolo Blahniks such as Carrie Bradshaw might wear.
The Black Fashion Museum Collection
Held as part of Washington DC's Smithsonian collection, this record of black American fashions starts with dresses worn by slaves and runs right up to the latest creations from African-American designers. Among its gems is the wedding gown designed by Ann Lowe for the future Jacqueline Kennedy.
Museum Of Enduring Beauty
Established in 1996 in Malacca, Malaysia, this museum devotes itself to the things humans have done in the pursuit of physical beauty. And so we have shoes for foot binding, discs and rings for stretching lips and necks, and paraphernalia for tattooing. I expect one day dermal fillers and Botox will feature too.
The Museum Of Broken Relationships
Again not strictly a fashion museum, but this establishment in Zagreb does contain clothing – specifically clothing which represents a story and a broken relationship. It could be a pair of biker boots, it could be a pair of fluffy pink handcuffs – ordinary, everyday objects betokening ordinary, everyday heartbreak. What's not to like?
barry.didcock@heraldandtimes.co.uk
Twitter: @barrydidcock
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