SFA's "Little White Dress" exhibit features vintage wedding gowns

The Stephen F. Austin State University Fashion Gallery's latest exhibit, "Little White Dress," features wedding gowns from the 1940s to the 2010s and will be on display through the summer.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stepping into the Stephen F. Austin State University Fashion Gallery is like stepping into a fashion time capsule with lace, silk, satin and touches of chiffon covering the room.

SFA students enrolled in a 20th century costume course within SFA's School of Human Sciences recently constructed the "Little White Dress" fashion exhibit, which will be on display through the summer in the Fashion Gallery, located in the Education Annex Building on the SFA campus.

SFA fashion merchandising instructor Michelle Jones, who supervised the exhibit, said students construct approximately three exhibits each semester. "Little White Dress" features wedding dresses ranging from the 1940s to the 2010s, and both the students and faculty members selected the theme.

"Spring is wedding season, so we wanted to showcase a variety of dresses," Jones said.

Students researched the history of fashion from the 1890s to the 1980s to create the exhibit featuring full-body mannequins.

"This project provides students with hands-on experience and gives them access to pieces that would otherwise not be available to them," Jones said.

Students select the clothing and accessories they want to display and are responsible for sizing and steaming the items. Students design and layout the exhibit and prepare gallery signage.