Everyday Woman, Special Woman. Retro Vibes at the Depot

Photo: Roman Ciepliński

On Saturday, November 8th, the Museum of Technology and Communication in Szczecin – a former bus depot on Niemierzyńska Street – hosted a retro fashion show combined with the opening of a photography exhibition. The event focused on women's fashion spanning over a hundred years – from the 19th century to the second half of the 20th century.

"Today we're taking a look at women's clothing over the decades, depending on the occasion," says Maria Szponar from the Museum of Technology and Communication in Szczecin. "We see both everyday and formal attire. Our stars are members of two reenactment groups: the Szczecin-based Retro Vibes group, led by Olga Dąbkiewicz, and the Gdańsk-based GRH Retrospekcja group, led by Dr. Bartosz Gondek."

The fashion show began with a presentation of costumes from the Empire period – the First Empire in France. The same attire was also characteristic of the next historical era – the Bourbon Restoration. Both periods fall in the first half of the 19th century. In addition to women's attire, the show also featured men's attire. As Olga Dąbkiewicz emphasizes, the exhibition is also interesting – not just the photography.

"The exhibition consists of photographs that are the result of events I organized in Western Pomerania," says Olga Dąbkiewicz of the Retro Vibes group. "We'll also see photographs by Dr. Bartosz Gondek's group. The exhibition also features real artifacts—my historical collection. These include five dresses, including one from the 1920s, and one from the 1930s, 1940s, and 1970s. Additionally, the exhibition features handbags and jewelry—including period originals."

Karol CIEPLIŃSKI