Accessories project

Design and make an item (accessory - hat, bag, fan etc.) to complement a dress/costume from a particular period of history.

Take into consideration the chosen garment's material, decoration and construction.

Snakeskin shoes by Terry De Havilland c.1973 Early 20th centruy fan

Chertsey Museum has a fine collection of small decorative items and accessories with over 80 fans, 200 bags/purses and many examples of hats, shoes, parasols and gloves.
The Museum of Farnham also has a very large and interesting collection of shoes and accessories.
Choose and draw a dress/costume, perhaps from the collection or the fashion plates and magazines available at Farnham or Chertsey Museum. A quick sketch of the dress with notes on its material, trimmings, colour, decoration and style would be enough.
Look at, and make notes from, the many different examples of the type of accessory you want to make (you may need to book in advance to be shown a wider range because museums are only able to display a very small selection of the huge range they have in storage) e.g. study the different types of fans and their construction. Look at when and why they were used (to keep cool or to flirt) or look at how the shapes and styles of hats changed throughout the different periods of history.

Design and make your choice of accessory from your notes, making sure that the final result will complement and be a suitable accompaniment to the chosen garment.