Victorian mourning dress exhibition explores rituals and fashion

An exhibition of Victorian mourning dresses explores rituals, fashion, semiotics, and loss. The show examines how 19th-century mourning attire reflected social codes and personal grief. It presents a range of garments, from widow's weeds to accessories, highlighting the intricate etiquette of bereavement. The display also considers the semiotic language of mourning dress—how fabrics, colors, and trims communicated the wearer's relationship to the deceased. By contextualizing these objects within broader cultural practices, the exhibition reveals the intersection of fashion, ritual, and emotion in the Victorian era.