Katharine Hepburn…a timeless film legend. Known for her eccentricity, intellect, beauty and pioneering fashion statements, her life takes the spotlight in a special exhibit at the Reading Public Museum beginning on June 12.
Hepburn was born in Connecticut in the early 1900s. Her stardom rose in the 1930s. With a career lasting more than six decades and earning her four Academy Awards, Hepburn died in 2003. She, her film roles, personality and style touched the hearts of many fans. Did you know Hepburn has a relationship with our neighboring city of Philadelphia, both personally and professionally? She was a 1928 graduate of Bryn Mawr College, where her academic interest was in history. She later had a starring role in the film A Philadelphia Story. As Curator of Art, Scott Schweigert says of the Hepburn exhibit, “We thought with A Philadelphia Story being one of her most famous films and the fact she went to Bryn Mawr College, she has some Pennsylvania ties, which is always nice.” The museum has displayed Hollywood costume exhibits for many years, but showcasing a star with close ties with our area makes it feel extra-special.
Golden Age Fashionista
Classic and comfortable are two words that spring to mind when considering Hepburn’s fashion style of the ages. While she wore elegant costumes for film and stage, she also boldly donned everyday outfits that included wide-leg trousers, often in khaki or neutral tones — a trend that challenged yet spoke volumes of encouragement to the post-suffrage generation of women. One of her final wishes was that her collection of textiles be given to an educational institution. Following her death, they were donated to the Kent State University Museum in Ohio. In this exhibit, borrowed from Kent, you get a glimpse of both her elegant and casual wear.
Whether you need a history refresher or are experiencing Hepburn for the first time, a brief biography detailing her life and profession, as well as her preferred fashion designers, such as Walter Plunkett, will be on display to take you back in time. As Schweigert says, “It will be nostalgic for some people, and for other people it will be an introduction to her.” Discover roughly 40 styles worn by Hepburn from film, stage and her personal wardrobe comprised of 1930s patterns, beautiful fabrics and superior designs. A number of the displays feature an accompanying photo of the film in which Hepburn is wearing the very ensemble before you.
Film posters and other fun memorabilia will be showcased throughout the exhibit. The Museum sets the stage for the social and historical context of the 30s, leaving visitors with the often-missed insight as to the type of person Hepburn was. Schweigert states, “The idea of her as an individual, I think visitors will go away with a better understanding of her as a person as well as a performer.” Explore the wonderful merchandise in the Museum gift shoppe related to the exhibit and take a small memory of Hepburn home.
Did You Know?
Just Right. Interior lighting must be set at certain dimmed levels in order not to negatively affect the textiles and ensure they are kept well preserved.
Medal of Honor. Bryn Mawr College created a Katharine Hepburn Medal, awarded every four years to honor and recognize women who transform lives, especially in activism and the arts.
