18 - Sunday, October 8, 1989 - North Shore News

IVAN SAYERS MAKES
STORY OF FASHION LIVE

THE GOAL of costume collector Ivan Sayers is to
make history ‘‘painiess and entertaining.*’

ZABETH COLL

News Reporter

And history’s vehicle in Sayer’s case travels in the
form of costumes worn by models and accompanied
by narration by Sayers.

He gears his historical tales to the special interests
of his audience ranging from theatre and fashion , y
design classes to antique car clubs. ‘ “oe : J Ss Paes enearen .

In West Vancouver for a recent fashion show, .: “ft : q NEWS photos Nell Lucente
Sayers’ theme this time was the liberation of women . . :
as exemplified by the changing clothes women wore [i . : 9 «DRESSING FOR the afternoon used to be a full-time job.
from the late 18th century to modern day. _ . a ae Wearing white gloves to protect the antique material from

As the show progresses, Sayers uses anecdotes of : as... a 6 sWeal, costume collector Ivan Sayers dresses model Patricia
the clothes’ original owner to reveal the political, ; oh 2 fe ©6Keen at a fashion show sponsored by the North Shore
social and physical changes of the time. ' : os : Unitarian Church.

For instance, Sayers describes the rise and fall of fj ; eo : Sayers first buttons up Keen's corset and arranges her
what he calls the Victorian ‘‘beauty by impairment,” ! : lt ; § =6bloomers before she dons the first of several petticoats,
where a woman's wealth and non-working status was ; on . ” 3 . A slip and camisole are the fast of the underclothes before
symbolized by what she wore — dresses that severely : a . a Keen gets into an Edwardian dress, Using the pouter-pidgeon
handicapped her movement. ade ; chest and bishop’s sleeve to date the outfit, Sayers estimates

But Sayers doesn’t restrict himself 10 history’s elite; ets ~. eet : - the blue formal afternoon dress to date from 1901 or 1902.
“*E collect both the humble and the high and mighty."*

In fact, barring military uniforms and baby clothes,
Sayers says he’! collect from any era, occupation or
station in life.

Curator for the Vancouver Museum history
department, Sayers has been pursuing his passion for
costumes since he was a boy. He got an early start,
building on his parents’ collection from the
Okanagan.

Today Sayers has one of the largest private collec-
tions of antique costumes anywhere.

“I'm a very aggressive collector. You have to be if
you're going to be good,”' Sayers said.

The West Vancouver show, with nine models and

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