‘Dressed For Duty: Fashion, Function and the British Army, 1800 – 2026’, is the latest temporary exhibition from The Keep Military Museum, Dorchester. The exhibition looks at the ever-changing style of uniform, from red coats to camouflage jackets and cotton to Kevlar.
Between Saturday 17 October and Sunday 13 December, visit the exhibition at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery to discover how military uniform has influenced high fashion and everyday clothing, to the pomp and ceremony of the parade ground. Follow the journey from conception to the battlefield through prototypes, tailoring and the quartermasters’ stores, with original uniforms from the outrageous to the mundane. Bringing together items from the Keep Military Museum, as well as other public and private collections, this exhibition immerses you in over 200 years of eye-catching history.
The ‘Dressed For Duty’ exhibition is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to curate and present the exhibition at Dorset Museum and Art Gallery.
Elliot Metcalfe, Director of The Keep Military Museum said: “We are delighted to be working with Dorset Museum and Art Gallery to showcase the Dressed For Duty Exhibition. Military uniform has always been deeply entwined in fashion and everyday functionality of our clothing, and this is an exciting opportunity to share the story in such a visibly impactful way. We are incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for allowing this to be a reality.”
Claire Dixon, Executive Director at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery said: “We are excited to work with The Keep Military Museum and host this special exhibition. This project has provided us with an important opportunity to support another museum in Dorset, providing public access to their collections and highlighting the military connections of the County. Exhibitions are a really important way to encourage our visitors to keep coming back and working with partners ensures our programme is sustainable, vibrant and diverse.”
A press viewing day will be held on 16 October, and will include a tour by Elliot Metcalfe, (Director) and Dr Jacinta Mallon (Collections Manager). The event will run between 11am and 1pm.
For further information, images and interviews please contact Josh Hookins, Visitor Experience Manager at The Keep Military Museum, via email: info@keepmilitarymuseum.org.
