A fashion show, dessert tea, and fundraiser for the Westminster Historical Society
Sunday, April 12th from 1 pm – 4 pm. Ticket required for entry.
At the Westminster Historical Society Museum: 8612 Westminster Blvd. Westminster, CA
Step into the stories behind the silhouettes.
Marissa wears an 1860s wrapper for household chores, evoking Margaret Bixby in early Long Beach—she and her husband would later be remembered as the “Father and Mother of Long Beach.”
Whitney appears in an 1873 pink bustle dress with burgundy trim, dressed for church as we reflect on the early congregations of the First Presbyterian Church of Anaheim and Westminster, led by Rev. Lemuel Webber.
A schoolteacher from 1878 reminds us of the era’s strict code of conduct—where a wrap on the knuckles was considered proper discipline.
Elizabeth’s 1878 white floral natural form dress with purple trim captures the ritual of leaving visiting cards to secure one’s place in San Francisco society. Her look is based on a La Mode Illustrée fashion plate.
Sherry wears an 1886 black and grey bustle dress, also inspired by La Mode Illustrée, portraying Martha Hathaway, a Mt. Holyoke graduate and the first president of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.
Francesca’s 1895 ensemble—a pink silk skirt and Eton jacket—depicts Katherine Lee Bates as she pens America the Beautiful, inspired by her ascent of Pikes Peak.
Diana closes the timeline in 1905, wearing a turquoise skirt with a white shirtwaist and burgundy dip-waist belt, portraying a Westminster telephone operator on her way to a women’s suffrage meeting. Their efforts helped lead to a historic victory: California granted women the right to vote in 1911.
Join us for a fashion show directed by Diana Marquez, who has been researching and creating Victorian and Edwardian clothing for 20+ years. Together with models and narrator, she is presenting a special program honoring the Women of the West.
Beverage service will include coffee, and a selection of herbal, black, and green teas. Desserts will feature scones and pioneer-era cookies baked by Kathi Iverson. Please plan to have lunch before attending.
This event is a fundraiser for our museum. Tickets are $20 per person. Space is limited, so be sure to purchase your tickets soon.
If you are unable to attend but would like to support the museum, donations of any amount are warmly welcomed. Click the link to make a gift.
Westminster Historical Society 