Rediscover the King Vintage Museum

Elizabeth Gabriel

(Updated: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 8:17 PM)

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Let's talk about women's underwear. Not today's lacy, loosey, even thongy little trifles, but the kind of underwear that made you suck it in and sit up straight, whether you wanted to or not.

The "unmentionable" sections of the Wild Wonderful King Vintage Museum in Oakhurst tend to get a lot of comment.

The museum, which is a perfect marriage between the Wild Wonderful Women group and Allan and the late Barbara King, has just opened a new and highly visible space on Highway 41 (in the building that used to be Williams Gallery West) next to the Days Inn.

Most striking to one who decades ago decided to shun even a girdle (so I jiggle and bulge -- live with it or look away) is the promintently displayed poster of what happened to a gal's insides when she put on, then laced, that cruel torture device, the corset. Anyone who has ever seen "Gone With the Wind" will remember Scarlett O'Hara holding on to the bedstead as her corset strings were pulled tight.

But that underthing wasn't the only thing by a long shot. First over the naked frame came a shift, then the corset, corset cover, stockings, drawers or pantaloons, petticoats galore and finally the outer layer. Imagine all that, even in the lightest of fabrics, on an August afternoon in what is now Oakhurst. Then imagine carrying a bucket of water from the well uphill in that getup.

It's no wonder they needed fainting couches and smelling salts.

The museum now

In this new space, with loads of light coming in through big windows, the museum's collection, which changes regularly, has been able to spread out, show itself off more than it did in smaller quarters next to the Children's Museum on Golden Oak Drive.

Volunteers worked tirelessly to get the gallery into shape for the museum's opening in October.

"I've never seen so much white powder in all my life," said Mary Ann Hutcherson, who was there for all the plastering and sanding and plastering and sanding and ... well, you get the picture ... followed by painting, moving display cases, stocking them and arranging the exhibits. She said all the moving from Golden Oak Drive was done in a weekend. Hercules in King Augeas' stables couldn't have done better.

The place opened officially on Oct. 18, but work -- especially on the outside -- has continued. The big opening will be Nov. 28 in an event called (deep breath here) "Giving Thanks ... to Our New Location, to Our Community Support, to the King Family and More ... " from 1 to 4 p.m.

The first exhibit is "The Little Black Dress: Elegant, Slimming and Versatile." There are frocks Audrey Hepburn would have loved and that flappers could Charlston till dawn in. There are sequins and beads and feathers and starkly chic. You'll love it.

The finery from other eras is a bit of history come to life. Real people wore these clothes and did everyday activities -- or in the case of wedding ensembles, once-in-a-lifetime activities.

Did you know that right and left shoes are a relatively modern invention? True. You'll see tiny, pointy, button shoes in the museum that are the same for each foot. Made it easier to switch them and even out the wear, you'll find out.

Lest you think this is a girlie place, think again. Men's clothing and accessories, plus military uniforms fill up a whole room. You'll also see swords, traveling cases, toilet kits and a few implements that are hard to figure out and a fabulous collection of matchbook covers.

The expansion (the exhibit space doubled) also allowed for the museum keepers to offer more nifty items in the gift shop. Fancy hats festooned with tulle, flowers, netting and ribbons, tiny ceramic shoes that hold rings, books on fashions -- all sorts of doodads practical and purely decorative, are available. (And because WWW handles the Chocolate Festival each year, there are lots of chocolate-themed gifts, too.)

How it started

What led to this bonanza of costumery?

In 1952, Allan and Barbar King went to a yard sale and picked up some Civil War-era dresses for $1 each.

"We were pack rats," said King. For the museum tour, he was done up in a turn-of-the-last-century outfit including cravat that looked like it had seen quite a few parlor parties. He also wore a beaming smile to see all this come from a few dresses.

Their collection and their passion for historic clothing grew and grew. Mrs. King's mother, Naomi Decker Jensen, was a big contributor. When they started giving vintage-clothing shows, they received even more contributions.

The logical outcome was a museum, and that's where WWW came in.

The group worked hard at fundraising and by 2002, were ready to open. Mrs. King designed the first showcase, but died before her dream was realized. Her husband has been a staunch supporter and contributor ever since.

The clothes -- from the 1800s to the 1960s and beyond, have a great many stories to tell, even more so since the move, Hutcherson said. In rearranging the displays, volunteers opened purses, pocketbooks, notebooks and felt in shoes and pockets. They discovered notes on the provenance of many items.

The move also allowed the museum to do do more conservation work than has been done. For example, dummies were wrapped and sleeves were stuffed, to keep them looking as new as possible. The museum also has a humidity and temperature control system which helps prolong the longevity of the pieces.

WILD WONDERFUL KING VINTAGE MUSEUM

40690 Highway 41, Oakhurst

Winter hours 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Tours available by appointment.

Admission $2

"Giving Thanks" event is 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29.

(559) 658-6999 or www.kingvintagemuseum.org. For tours, call (559) 760-7600 or (559) 676-3370.