Understanding Fashion History

Valerie Cumming

About Valerie Cumming

Valerie Cumming is a dress historian with over 30 years experience in museums, initially as a costume curator, then as a senior administrator, and as the chair of the Olive Matthews Collection at Chertsey Museum.  She has served as lecturer and writer, Costume and Textile curator at the Museum of London and the Court Dress Collection, Kensington Palace. She has been visiting lecturer at the Courtauld Institute of Art. She is the author of The Visual History of Costume Accessories, The Visual History of Costume (with Aileen Riberio), A Visual History of Costume in the 17th Century,Costume History 1500-1900, Gloves in the Costume Accessories Series and Understanding Fashion History. She served as Chair of The Costume Society from 2004 to 2009.