Talks

Meridith Towne has a range of lively, informative talks celebrating women’s history through fashion. Every one comes with a display of original costume and accessories. Popular with groups and venues across the country, they are a great addition to your group meeting, fundraiser and event calendars. Each presentation is £375 from 2025 but £350 if you make a booking this year, plus travel expenses from Malton, North Yorkshire. Meridith Towne also offers a range of options for bespoke handling sessions, schools workshops and commissioned presentations tailored to a specific theme.

I will be keeping the option of virtual talks open for 2024 with the option of ‘Meet the Maker: life as a historical costumier’. An interactive talk in a virtual setting with a 20min introduction and then questions from the audience. You can ask anything about the job I do making historical costumes for museums through to all aspects of dress and womens social history. Groups members can send in their questions beforehand so I can prepare examples and display items to show on screen.  Warning: I once did this when a group’s speaker failed to show and I jumped at the last minute and the talk lasted nearly two hours! This talk is at the reduced cost of £150 each with no travel expenses (obviously!) Other virtual options may be possible on request. 

 

Please contact me to find out more and to discuss availability.

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The talk looks at the fashions over twenty years, both in India and back home, and Meridith brings examples of the costumes that would have been worn which, together with her gifts for humour and story-telling, really bring the talk to life.

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Romance in the Raj, Diana Barre, Blog editor for York Embroiderers Guild, 9th October 2014

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Absolutely amazing presentation of Glitz & Glamour at Tyne & Wear South Federation's Annual Meeting at Wrekenton. Fabulous clothes & props with fabulous information

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Glitz and Glamour: getting ready for a party!, Judith Thompson, 21st April 2018

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"Riveting, informative, humorous but historically fascinating too. Broadened & deepened understanding & influences on female “shape changing” over time. Thank you."

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The Body Beautiful, Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry, 16th April 2015

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Meridith Towne, what an fascinating lady and an incredible speaker, I have not enjoyed a speaker as much in such a long time, along with her friendly helper and amazing twists to her tale, I didn’t notice the evening fly by, a total pleasure, thank you.

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Romance in the Raj, Mrs Stephanie Landles President of Wolviston Village Women’s Institute, 29th April 2014

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Thank you, Meridith for your effervescent, enthusiastic, erudite revelations about 'Women of Adventure'. Still don't understand how they did what they did wearing what they wore!

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Women of Adventure, Matlock Ladies Luncheon Club, 13th November 2014

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"Excellent, very good. Lovely presentation, really enjoyed it! -> costume talk"

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The Body Beautiful, Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry, 16th April 2015

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Wonderful talk at the Harris Museum this afternoon. She is so knowledgeable and passionate about her subject. A fascinating and funny talk about women's suffrage and it's associated fashion.

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Hear My Voice! a working woman's fight for the vote, Julie Knifton, 28th October 2018

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Meridith came to our WI yesterday and entertained us with The Body Beautiful. We loved it, so entertaining had us laughing and sharing memories of what our mothers wore. Well done Mum you make a fabulous double act
Thank you again and hope you got home safely

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The Body Beautiful: in search of the ideal woman, Washington Concord WI, 5th June 2019

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Thanks for a fantastic 100 Years of Hats talk last night...I'm now off to learn the art of self-defence with a hat pin!!

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100 Years of Hats, Gateshead Library, February 2014

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Thank you for your entertaining and informative talk. You really know your stuff. Lots of wonderful, positive feedback from the audience. A perfect evening as always. Looking forward to the next one.

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Confessions of an Edwardian Shopoholic at Christmas, Norton Library, Stockton-on-Tees, 19th November 2014

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We all really enjoyed your talk, knowledge and enthusiasm. I am sure many more of us will be looking out for you when you are in the area.

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Confessions of an Edwardian Shop-o-holic, Sunderland Embroiderers Guild, March 2013

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Many thanks for 100 Years of Hats, what a brilliant afternoon; I am hunting for an 18 inch hat pin...

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100 Years of Hats, South Tyne Libraries, June 2013

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So many ladies have commented how much they enjoyed the evening. And "when can she come again"!

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Glitz and Glamour: getting ready for a party!, Rowlands Gill WI, 8th March 2016

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A huge thanks from Ripon Women's Luncheon club for a MOST enjoyable afternoon with you. We all thoroughly enjoyed your talk and particularly the ladies at the back of the room appreciated the fact that they "could hear every word, and she was just a slip of a young thing"!!. It was good to meet your glamorous assistant, hoping you'll come back another time, thanks to you both.

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Confessions of an Edwardian Shopoholic, Ripon Ladies Luncheon Club, 5th November 2014

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Meridith came to speak at our WI last year and she was so good we had her back this year, and we want her next year too.
Funny, engaging, knowledgeable... What more do you want from a speaker? She genuinely brings history to life. Her collection of items covers more than just clothes and you get a real glimpse of what it was like to live in another era. Can't recommend her enough.

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Confessions of an Edwardian Shopoholic, Laura Bainbridge-Hattersley, 22nd June 2018

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She gave an informative and engaging talk about Suffragette history which really brought the period to life, at The Harris museum in Preston. I enjoyed it very much.

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Hear My Voice! a working woman's fight for the vote, Helen Marsden, 28th October 2018

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Thank you so much for your wonderful presentation. We had lots of lovely comments and your natural wit brought everything to life!

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Romance in the Raj, Friends of Macclesfield Silk Heritage, The Heritage Centre, Macclesfield, November 2013

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The talk was fantastic – really enjoyable

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Make Do and Mend, Gateshead Library, June 2013

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A huge thank you for helping to make the evening such a success, we have has some great feedback, all so positive. Can’t wait to have you back next year, we will have to get some more chairs.....there were quite a few who could not fit in!

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Romance in the Raj, Archives at Dusk, North Yorkshire County Council, May 2013

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Fascinating Make Do + Mend talk this evening. She is excellent!

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Make Do and Mend, Gateshead Library, June 2013

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Everyone was delighted with your visuals and all the particular goodies on show.....plus your youth!! It’s SO good to experience enthusiasm like yours!! Keep up the good work....(and the vintage clothes!)

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100 Years of Hats, Northern Society of Costume and Textiles, March 2013

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Thank you so much for the informative, humorous and splendidly presented 'Make do and mend evening' Cameo members were treated to. Everyone is saying how much they enjoyed the evening.

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Make Do and Mend, Cameo Mansfield, 14th April 2016

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We enjoyed your presentation immensely, as always, and, as you know, it brought back so many hilarious memories.

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Sewing the Sixties!, Susan Howell, 17th June 2019

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"Fascinating talk on ‘The Body Beautiful’ by Meridith Towne. I learnt so much about what went under the clothes and how they moved. Excellent Speaker."

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The Body Beautiful, Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry, 16th April 2015

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A huge thank you for a fantastic talk on Confessions of an Edwardian Shopoholic at Blaydon.

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Confessions of an Edwardian Shop-o-holic, Gateshead Library, April 2013

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Thank you for an excellent presentation which evoked the era so graphically. The atmosphere you were able to recreate will stay with us for some time and generate a nostalgia for a time we didn't even know!

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Make Do and Mend, Crimple Valley Quilters, 3rd December 2014

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It was excellent and we had lots of great feedback from the audience.

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Confessions of an Edwardian Shopoholic, Gateshead Library, April 2013

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A friend and I went to Meridith's presentation on the Victorian dressmaker on Sunday at the Potteries Museum. it was excellent!
Packed with very well researched social history. Her artefacts and examples of dresses and under garments made by dresser makers were lovely. If you are interested in fashion, textiles or history you will enjoy one of Meridith's presentations

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The Victorian Dressmaker: rags and riches, Heather Swaine, 29th March 2018

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Thank you for entertaining over 90 of our members of Yorkshire Countrywomen’s Association last week. Yourself and your valuable helper did a splendid job of the presentation “ Romance in the Raj “ It was well researched and the visual aids and costumes really brought it life. We will certainly be asking you to come back again in the future.

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Romance in the Raj, East Yorkshire Countrywomen's Association, 14th October 2014

All talks subject to Terms and Conditions