Hours
By Appointment
Exhibitions
Upcoming Events
01
November
Sunday
Special Event
Launch of Adornment & Identity
Time: Sunday, November 1, 2026
2:00 pm -
3:00 pm /
Youtube
We’re thrilled to invite you to join us on YouTube Live as we officially launch Adornment & Identity: An Interactive Exhibition of Women’s Fashion from 1750–2000. Already a finalist for the prestigious Anthem Awards! Years in the making, this ambitious digital exhibition brings more than two centuries of fashion history to life through extraordinary historic […]
22
November
Sunday
Fashion Show and Talk
The Fashion of Jane Austen
Time: Sunday, November 22, 2026
2:00 pm -
4:00 pm /
Hycroft
In-person tickets are sold out, but please join us on the livestream! Tickets available below. Step into the world of Jane Austen and discover the fashions that defined her era. Through an illustrated presentation and displays of original pieces dating from 1775–1817, explore what people actually wore and what their clothing revealed about society, status, […]
About SMOC
Founded in 1992, the BC Society for the Museum of Original Costume (SMOC) preserves historic fashion, textiles, and costume from circa 1800 to the present day. The collection is especially strong in post–World War II ready-to-wear fashion, with significant holdings by Canadian designers and garments connected to local history.
From haute couture to everyday dress, SMOC’s collection reflects the many ways people have expressed identity, culture, and style across generations.
Through exhibitions, public programs, and lectures—including the popular period fashion presentations curated by Ivan Sayers—SMOC shares fashion history with audiences across Vancouver and beyond. The Society also supports research, education, media, museums, and students through its collections and resources
Past Event Themes
- Historic Lace
- 20th Century Hats
- The Little Black Dress
- Fashion in WWII Rationing
- Fashion of Jane Austen
- Art Deco-Inspired Clothing
- The Politics of Plaid
- Venetian Jewelry
- Canadian Knitting History
- History of Corsets
- Vancouver Designer Lore Maria Wiener
- Fashions of Palm Beach
Art works & Objects
Explore the Collection
Our Partners & Sponsors
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Hours
Collection by appointment
Contact Us
We would like to acknowledge that SMOC operates on the traditional and ancestral lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work on these beautiful lands and preserve the history of the people who have lived here throughout history.
Please visit Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week to see and enjoy the work of local Indigenous designers, and celebrate the peoples who have cared for this land for more than 14,000 years.