The Dora Stratou Collection of Greek Traditional Costumes from Athens, Greece was sponsored by the National Hellenic Museum and opened at the Chicago History Museum on March 11, 1993 with a gala and much fanfare. The collection remained at the Chicago History Museum for one month and was re-installed at the National Hellenic Museum in April of 1993.
The reception took place on the second floor of the CHM and begins with the Apollo Dance Troop led by Gregory Kontos and his sister Elena Vranas. We begin with Marilyn Tzakis, center with friends, Theodore and Themi Vasils and their mother, Andrew Athens, Daphne Zepos and Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, a friend and Consul General Yannis-Alexis Zepos of Greece in Chicago (1992-1995) next is Aristotle Halikias, Roula Alakioto, HRH Princess Elizabeth Karadjordjevic of Serbia and Yugoslavia and His Grace the Reverend Irinej (Dobrijevic) Bishop of Washington-New York and Eastern America the Serbian Orthodox Church, followed by Theodora Vasils, Bill Vranas and friends, next is Andrew Athens and ___. With Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago are Andrew Athens and __. Seated are Daisy and Peter Farmakis on the left at table with friends. Remarks are given by Elaine Kollintzas Drikakis, and Consul General Yannis-Alexis Zepos of Greece in Chicago before the ribbon cutting to open the exhibit. In the group photo are Elaine Kollintzas Drikakis, Madeline Gelis, Daphne Zepos, Roula Alakioto, Beth Melas, Consul General Yannis-Alexis Zepos of Greece in Chicago, Aristotle Halikias, Matina Papoulia, vice president of the Dora Stratou Society and her assistants. Inside the exhibit are Evangeline Gouletas and Consul General Yannis-Alexis Zepos of Greece in Chicago, followed by Aristotle Halikias and Roula Alakioto having fun. More remarks Aristotle, Matina Papoulia while Beth Melas is recognized at her table, Madeline Gelis receives a bouquet of flowers and raffle prizes are announced by Elaine Kollintzas Drikakis. More group photos in exhibit with the same group above. Views of the dinner are taken from the staircase, Roula Alakioto, Consul General Yannis-Alexis Zepos of Greece in Chicago have a conversation as does Elaine Drikakis and friend, next are Tom Papoutsis with Jim and Suzanne Santos, Marilyn Tzakis a friend and Alex Ginaras, followed by Beatrice Marks and Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, lastly are Chris Tomaras, Roula Alakioto and Consul General Yannis-Alexis Zepos of Greece in Chicago. The final photos are of the Dora Stratou costume collection in the exhibit hall.
A Stitch in Time
April 5, 1994, 12:00am
CHICAGO — Before clothes were disposable, there were stories behind every piece women owned.
A thick brown wool shawl kept a young girl warm on a crossing from Eastern Europe to the United States. A heavy engagement belt worn with a dress proclaimed the promise of marriage for a young woman in 19th-century Greece.
These items are part of two exhibits in Chicago focusing on the role clothing has played historically in people’s lives.
The shawl is part of “Becoming American Women: Clothing and the Jewish Immigrant Experience, 1880-1920,” showing at the Chicago Historical Society through Nov. 13, 1994. Researchers gathered items of clothing and combed diaries and family lore for stories about a generation of women trying to fit in in their new country.
“Everyone had a story about clothing,” said Barbara Schreier, costume curator at the Historical Society.
The younger, unmarried women in particular were determined not to stick out as greenhorns. They soon adopted everything from the shirtwaist to the corset, all the while creating their own variations of popular American dress. In addition to the clothing, the researchers also display snippets from diaries and family stories to illustrate the history behind each piece. From questions about hairbows to how the clothing reflected their religious beliefs, it is a captivating show.
A separate exhibit, “Threads of Tradition — Greek Costumes from the Dora Stratou Collection,” at the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center until June 1, 1994, focuses on 19th-century Greece. The collection includes elaborately colored bridal and folk dresses.
The more than 40 original costumes show off intricate embroidery and lace and were all made by hand in villages throughout Greece. Decorated with gold thread, coins and jewelry, they have never been shown in the United States before, according to Matina Papoulia, vice president of the Dora Stratou Society.
Each village had its own distinct designs: fish, lambs and crosses embroidered in the garments. Dresses from the mountainous regions were made of wool and came with heavy leggings, while warmer climates used cotton or silk.
In many cases the bridal costumes were worn until the second child was born and sometimes until the bride’s 30th birthday. In order to afford such expensive material for the ensembles, many families had to sell off portions of their land. It seems not much has changed today.
The reception took place on the second floor of the CHM and begins with the Apollo Dance Troop led by Gregory Kontos and his sister Elena Vranas. We begin with Marilyn Tzakis, center with friends, Theodore and Themi Vasils and their mother, Andrew Athens, Daphne Zepos and Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, a friend and Consul General Yannis-Alexis Zepos of Greece in Chicago (1992-1995) next is Aristotle Halikias, Roula Alakioto, HRH Princess Elizabeth Karadjordjevic of Serbia and Yugoslavia and His Grace the Reverend Irinej (Dobrijevic) Bishop of Washington-New York and Eastern America the Serbian Orthodox Church, followed by Theodora Vasils, Bill Vranas and friends, next is Andrew Athens and ___. With Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago are Andrew Athens and __. Seated are Daisy and Peter Farmakis on the left at table with friends. Remarks are given by Elaine Kollintzas Drikakis, and Consul General Yannis-Alexis Zepos of Greece in Chicago before the ribbon cutting to open the exhibit. In the group photo are Elaine Kollintzas Drikakis, Madeline Gelis, Daphne Zepos, Roula Alakioto, Beth Melas, Consul General Yannis-Alexis Zepos of Greece in Chicago, Aristotle Halikias, Matina Papoulia, vice president of the Dora Stratou Society and her assistants. Inside the exhibit are Evangeline Gouletas and Consul General Yannis-Alexis Zepos of Greece in Chicago, followed by Aristotle Halikias and Roula Alakioto having fun. More remarks Aristotle, Matina Papoulia while Beth Melas is recognized at her table, Madeline Gelis receives a bouquet of flowers and raffle prizes are announced by Elaine Kollintzas Drikakis. More group photos in exhibit with the same group above. Views of the dinner are taken from the staircase, Roula Alakioto, Consul General Yannis-Alexis Zepos of Greece in Chicago have a conversation as does Elaine Drikakis and friend, next are Tom Papoutsis with Jim and Suzanne Santos, Marilyn Tzakis a friend and Alex Ginaras, followed by Beatrice Marks and Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, lastly are Chris Tomaras, Roula Alakioto and Consul General Yannis-Alexis Zepos of Greece in Chicago. The final photos are of the Dora Stratou costume collection in the exhibit hall.
A Stitch in Time
April 5, 1994, 12:00am
CHICAGO — Before clothes were disposable, there were stories behind every piece women owned.
A thick brown wool shawl kept a young girl warm on a crossing from Eastern Europe to the United States. A heavy engagement belt worn with a dress proclaimed the promise of marriage for a young woman in 19th-century Greece.
These items are part of two exhibits in Chicago focusing on the role clothing has played historically in people’s lives.
The shawl is part of “Becoming American Women: Clothing and the Jewish Immigrant Experience, 1880-1920,” showing at the Chicago Historical Society through Nov. 13, 1994. Researchers gathered items of clothing and combed diaries and family lore for stories about a generation of women trying to fit in in their new country.
“Everyone had a story about clothing,” said Barbara Schreier, costume curator at the Historical Society.
The younger, unmarried women in particular were determined not to stick out as greenhorns. They soon adopted everything from the shirtwaist to the corset, all the while creating their own variations of popular American dress. In addition to the clothing, the researchers also display snippets from diaries and family stories to illustrate the history behind each piece. From questions about hairbows to how the clothing reflected their religious beliefs, it is a captivating show.
A separate exhibit, “Threads of Tradition — Greek Costumes from the Dora Stratou Collection,” at the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center until June 1, 1994, focuses on 19th-century Greece. The collection includes elaborately colored bridal and folk dresses.
The more than 40 original costumes show off intricate embroidery and lace and were all made by hand in villages throughout Greece. Decorated with gold thread, coins and jewelry, they have never been shown in the United States before, according to Matina Papoulia, vice president of the Dora Stratou Society.
Each village had its own distinct designs: fish, lambs and crosses embroidered in the garments. Dresses from the mountainous regions were made of wool and came with heavy leggings, while warmer climates used cotton or silk.
In many cases the bridal costumes were worn until the second child was born and sometimes until the bride’s 30th birthday. In order to afford such expensive material for the ensembles, many families had to sell off portions of their land. It seems not much has changed today.
© Diane Alexander White PHOTOGRAPHY