Stepping into the historic Abdülmecid Efendi Mansion always makes me wonder what it feels like to live in such a beautiful house. The mansion was formerly used as Abdülmecid Efendi’s summer house. I’d love to see the scenes from the past showing their lifestyle back in the day. Today, this venue hosts exhibitions from time to time. The latest exhibition, “Elegance from Past to the Future”, presents changing women’s fashion in Turkey from the Late Ottoman Period to the early years of the Turkish Republic.

The exhibition is curated in a way that echoes the spirit of the mansion itself. From the moment you step inside to the end of the exhibition, seamless coherence envelopes you and invites you to a time travel thanks to every meticulous detail with the ambiance and accompanying melodies. The outfits reflect the Turkish women’s changing role in society and the rights they gained through time. I was personally charmed by the 1920s evening outfits presented with the harmonious music calling for a dance and by the exact replica of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s tailcoat on the second floor.

Aside from the exhibitions inside, this beautiful mansion is worth visiting. Unfortunately, it is only open during the exhibition periods. The current exhibition is open until May 19, 2024, except on Mondays.