Fashion inspiration can strike in many places these days but, for designers, stylists and fashion editors, the history books are often one of the best places to start.That's why I love visiting the Fashion Museum in Bath, which celebrates its 50th birthday this year. Nestled between Georgian buildings, quaint boutiques and tearooms, the Fashion Museum is a source of inspiration for fashion-forward thinkers from across the country.

For years designers have looked to the past - the experimental shapes of the 60s, the power suits of the 80s and now the 90s grunge look has been reimagined for the 21st century. All those looks, yes even grunge, can be found in this museum which is located beneath Bath's majestic Assembly Rooms.

Although there are new exhibitions to visit every year, one of the perks of the permanent collection is seeing how the curators showcase current trends with garments from their collection, many of which are decades if not hundreds of years old. In this small area of the museum, original pastel, monochrome and oriental looks are the current trends on display. True to the trend there are the shapes, colours and styles that you can expect to see popping up on your local high street.

Seeing these garments, carefully preserved and kept in a delicately controlled environment is a joy. Last year the museum embraced the Olympic spirit with an exhibition entitled SPORT and FASHION and it celebrated the previous year's Royal Wedding with a year-long display of antique wedding dresses and photographs. The details of each outfit reflect a time gone by captured in fabric. It's sobering to think that many of the garments were handmade in their entirety, which I should remember the next time I'm struggling to fix a hem or getting frustrated with my sewing machine!

London may have the V&A and the Fashion and Textiles Museum but Bath's Fashion Museum is definitely a force to be reckoned with in the vintage and costume stakes. 

The Fashion Museum can be found in Bath Assembly Rooms, Bennett St, Bath, Avon BA1 2QH