For those who live in or near Albury/Wodonga, the Albury library museum are organising a bus trip to visit Loel Thomson’s Costume Museum in Bulleen and Circa in Fitzroy (both are in Melbourne).

I’m going to give a talk about the work that I do with collecting and restoring vintage garments and Loel will also talk about her work with her collection.

What: Bus trip and visit to Loel Thomson’s costume collection and Circa Vintage Clothing, from Albury (NSW) to Melbourne (Vic)
When: Friday 14 May 2010, 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Where: Albury NSW
Cost: $80.00 $72.00 Friends of the Gallery
Bookings: please call 02 6023 8333

More information at the Albury City Council website

1890s gown from Loel Thomson’s collection.

Loel Thomson’s collection of two centuries of costume is amazing, and probably the largest collection of Australian dress in the country. You can read more about it here.

The Darnell Collection incorporates over 5,000 garments and accessories from the 18th century to the present one and small sections of it are made available through exhibitions at galleries and museums around Australia – for example, 1980s couture was recently featured in an exhibition at the Bendigo Art Gallery.

Now The Darnell Collection is permanently available for study and display at the new Fashion and Textile Gallery –
8 Hill Street Surry Hills NSW 2010. Tel: 9360 0585
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 10am to 5pm
Saturday: 10am to 4pm
Sunday & Monday: Closed

As well there are lots of sewing classes, a monthly morning tea, exhibitions and a blog!

Illustration from “Dreaming of Dior”, reproduced courtesy Harper Collins Australia.

I’m organising a group to see Loel Thomson’s Costume Collection.

Loel is a private collector who has dedicated her time and resources to the collection, preservation and display of two hundred years of Australian fashion. Many of her pieces were included in my book Love Vintage. I’m sure that she has the best collection of Australian fashion in the country, as well as jewellery, accessories and lace. There’s also an impressive tea cosy collection!

When: Wednesday 17th February at 7pm.
Where: The Costume Collection, 39 Greenaway Street, Bulleen.
What: Tour and talk on 200 years of Australian fashion.
Cost: $5 which Loel donates to a local nursing home.
Bookings: call Circa on 9419 8899

For those who are interested in social history, the history of fashion or just beautiful clothes, I thoroughly recommend this visit. Numbers are limited and RSVP is essential.

Here are some links to photos that I took on previous visits – please note that Loel often changes the displays so you might see some of these but you’ll probably see others from her collection of over 3,000 pieces:
Early 19th century dress.
Victorian era.
Edwardian era.
1920s dress.
1930s dress.
1940s dress.
1950s dress.
Swimwear.

1950s swimwear from Loel Thomson’s Costume Collection.

UPDATE 8th Feb: As sufficient numbers have been received to fill the group, we’re now taking names for any one who might be interested in a second tour, hopefully in the next few weeks. Please call the shop on 9419 8899. Thank you.

What: Shaping Elegance Salon Show – “see a spectacular salon show in Como’s beautiful ballroom. Experience the fabulous fashion whilst enjoying a delicious morning tea. Meet the designer Robert Fritzlaff and see the exhibition that celebrates his life and style.”

When: Thursday 7th May at 11am
Where: Como House, Corner Williams Road and Lechlade Ave South Yarra
Price: Adults – $70; Concession/Child – $65; National Trust Members – $65; Members Concession – $60. Bookings essential – call 9827 2500

I’m a proud member of the National Trust and was pleased that Circa was able to contribute a small part to the salon parade by accessorising all eighteen ensembles with suitable gloves, hats, handbags and costume jewellery.

Ladies and gentlemen, this will be the closest we get these days to viewing a fashion show as it was back in the glory days of couture, the 1950s – whilst sitting comfortably, sipping tea and nibbling on a sweet morsel. Hope to see some of you there!

It’s a great show: lots of things to do and see, free workshops on everything from fabric dyeing to knitting and scrap-booking. Today was pretty quiet, so there was lots of room and opportunity to talk with people. I bought some long strands of glass pearl beads for the shop, and met a lovely lady who can make hand mirrors for Circa, using some of the vintage fabrics I have.

I’ll be there tomorrow: if you’re in the neighbourhood, drop in and say “hi”. You’ll find the ESMOD stand in the middle of the main pavilion.

Apologies to subscribers who received an early version of this post, as a password protected file. I was trying out the security settings and found out what not to do!

Photo courtesy of lovevintage.com.au

Whilst in town, I hope to see the Handbag Exhibition at the QVB. On display will be 122 items from the fabulous Darnell Collection, dating back to the 18th century to the 20th – and also contemporary wares from QVB traders. It will be on until the end of the month.

Here you can see a beaded and bakelite bag from the early ’30s.

Photo courtesy The Age.

Charlotte is featured on this evening’s ABC programme The Collectors
Charlotte Smith’s collection has been described as “two centuries of elegance”. Three years ago Charlotte became the custodian of her godmother Doris Darnell’s world-renowned collection of vintage clothing and accessories, the largest of it’s kind in Australia. Dior, Versace, this collection has it all and it’s a treat indeed for the couture loving prof when he joins Charlotte for some high-end fashion ‘time travelling’.

You can see some more snaps I took during the session here.

1930s silk devore velvet

1950s strapless nylon prom dress

1960s silk and lame

1950s Dior ballgown

Edwardian wedding gown

Late 1940s silk cocktail frock: I suspect this is Dior too, although it’s lost it’s label

Label from 1930s silk Vionnet gown

Loel has created a lovely tableaux for two of her cotton ‘fifties frocks – I wish I had taken a close up of the one below, the cotton floral has that slightly uneven, slightly raised look that perhaps is hand-painted. It’s accessorised with a straw basket and glass necklace. I love the curtains!

Another cotton frock, one of my favourites:

The print on this floral party frock is probably hand painted as well.

World War 2 saw great changes in social roles and for clothing, the rising popularity of suits for women. ‘Forties suits are generally hand-tailored and of very high quality, designed to last the distance. As well as shoulder padding, some have bust and hip padding too, to create or emphasise the hour-glass silhouette.

I’m very fond of this era, the styles are classic and elegant and suitable for ladies of all ages. The princess line coats (see picture below the cut) are one of the most asked for styles at Circa.

Garments from the 1930s can be the hardest to find in good condition in Australia – items from the ’20s have been collectable for a long time, and those from the ‘forties and ‘fifties were (up until recently) readily available, but it’s the delicate and feminine flowing gowns and crepe day dresses from between the periods that have proved the most elusive.

The first outfit displayed here is particularly special to me, as Loel purchased it from Circa shortly after we opened in 2004. I had bought it earlier that year from a Perth lady who had closed down her Subiaco shop several years earlier. The dress and matching capelet is in excellent condition, and features it’s original bakelite buckle.

Accessories include a silver dress clip and fox fur. On the left you can see a mannequin in 1920s day wear (featured in previous post).