Last Thursday we tizzied up and sashayed down to the National Gallery of Victoria for the opening night party of the Art Deco exhibition.

I’m wearing a 1930s silk satin gown with a *very* plunging neckline demurely held together with a diamante clasp, along with a velvet jacket of the era and two deco dress clips. Tim’s wearing an Anton’s jacket and waistcoat, vintage shirt and trousers (you’ll have to visualise the two toned brogues).

Circa was fortunate to have the opportunity to dress the fabulous Candice - aka Super Kawaii Mama - and dress we did! Candice spent the day luxuriating in glamourous style: hair, make up, manicure - all was perfect for the perfect frock. A 1930s silk velvet evening gown which could have been made for her, the fit was so good. The glamour ante was upped by the addition of the lushest 1930s pure white arctic fox fur stole and long white gloves. All eyes were on the most beautiful lady, she looked as if she’d stepped out of a Golden Era of Hollywood film. I meekly followed in her wake, beaming proudly…and took a few photos…

Peter Jago and Candice.

Greg and Heather Walters, with Candice.

And it was nice to see that I’m not the only one who considers Candice worthy of photographing - see The Vine and also Candice’s own blog Super Kawaii Mama Deco Dreams. I’m sure more will turn up in the social pages around the place - it almost seemed as if the photographers were queueing up to photograph her. Such is the need for glamour these days.

Opening this Friday night at Dante’s - and continuing all week. The first Gertrude Street Digital Media Festival!

When: Friday June 20th to Friday June 27th, from 6pm to 11pm every night.

Where: eight venues on Gertrude street.

What: digital images will be displayed in shop windows and projected onto the pavement.

Thanks to the Gertrude Association for organising this: it’s great to see community arts projects getting off the ground, especially ones that promise to be as interesting as this one.

Come and see Gertrude Street After Dark!

You may recall that late last year I visited Charlotte Smith and the Darnell Collection of antique and vintage clothing (you can see my previous post and a few snapshots here).

Quite a few people expressed interest in seeing the Collection, so I’m pleased to report that the Bendigo Art Gallery is about to open an exhibition of Victorian garments from the Collection, called “Fashion in the Age of Queen Victoria”.

Image shamelessly stolen from the Bendigo Art Gallery’s website - Trousseau dress 1881.

Details:
Where: Bendigo Art Gallery
When: 17th May to 20th July 2008
Admission fees apply.

This exhibition features a selection of Victoria era fashion showing the development of women’s clothing from crinolines to bustles towards the more liberated body shapes of the twentieth century. Curated by Tansy Curtin, this exhibition is exclusive to Bendigo Art Gallery.

The exhibition is accompanied by some special events including a talk by Charlotte, another by Tansy and also a screening of “Gone With the Wind”. Definitely worth a trip to Bendigo - further information can be found here at the Gallery’s site.

Next week I’m popping up to Sydney briefly to see the Sydney Vintage Clothing, Jewellery and Textiles Show. It’s on next Friday night, Saturday and Sunday at the Canterbury Racecourse. Here’s a pic of some jewellery for sale at the last show.

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.

Another wonderful exhibition for your diary - it’s a way off yet but promises to be absolutely amazing for those of us who treasure vintage couture at it’s glamourous best.

What: The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957. That’s Dior, sweetie!
Where: Bendigo Art Gallery
When: 7th December 2008 to 22nd March 2008

Details wantonly pinched from the BAG’s website:
Bendigo Art Gallery is proud to announce an outstanding exhibition for Summer 2008-09. The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957, organised by the Victoria and Albert Museum London, will be presented in Australia exclusively at Bendigo Art Gallery.

The Golden Age of Couture explores one of the most glamorous and remarkable decades in fashion history. Starting with the impact of Christian Dior’s New Look after the Second World War, it looks at the work of Dior and his contemporaries during the period when haute couture was at its height.

95% of the garments displayed are from the Victoria and Albert’s own collection (one of the best in the world) - it’s a part of the incredible (and sadly, for me, missed) exhibition which recently closed at the V&A in London - also called The Golden Age of Couture. For those who love books, a fabulous edition is available.

This is exciting and major - here’s a pic from the V&A show - Chiffon evening gown by Jean Desses.

Now on in Melbourne -

Zandra Rhodes: A Lifelong Love Affair with Textiles
RMIT Gallery
344 Swanston Street,
Monday 11 February – Saturday 22 March, 2008

Black in Fashion: Mourning to Night
Part One: NGV International St Kilda Road
Part Two: NGV Ian Potter Centre Federation Square
On until late August

Part Eight of the series on Loel Thomson’s Costume Collection.

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!

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Part Seven of the series on Loel Thomson’s Costume Collection.

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.

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Part Six of the series on Loel Thomson’s Costume Collection.

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).

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Part Five of the series on Loel Thomson’s Costume Collection.

I must confess to loving the ‘twenties - oh those rebellous flappers and all that rule breaking! We’ll probably never see their like again and still I’m in awe. It takes a lot to convince a young woman, heck, any woman, that showing off your feminine wiles isn’t important. I’m also in awe of the consistency of the ’20s ladieswear; there are minor deviations, sure, but what you generally see is a long tube shape of a dress (or suit or top and skirt) and a concerted effort to counteract female curvaceousness. It makes it a very easy era to date - the simplicity of the silhouette is counteracted by the luxury of the silk fabrics and the detailing: glass, steel and anthracite beading, gelatinous sequins (whatever you do, don’t put a sequinned flapper gown in water!).

I’m particularly impressed with Loel’s collection of ’20s: simple and embroidered cotton day dresses and extravagant evening gowns. It’s hard to appreciate the beadwork without closeups but if it looks fabulous, believe me, it is.

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