The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Items in the collection were largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories.Full length black lace evening dress with a fitted black silk lining. The ‘v’ necked gown has a very full skirt. The lace has an abstract floral pattern. The garment was previously dated to the 1930s.costumes, evening dresses, fashion - 1930s, fashion design

The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Items in the collection were largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories.Full-length bridal gown, circa 1947, covered entirely with cream coloured lace. The gown has a cream silk lining. The dress is in poor condition due to the lace which is extensively torn/rotted on the bodice. There are a few tears in the lace of the skirt.costumes, wedding dresses, lace, fashion -- 1940s, fashion design

The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Items in the collection were largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories.Black velvet capelet with pale blue lining held at the neck with a gilt metal clasp.women's clothing, fashion -- 1900s, evening wear, outerwear, capelets, fashion design

Abyss Studio was one of a number of fashion labels established by Sara Thorn and Bruce Slorach in the 1980s and 1990s. From 1986 to 1992 the pair also operated the Galaxy Emporium where they stocked their own designs as well as those of fellow Fashion Design Council members. Abyss was a street wear label and, like many independent designers at the time, was concerned with creating culture through clothing.T-shirt featuring 'Daisy Bone' and mouse printaustralian fashion, fashion design

The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Items in the collection were largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories.This lingerie dress, donated by Jane McIntyre is part of the wider McIntyre Collection. While lingerie dresses were produced for and worn by women between 1900 and 1920, the main period in which they were worn was between 1900 and 1910. This elaborately detailed example is believed to date from 1912-1918.The McIntyre Collection of clothing and clothing accessories forms one of the largest single donations to our Fashion & Design collection. It includes clothing and clothing accessories worn by four women in the Cohen and McIntyre families across three generations. The items worn by Melbourne architect, and Kew resident, Dione McIntyre date from the 1960s and 1970s, and include evening wear, day wear, hats and shoes. As Dione McIntyre often accompanied her husband, fellow architect Peter McIntyre, to formal events, there are a number of pieces of evening wear among the items. The McIntyre Collection also includes items worn by women of an earlier generation: by Lilian Cohen, Dione McIntyre's mother, and by her mother-in-law, the wife of the architect Robert McIntyre. At the other end of the chronological spectrum are a number of outfits belonging to, worn and donated by Annie McIntyre. These include outfits created by notable late 20th century Australian and/or international fashion designers. The McIntyre Collection is significant historically and artistically as it includes examples of design that demonstrate changing tastes in fashion over an 80-year period. The collection is also significant in that it includes the work of a large number of Melbourne designers from the 1960s to the 1990s.Three-quarter-length, white cotton voile lingerie dress. The dress feature extensive embroidery on the bodice and skirt, probably constructed from pre-embroidered fabric, rather than hand embroidered. In addition to the embroiderd panels, there is extensive use of white lace insertions. The dress has short sleeves to teh elbow and lace cuffs. The dress is date after the Edwardian Period due to the absence of tucks and frills. Its high-waisted design is simple and yet elaborately ornamented with embroidery.women's clothing, white muslin dresses, tea dresses, australian fashion 1910-1920, lingerie dresses, annie mcintyre, mcintyre collection, fashion design, fashion -- 1910s

This jacket and cap were designed by Rosalie 'Rosa' Kiessling about 1967. They formed part of the Fashion Group Inc's Walkabout Tour of the USA in 1967 which aimed to promote Australian fashion design in America. German by birth Rosalie, grew up skiing and ice skating, studied fashion design in Munich and worked designing women’s ski wear and lingerie before migrating to Australia via New Zealand in 1939 with her husband. As skiing increased in popularity following the end of WWII, Rosalie’s business grew reaching its peak during the 1960s. Though it was never large; at most she employed three staff. Her designs featured in the pages of Australian Vogue, Flair and the Women’s Weekly throughout the 1960s and received coverage from newspapers in Australia, New Zealand the United States. Rosalie was closely involved with the Swiss Club of Victoria, the Australian Wool Board and the Fur Traders Association, participating in numerous fashion shows and awards run by these groups. In the late 1960s she became involved with the Melbourne Branch of the Fashion Group Inc, a worldwide non-commercial association of women involved in the fashion industry. Rosalie continued to design and manufacture fashionable but functional ski wear until the late 1970s, although increasing imports from large overseas manufactures and constant new innovations in fabric technology made it difficult for her to compete in a relatively small industry. This ski jacket and cap illustrate Rosalie Kiessling's emphasis on practical glamour. She was the first Australian ski wear manufacturer to bring high fashion to ski wear design; which though common in the boutiques of St Mortiz, Chamonix and St Anton was new to Australia. The use of an Australian wildflower motif and of these pieces in the Fashion Group's Walkabout Tour also speak to her involvement in and promotion of the Australian fashion industry during the 1960s.Ski jacket and matching cap appliqued with Australian wildflowers.Noneskiing, ski clothing, fashion design, australian fashion, australian flora

The original owner of the evening bag was Elizabeth (Betty) McGregor. The bag was a gift from her husband, Ian McGregor (Managing Director of Ingersoll Rand), during a trip to Europe. The bag was purchased in Burlington Arcade, London in 1955. An accompanying photograph shows Betty, in attendance at a Captain's cocktail party with the evening bag on her arm. Betty was the best friend of the my mother, and not having children of their own, Betty and Ian were very good to my sister and I. Betty gifted the bag to me in 1983. As a Kew resident, it gives me much pleasure to pass on this evening bag to the Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society. (Kate Reeve, 2022)Small brass evening bag, covered with black silk and rhinestones. The box is of a flattened cylindrical shape with a looped handle. The lid of the bag is hinged on one side and contains a mirror on its interior. Inside the evening bag is a small black silk purse attached to the bag with a brass chainNilfashion & design - 1950s, accessories, evening bags

As part of the National Trust's Australian Heritage Festival 2021, the Kew Historical Society and the Villa Alba Museum collaborated to mount a fashion and design exhibition. The theme of the exhibition took its focus from the year-long program at the Museum featuring the use of flowers in design. The walls and ceilings of the house are notable for their use of floral and narrative painted decoration produced, in the early 1880s, for William and Anna Maria Greenlaw by the Melbourne art decoration firm the Paterson Brothers. The examples of fashion and design from the collection of the Kew Historical Society were located on the ground floor of the house: in the drawing room, dining room, morning room and in the vestibule, or ballroom as it was sometimes described in nineteenth century newspapers. The exhibition was supported by the City of Boroondara through Triennial Operational Grant funding for the Kew Historical Society and the Villa Alba Museum.Series of photographs of exhibition pieces in situ at the Villa Alba Museum in May 2021.fashion & design, exhibitions -- kew historical society, exhibitions --- villa alba museum, textiles in bloom, fashion - nineteenth century, fashion -- twentieth century, textiles - nineteenth century, headwear -- twentieth century

Reversible ski jacket made by Rosalie Kiessling, 1970s. Used by Rosalie's son and daughter-in-law, from the 1970s through to the 1990s. The Kiessling family skied at Mt Buller and are members of Omega Ski Lodge. German by birth Rosalie, grew up skiing and ice skating, studied fashion design in Munich and worked designing women’s ski wear and lingerie before migrating to Australia via New Zealand in 1939 with her husband. As skiing increased in popularity following the end of WWII, Rosalie’s business grew reaching its peak during the 1960s. Though it was never large; at most she employed three staff. Rosalie continued to design and manufacture fashionable but functional ski wear until the late 1970s, although increasing imports from large overseas manufactures and constant new innovations in fabric technology made it difficult for her to compete in a relatively small industry. Reversible ski jacket with side zip pockets and full zip front. One side of the jacket is black fabric, while the other is black checked with a yellow and red weave. Rosalie Kiessling sportswear Melbourne / All cottonskiing, ski clothing, fashion design

The Fashion & Design collection of the Kew Historical Society includes examples of women’s, men’s, children’s and infants’ clothing from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Items in the collection were largely produced for, or purchased by women in Melbourne, and includes examples of outerwear, protective wear, nightwear, underwear and costume accessories. This coat was donated by Rona Jenkins.Purple velvet three quarter length coatLabel: "Elegance Reg."coats, elegance -- melbourne, fashion and design, women's clothing

Lily and William Wishart lived during this period in 'Noranook', Fernhurst grove, Kew. There are numerous contemporary accounts of the social and civic activities of Lily Wishart as mayoress of Kew. In a description of a 'Mayoral At Home' in the Kew Recreation Hall, a report in The Australasian (10 Aug 1907, p.46) described the event thus: MAYORAL AT HOME In the Kew Recreation-hall on Thursday evening the Mayor and Mrs. W. Wishart gave an at home to between two and three hundred guests. ... Prior to the musical programme, the mayor and mayoress held a reception, standing on a dais at one side of the room. Mrs. Wishart was gowned in black glace silk, trimmed with handsome lace applique, and she wore a cream Maltese lace scarf over her shoulders, and held a bouquet of cardinal carnations.' This may be the dress in the collection. Another interesting and relevant report is an account in The Argus (19 March 1907, p.6): 'WOMEN'S WORK EXHIBITION The mayoress of Kew (Mrs. W. Wishart) invited the ladies of the district to meet in the mayor's room, town-hall, Kew, at half past 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, to consider steps to be taken locally in support of the proposed Exhibition of Women's Work.'The dress is locally significant as the work of a skilled home-dressmaker in Kew, who was also a leading civic figure in the municipality. One tends to think of amateur dressmakers as women who could not afford to purchase clothes from a retailer. Clearly, 'women's work' and the skills that educated and wealthy women acquired in the period allowed them to fashion their own garments.Full length evening dress in four parts. Undergarments include two items: a basic black silk petticoat and an upper black silk slip, the latter with two bands of ruffles. The lace dress is in two parts: a bodice and a skirt. The black, high-necked bodice is constructed of silk organza to which guipure lace has been extensively applied. The bodice has long puffed sleeves, gathered on the forearm to form a wide band of lace and ribbon at the wrist. The skirt is constructed of the same black fabric with descending bands of gathered black silk ribbon, used as ornamentation. The skirt also features a long train. Apart from the donor information about its provenance, the style of the dress can confidently be dated to the period 1900-1910. The dress was made and worn to civic functions by Mrs Lily Wishart, Mayoress of Kew in 1906-7. Earlier items belonging to William and Lily Wishart entered the collection as early as 2002. The dress was donated by a descendant of a friend of Lily Wishart in 2020. The photograph of the dress and its components attached to the record needed to be digitally enhanced so that details of the dress could be viewed online, as the fabric of the dress is an intense black. A physical assessment of the dress is included in the condition report.fashion & design collection - kew historical society, australian fashion - 1900s, evening dresses, lily clara wishart, fashion design, fashion -- 1900s

Grace James, the creator of the items in the Grace James collection, designed and created costumes over a 19 year period (1969-1988) for her daughter Ceri. The collection of clothing ranges from evening wear to knitted garments. All the items display exemplary dressmaking skills. The designs are of the period and reflect evolving fashions of the time. Some items are copies of published designs whereas others are original creations. The collection was donated in 2006.While most of the items in the Fashion & Design Collection of the Kew Historical Society are commercially designed items of clothing, there are also items made by home dressmakers. Many of these exhibit outstanding design knowledge and technical skills. A large and important group of these items of women's clothing is contained in the Grace James collection of outfits created for the dressmaker's daughter. The items have additional significance due to information about the purpose of the creation and the date when it was constructed.Multicoloured knitted long coat dress. The garment has a high round collar and full-length sleeves. It is buttoned at the front.grace james, women's clothing, dressmakers - surrey hills (vic), fashion design, fashion -- 1970s

Grace James, the creator of the items in the Grace James collection, designed and created costumes over a 19 year period (1969-1988) for her daughter Ceri. The collection of clothing ranges from evening wear to knitted garments. All the items display exemplary dressmaking skills. The designs are of the period and reflect evolving fashions of the time. Some items are copies of published designs whereas others are original creations. The collection was donated in 2006.While most of the items in the Fashion & Design Collection of the Kew Historical Society are commercially designed items of clothing, there are also items made by home dressmakers. Many of these exhibit outstanding design knowledge and technical skills. A large and important group of these items of women's clothing is contained in the Grace James collection of outfits created for the dressmaker's daughter. The items have additional significance due to information about the purpose of the creation and the date when it was constructed.Three-piece pink chiffon outfit, the outer sections of a different floral weave. The two outer sections are attached with buttons at the waist. The plain pink shift with a zip at the neck was created to wear underneathgrace james, women's clothing, dressmakers - surrey hills (vic), fashion design, fashion -- 1980s

Grace James, the creator of the items in the Grace James collection, designed and created costumes over a 19 year period (1969-1988) for her daughter Ceri. The collection of clothing ranges from evening wear to knitted garments. All the items display exemplary dressmaking skills. The designs are of the period and reflect evolving fashions of the time. Some items are copies of published designs whereas others are original creations. The collection was donated in 2006.While most of the items in the Fashion & Design Collection of the Kew Historical Society are commercially designed items of clothing, there are also items made by home dressmakers. Many of these exhibit outstanding design knowledge and technical skills. A large and important group of these items of women's clothing is contained in the Grace James collection of outfits created for the dressmaker's daughter. The items have additional significance due to information about the purpose of the creation and the date when it was constructed.Multicoloured patchwork waisted dress featuring a full skirt.grace james, women's clothing, australian fashion 1969-1988, dressmakers - surrey hills (vic), fashion design, fashion -- 1980s

Grace James, the creator of the items in the Grace James collection, designed and created costumes over a 19 year period (1969-1988) for her daughter Ceri. The collection of clothing ranges from evening wear to knitted garments. All the items display exemplary dressmaking skills. The designs are of the period and reflect evolving fashions of the time. Some items are copies of published designs whereas others are original creations. The collection was donated in 2006.While most of the items in the Fashion & Design Collection of the Kew Historical Society are commercially designed items of clothing, there are also items made by home dressmakers. Many of these exhibit outstanding design knowledge and technical skills. A large and important group of these items of women's clothing is contained in the Grace James collection of outfits created for the dressmaker's daughter. The items have additional significance due to information about the purpose of the creation and the date when it was constructed.Long silk taffeta skirt made of patchwork silk pieces/panels with a matching silk scarf. The patchwork panels are in shades of pinks, purples and blues. The skirt is secured with clear plastic press-studs. A narrow internal border of lace is attached to the basque.grace james, women's clothing, australian fashion 1969-1988, dressmakers - surrey hills (vic), fashion design, fashion -- 1980s

Grace James, the creator of the items in the Grace James collection, designed and created costumes over a 19 year period (1969-1988) for her daughter Ceri. The collection of clothing ranges from evening wear to knitted garments. All the items display exemplary dressmaking skills. The designs are of the period and reflect evolving fashions of the time. Some items are copies of published designs whereas others are original creations. The collection was donated in 2006.While most of the items in the Fashion & Design Collection of the Kew Historical Society are commercially designed items of clothing, there are also items made by home dressmakers. Many of these exhibit outstanding design knowledge and technical skills. A large and important group of these items of women's clothing is contained in the Grace James collection of outfits created for the dressmaker's daughter. The items have additional significance due to information about the purpose of the creation and the date when it was constructed.Knitted dress Long-sleeved pink, knitted wool dress with a high round neck created by the dressmaker Grace James for her daughter Ceri Spain in 1988. Acquired in 2006 Grace James Collectiongrace james, women's clothing, australian fashion 1969-1988, dressmakers - surrey hills (vic), fashion design, fashion -- 1980s

Handmade hostess apron, made as an engagement gift by Joan Chambers, the donor's Ranger Guide leader, on the occasion of the donor's engagement in 1970, aged 22. The donor described the item as a 'hostess apron' as it was decorative and not for real kitchen duties.Blue hostess apron. Hand-made. Scalloped edges, with appliquéd and embroidered female dancers. aprons, hostess aprons, protective wear, fashion design, fashion 1970s

The bridal coat was part of a wedding ensemble worn by Peg Young in 1939. The final two images in the carousel include a wedding photograph of Peg and her husband. A letter accompanying the donation on file describes the outfit as: "Rosemary [Peg] looked very nice indeed in a simple white satin dress that made her look very tall and slim. It had trimming round the neck, down the front and on the shoulders that looked like quilting, with a little gold in it, and she wore gold slippers and a lovely lace veil, lent by Auntie Nellie. She carried a large sheaf of bright red roses." Mrs Peg Young, a Kew resident was at one stage President of the Children's Book Council of Australia. She was also a member of the Kew Historical Society. The coat was donated by her daughter, Mrs Helen Tutt.Floor-length satin bridal coat with a buttoned full length opening at the front extending the length of the garment. The front of the coat is hand-quilted in an abstract design of arabesques. The buttons are covered with the same satin fabric as the coat. Accompanying the dress there is a photo of the couple on the steps of the unnamed church in London and a letter describing the event, including the coat.Transcript of accompanying letter: Red Cottage Mallory Road Hove 4 Sussex England July 21.39 Dear Faith I have been up to London today to Rosemary's (Peggy) wedding. Though you might like to hear about it. To my mind the one sad part was that your Uncle Bertie and your adopted sister could not be there. Daisy (Margaret) has been simply splendid in all she has done. Rosemary looks very nice indeed in a simple white satin dress that made her look very tall & slim. It had trimming round the neck down the front & on the shoulders that looked like quilting, with a little gold in it, & she wore gold slippers & a lovely lace veil lent by Auntie Nellie. She carried a large sheaf of bright red roses. Her two bridesmaids were Mary & Brenda. They wore the same bridesmaids dresses as they wore at their sister Peggy's wedding a few weeks ago. They were very pale blue satin, simply made, with long skirts & they had lovely little flat bouquets made of the heads of all sorts of flowers out in the gold holder which I am sending you & tied round the handle with gold ribbon. They had wreaths of the same flowers in their hair. Nevil gave Rosemary away."costumes, wedding dresses, wedding coats, peg young, helen tutt, fashion design, fashion -- united kingdom, fashion -- 1930s

The donor's aunt, Margaret E. Hollis nee Piesse (18/2/1919-2008) wore this gown to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. She was one of a total of 8,251 guests who attended the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, London. Margaret Piesse was born in Hobart and grew up in the Piesse family home, 'Merridale', Sackville Street, Kew. She was residing at 4a Little Cloister, Westminster Abbey at the time of the Coronation and was married (on 14/2/1942) to Rev Howard Hollis, a minor Canon at the Abbey and a deputy Priest in – Ordinary to the Queen (1954-1959). Howard chanted the litany and carried the sceptre. Margaret’s daughter-in-law, Sue Hollis, Margaret’s sons, Julian who attended the Coronation with his mother, and Richard, gave the photograph to Felicity Renowden, the donor. Margaret Hollis died in Kew on 16/4/2008.Single piece, formal silk brocade gown worn to the Coronation of Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953. The bodice is informally draped with horizontal folds of fabric above an antebellum waistline below which is a full skirt. An accompanying photograph of the wearer in the dress can be viewed in the final image above. coronation elizabeth ii, piesse family, merridale -- sackville street -- kew (vic.), margaret e hollis, margaret ellen piesse, fashion design, fashion -- 1950s, women's clothing -- 1950s

Grace James, the creator of the items in the Grace James collection, designed and created costumes over a 19 year period (1969-1988) for her daughter Ceri. The collection of clothing ranges from evening wear to knitted garments. All the items display exemplary dressmaking skills. The designs are of the period and reflect evolving fashions of the time. Some items are copies of published designs whereas others are original creations. The collection was donated in 2006.While most of the items in the Fashion & Design Collection of the Kew Historical Society are commercially designed items of clothing, there are also items made by home dressmakers. Many of these exhibit outstanding design knowledge and technical skills. A large and important group of these items of women's clothing is contained in the Grace James collection of outfits created for the dressmaker's daughter. The items have additional significance due to information about the purpose of the creation and the date when it was constructed.Full-length cream silk taffeta bridesmaid’s dress. Same colour lace on the upper bodice and sleeves. australian fashion, grace james collection, bridesmaid's dresses, grace james, fashion design, fashion -- 1970s

Gouache on paper illustration of a woman from Pátzcuaro region, Michoacán, Mexico, by Mexican fashion illustrator Alfredo González Bouret (1926-2018). Likely created in 1953, prior to being exhibited in Mexico and Paris in 1954. From the Patzcuaro region of Michoacán state, Mexico, this woman wears a wide-brimmed 'sombrero' on top of her 'rebozo' - a long rectangular shawl made of wool or cotton with an intricate hand-knotted pattern, popular throughout Mexico. Her hair is held away from her face, likely in long plaits down her back in the traditional style of the region. Her ears and neck are decorated with long earrings and strings of beads, while her plain white blouse is tucked in to a bright red 'refajo' skirt, gathered at the waist by a textile belt with geometric designs. In her hands she holds long-stemmed lilies. While resembling other illustrations of fashion from the Patzcuaro region, this costume stands out for the bright colour of the skirt, and the lack of embroidered decoration on the blouse. Rebecca Lloyd, 2019.Mounted painting of a woman in traditional regional dress from the Patzcuaro region of Michoacán, Mexico. Gouache on paper, c.1953.Signed in green paint, bottom right, 'AG Bouret'.mexico, 1953, fashion design, painting, illustration, mexican, fashion illustration, dress

The Gown of the Year Program was a gala event in Melbourne's cultural calendar. Australia's supermodels of the day, such as Diane Masters (pictured), Bambi Shmith, and Betty Jackson modelled clothes by Melbourne's leading designers, Hall Ludlow, Le Louvre, and others. Diane Masters has played a seminal role in contributing to the Design Archives through her personal and professional fashion archive, her role in the Hall Ludlow collection and archive, the Laurie Carew collection, and her generosity in gifting items from the Frederick Romberg archive to the RMIT Design Archives. She has been and remains a key figure in Melbourne and Australian fashion. Suzanne Davies, 2017Black and white photograph features fashion designer Hall Ludlow (right), holding his trophies for winning the 1959 Gown of the Year at the Menzies Hotel, Melbourne. Model Diane Masters (right) is wearing the winning gown: a pale full length gown with short sleeves, scoop neck, and ruffled skirt. The matching coat also features small ruffled down its length.Verso: Stamped in black ink, bottom right: 'Photographed by/ ATHOL SHMITH/ F.R.P.S . . F.R.S.A/ 125 COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE/ TELEPHONE MF 5[illegible]4australian fashion, fashion design, mid-century modern

Louis Kahan (1905-2002) is best known in Australia for his skill as an artist. As Independent Fashion Curator, Laura Jocic has observed, ‘It is less known though that Kahan had a career in theatre and fashion in Vienna and Paris during the 1920s and 1930s that continued when he came to Australia in 1947. He signed his fashion illustration with the initials 'nac', a phonetic interpretation of his surname spelled backwards. In this illustration on newspaper we can see Kahan playing with the graphic effects of line and text, while communicating the cut and drape of late-1950s fashions.’ Kahn was born in Vienna in 1905 and first travelled to Australia in 1947. He moved to Melbourne in 1950 where he became friends with artist George Bell, writer Alan McCulloch who introduced him to Clem Christensen, editor of the literary journal Meanjin, where many of his portraits of Australian writers were published. His 1962 portrait of the author Patrick White won the Archibald Prize, bringing him national recognition. He also designed sets and costumes for the Elizabeth Theatre Trust (Opera Australia) and the Melbourne Theatre Company. In 1993 his contribution to Australian cultural life was recognised when he was made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO). He died in Melbourne, at the age of 97 in 2002. Ann Carew 2018Fashion illustration on newsprint. Drawing depicts two women. Women in foreground is wearing a long green coat and hat.Woman at rear is wearing a green and white evening dress with white gloves.Signed lower right in ink, 'nac 1958'.fashion illustration, fashion design

From its beginnings in 1958, the Society has mounted exhibitions and/or displays, in early days in shop windows and in community spaces located in the Kew City Hall (later Kew Library), and since 2010 at the Kew Court House. Exhibitions typically coincided with the annual Kew Community Festival in March, but after 2013 evolved into three new exhibitions yearly at the Kew Court House. Smaller displays continue to be mounted in the Kew Library. Series of born digital images of a lecture and an exhiition at the Villa Alba Museum in 2016 of Victorian era costumes, largely drawn from the Coombs Collection of the Society. The mounting of the costumes was made possible by a City of Boroondara Strengthening Communities grant for 2015-16. Most of the costumes displayed here are separately catalogued on Victorian Collections.kew historical society - exhibitions, villa alba museum, victorian fashion, fashion & design exhibition

176 pages : illustrations (chiefly colour) ; 27 cm.non-fictionEXHIBITION CATALOGUES &​ SPECIFIC COLLECTIONS. Spanning four centuries, the V&​A's Fashion Collection is the most comprehensive in the world, housing unrivaled collections of dress,accessories, shoes and hats from the 17th century to the present day. This thoroughly revised and redesigned edition shows the collection, from rare eighteenth-century gowns and exquisite bodices to 1930s evening wear, post-war couture, and showstopping ensembles by contemporary designers. Among the designers featured are Charles Frederick Worth, Madeleine Vionnet, Coco Chanel, Cristobal Balenciaga, Christian Dior, Mary Quant, Stephen Jones, Vivienne Westwood, and Alexander McQueen.fashion design - history - exhibitions., fashion - history - pictorial works., victoria and albert museum -- catalogs.

An item forming part of a collection of costumes, photographs and documents relating to the Weir family who lived in the mansion originally named Illapa, 84 Princess Street, Kew, from c.1917 to 1950. This historically significant collection includes items relating to both George Weir (1866-1937) and his wife Edith Mary Weir (1867-1948). George Weir attained national prominence in the mining industry, becoming General Manager of the North Broken Hill Silver Mining Company in 1903 (later renamed North Broken Hill Mining Company 1905-12, and North Broken Hill Ltd 1912-1988), and subsequently President of the Mine Owners Association. He was to remain General Manager of North Broken Hill Ltd until his retirement in 1926.This garment is significant as it is part of 25-piece collection of women’s clothing owned by Edith Mary Weir (nee Betteridge), who was born in Clare, South Australia in 1867 and who died in Kew at the age of 81 in 1948. The items of clothing in the collection date from the 1880s to the 1940s and constitute outstanding examples of dressmaker’s skills from each of these decades. The collection includes day dresses, evening dresses, evening coats, capes, and undergarments. As the wife of a mining engineer, and later mine manager, Edith Weir’s clothing has historic significance as examples of clothing worn by upper middle class Australian women in domestic circumstances and at social and civic events. The costumes in the collection represent the periods when Edith Weir lived in Broken Hill, New South Wales, and in Kew, Melbourne. A number of the costumes from the 1920s to the 1940s are of a particularly fine quality, being both rare, representative and intact examples of Australian fashion of the period. The garments in the Weir Collection were donated to the Kew Historical Society by the granddaughter of Edith Weir. An Edwardian slik, net and broderie anglaise bed jacket, bought by and worn by Edith Mary (Betteridge) Weir. Given the date of the item, the jacket was initially worn in Broken Hill where the Weir's lived, when her husband was Manager of the North Broken Hill Mine and later brought to Kew, ca. 1917 when the Weirs moved to Princess Street, Kew. The jacket was gifted by Edith Weir's grandaughter. It forms part of the Society's Weir Collection.edith mary weir (nee betteridge), 84 princes street (kew), costumes, fashion & design collection - kew historical society, women's clothing, weir collection

Grace James, the creator of the items in the Grace James collection, designed and created costumes over a 19 year period (1969-1988) for her daughter Ceri. The collection of clothing ranges from evening wear to knitted garments. All the items display exemplary dressmaking skills. The designs are of the period and reflect evolving fashions of the time. Some items are copies of published designs whereas others are original creations. The collection was donated in 2006.While most of the items in the Fashion & Design Collection of the Kew Historical Society are commercially designed items of clothing, there are also items made by home dressmakers. Many of these exhibit outstanding design knowledge and technical skills. A large and important group of these items of women's clothing is contained in the Grace James collection of outfits created for the dressmaker's daughter. The items have additional significance due to information about the purpose of the creation and the date when it was constructed.Long mauve dress of a heavy crepe like fabric incorporating floral embroidery.grace james, women's clothing, dressmakers - surrey hills (vic), fashion -- 1960s, fashion design