Showing 80 items
matching lady's fashion
-
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Manufactured Object, 2 x gold metal filigree buckles, c1900
c1900 Decorative silver, pewter or brass buckles were attached by ribbons or straps to plain shoes for evening and special occasions . These buckles were worn by a lady in the family of Ailsa Hunt in Moorabbin ShireThese decorative shoe buckles were a common accessory for early settler women in Moorabbin Shire c19002 x fan shaped gold metal filigree buckles with claspfootwear, shoes, buckles, clothing, silver, pewter, brass, victorian fashion, edwardian fashion, market gardeners, early settlers, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, moorabbin, cheltenham, wedding dresses, evening wear, -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Manufactured Object, 2 x fan shaped gold metal buckles c1900, c1900
c1900 Decorative silver, pewter, gold plated or brass buckles were attached by ribbons or straps to plain shoes for evening and special occasions . These buckles were worn by a lady in the family of Ailsa Hunt in Moorabbin ShireThese decorative shoe buckles were a common accessory for early settler women in Moorabbin Shire c19002 x fan shaped gold metal buckles joined by a clasp and with 2 bars at back footwear, shoes, buckles, clothing, silver, pewter, brass, victorian fashion, edwardian fashion, market gardeners, early settlers, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, moorabbin, cheltenham, wedding dresses, evening wear, -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Manufactured Object, white metal pill box, 20thC
c1900 Decorative silver 'pill boxes' were popular accessories carried in a small purse by women for evening and special occasions . This 'pill box' was used by a lady in the family of Ailsa Hunt in Moorabbin SSmall decorative silver pill boxes were a common accessory for early settler women in Moorabbin Shire c1900A small rectangular white metal pill box with gold lining, a hinged lid and snap lock machined pattern on lid with beading on edgeclothing, pill boxes, silver, pewter, brass, evening bags, victorian fashion, edwardian fashion, market gardeners, early settlers, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, moorabbin, cheltenham, wedding dresses, evening wear, -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Manufactured Object, 1 x square/ oval white metal buckle, c1900
c1900 Decorative silver, pewter or brass buckles were attached by ribbons or straps to plain shoes for evening and special occasions . This buckle was worn by a lady in the family of Ailsa Hunt in Moorabbin ShireThis decorative shoe buckle was a common accessory for early settler women in Moorabbin Shire c1900 An oval white metal shoe buckle with filigree and 2x central square spaces bridged by a bar Bridging bar : Made in Francefootwear, shoes, buckles, clothing, silver, pewter, brass, victorian fashion, edwardian fashion, market gardeners, early settlers, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, moorabbin, cheltenham, wedding dresses, evening wear, -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Clothing - Clothing, lady's 1/2 petticoat hooped, c1950
Hooped cotton petticoats were used to support a polished cotton gathered calf length skirt during the RockNRoll era in the 1950,s Typical petticoat during the 1950,sA lady's white cotton 1/2 petticoat with elasticised waist and 3 rows of inserted hoops. clothing, petticoats, fashion, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Clothing - Clothing, lady's silk nightgown c1930, c1930
This lady’s full length cream silk long sleeved nightgown with lace insert around neckline and cuffs is an example of the dressmaking and lacework skills of the women of the early settlers families in Moorabbin Shire in the early 1930'sEarly settlers and market gardeners established their families in Moorabbin Shire c1900 and this item shows the skill and craftsmanship of the women of these families A lady's full length cream silk long sleeved nightgown with lace insert around neckline and cuffs c1930clothing, petticoats, fashion, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Manufactured Object, Hair 'Butterfly clips' stainless steel, c1960
These are stainless steel Hair styling Clips that are used for creating definite, non permanent Waves in a lady's hair c 1920 to 1960. Ladies usually went to the hairdresser for this styling but they could do it themselves at home Gladys Reed was a member of the Ormond Choral Society c 1950. who performed plays and musicals the City of Moorabbin Finger waves were very a fashionable Hairstyle 1920 - 1960. Gladys Reed, who was a member of the Ormond Choral Society c 1950.that performed plays and musicals the City of Moorabbin used these 'butterfly clips'Steel spring 'butterfly clips' used for crimping hair to form waves. Sanitarium Health Food Company Box c 1960 used for storage.hairdressing, finger wave hairstyle, steel, fashion, theatrical props, craftwork, sequins, beading, early settlers, moorabbin shire, mechanics institute cheltenham, ormond choral society, postworld war 11 settlers, housing estates moorabbin 1950, bentleigh, ormond, moorabbin, cheltenham, drama societies, musical society cheltenham, clark judy, reed gladys, reed george, hairdressing salons -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Clothing - Clothing, lady's stockings, Circa 1920s- 30s
These stockings were very popular with women c1920 -- 30A pair of Beau Monde, size 8 1/2, unworn ladies grey cotton lisle stockings. Back seam, with fully fashioned heel and toe. (Stockings were held up by a garter belt.)BEAU MONDE / Size 8 1/2 clothing, lingerie, hosiery, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, beau monde pty ltd, market gardeners, early settlers, maggs nancy -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Photograph, The Cheltenham Market Gardner's Picnic, The Gardner's Picnic pre 1914-18 War, pre 1914-18
The photograph is pre 1914-18. It is showing Cheltenham Market Gardeners having a picnic. The Market Gardeners gave Moorabbin it's first industry, which was to prove the most durable and resilient. The ladies and gentlemen are dressed in very fine clothes. All of the men are wearing suits with waistcoats and white shirts with neck ties. One man has a Boater hat , 4 have Bowler hats and 5 have Stetson hats. 5 men are standing and 4 men are kneeling or sitting with the ladies. The ladies are seated on the ground around a table runner on which items of food are seen. Most of the ladies are wearing white dresses, one lady has a dark coloured skirt with a white frilly blouse, and all have large wide brimmed fashionably decorated hats . They all seem to be dressed in their best clothes.The photograph depicts a group of men and women, 16 altogether, having a picnic pre World War 1 1914-1918 . They are surrounded by trees and bushes outside.Front of mount : R. McGeehan Photograph, Beechworth. Back of Mount Address Balaclava / C Whitehead / Gardeners Picnic / Pre World War 11914-18, moorabbin. picnic, market gardeners, early settlers, pioneers, moorabbin shire, cheltenham, fashion, dressmaking, bowler hats, boater hats, stetson hats, bonnets, chapeau, menswear, neckties, beechworth mcgeehan r, photographs, -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Accessory - Personal Effects, Evening bag, c1900
In the 17th century young girls were taught embroidery as a necessary skill for marriage, this also helped them make very beautiful handbags. By the late 18th century, fashions in Europe were moving towards a slender shape and women wanted purses that would not be bulky or untidy in appearance, so reticules were designed. Reticules were made of fine fabrics like silk and velvet, with wrist strapA lady's beige, beaded, silk lined, evening bag with press stud fastenerevening wear, purses, personal effects, handbags, fashion, needlework, craftwork, dressmaking, moorabbin, brighton, early settlers, pioneers, cheltenham -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Personal Effects, evening bag, c1900
In the 17th century young girls were taught embroidery as a necessary skill for marriage, this also helped them make very beautiful handbags. By the late 18th century, fashions in Europe were moving towards a slender shape and women wanted purses that would not be bulky or untidy in appearance, so reticules were designed. Reticules were made of fine fabrics like silk and velvet, with wrist strap often decorated with pearls, sequins, beads and embroidery. A lady's black velvet, silk lined, evening bag with draw-string and hand made tassels. The bag is decorated with beads in a floral designmoorabbin, brighton, early settlers, pioneers, cheltenham, craft work, dressmaking -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Personal Effects, lady's hat pins various x 14, c1880 - 1950
These hat pins represents women's fashion in the late 19thC and early 20thC. As the material used in the construction is not of a high monetary value it can be assumed it was everyday woman's apparel to keep the hat firmly fastened into the hair. It does indicate that fashion of the time was important and many women used their craftwork skills to create their own hat pins. This item is a reflection of the fashion mode of the late 19thC and early 20thC when long hair needed to be controlled by hair pins It is also an example of society's mores of tidiness 14 lady's steel hat pins in various styles numbered A -i A) 6x pearl tear-drop ; B) 1x pink metal beads;C) gold ball in 'oyster shell'; D) gold ball; E) pink plastic weave; F) silver metal ball; g) black bead; h) white ball; i) pale blue glass set in brassmoorabbin, brighton, early settlers, pioneers, cheltenham, craftwork, clothing -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Manufactured Glass, small perfume bottle, 20thC
An accoutrement for a Lady's Evening bag early 20thC A small, green glass perfume bottle with Lavender water. An accoutrement for a Lady's Evening bag.OLD COTTAGE LAVENDER/ GROSSMITH / LONDONperfume, lavender water, fashion, personal effects, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, early settlers -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Personal Effects, lady's mantilla style haircomb, 20thC
A hair fashion accessory for 20thCentury ladies. Plastic is a material consisting of any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organics that are malleable and can be moulded into solid objects of diverse shapes. Due to their relatively low cost, ease of manufacture, versatility, and imperviousness to water, plastics are used in an enormous and expanding range of products. They displaced many traditional materials, such as wood, stone, horn and bone, leather, paper, metal, glass, and ceramic, in most of their former uses including jewellery. Parkesine is considered the first man-made plastic. The plastic material was patented by Alexander Parkes, In Birmingham, UK in 1856.The world's first fully synthetic plastic was bakelite, invented in New York in 1907 by Leo Baekeland who coined the term 'plastics'. After World War I, improvements in chemical technology led to an explosion in new forms of plastics, with mass production beginning in the 1940s during World War 11 due to shortages of silk and ivory.A plastic, tortoise shell pattern, lady's hair-comb in the mantilla style with diamante decoration.hair fashion, hairdressing, coiffure, plastic, personal effects, jewellery, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, early settlers, world war 1 1914-1918, world war 11 1939-1945, silk, ivory, bakelite, -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Clothing - Clothing, lady's nylon stockings 'Worth', mid 20thC
Leon Worth Hosiery Manufacturer Pty Ltd made nylon stockings for women from a factory in Melbourne until the business was sold 1989.A pair of unworn lady's brown bri-nylon stockings made by 'Leon Worth Pty Ltd' , in the original box.Inside Lid of box : WORTH / 60 DENIER / SATIN STRETCH DENIER / 2 / months written guarantee. On Stocking top : WORTH / SATIN S-T-R-E-T-C-H / 2 X 30 DENIER SEAMLESS / BRI / Nylon / 10 ½ - 11clothing, stockings, hosiery, leon worth pty ltd melbourne, fashion, nylon, bri-nylon, bentleigh, cheltenham, moorabbin -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Clothing - Clothing, lady’s half petticoat, c1970
Laura and Bernard Ashley began printing fabric in their London kitchen in 1953. Commencing with head scarves and place-mats they gradually developed table-ware and bed sheets. In 1960 they entered the Fashion world with blouses and smocks . The ‘swinging sixties’ saw them in great demand for the feminine florals and flounces of the ‘maxi’ fashions and they opened in smart South Kensington, London. In 1970 they opened franchises in Australia, Canada, Japan, San Francisco that sold their range of fabrics, dresses and accessories. In 1980 home furnishings were added to the range. Laura died in an accident 1985, Bernard retired in1993 and the company is now Public Listed on Stock Exchange.‘Laura Ashley’ clothing, fabric and accessories were very popular in Melbourne in 1970’s.A lady’s white cotton half petticoat with crocheted flounce, Laura Ashley Pty Ltdclothing, brighton, moorabbin, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork, textiles, laura ashley -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Clothing, Lady's silk short nighties with button crutch x2, c1930
Lady's silk short nighties with shoulder straps, button crutch, crochet edging and needlework flowers is typical of the fashion c1930 and is an example of the dressmaking skills of the women of the early settlers families in Moorabbin Shire in the early 20th C These lady’s silk nighties are an example of the dressmaking skills of the women of the early settlers families in Moorabbin Shire in the early 20th C 2x Lady's silk short nighties,with shoulder straps, 2 mother of pearl buttons at crutch, crochet edging,and needlework flowers clothing, , crochet, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, needlework, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork , bentleigh, lacework, moorabbin shire, hunt ailsa, dairy farms, fruit orchards -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Booklet - Madame Weigel's Journal of Fashion, A Delightful Home Journal June 1 1937, c1937
Gladys Reed was a member of the Ormond Choral Society c 1950. who performed plays and musicals the City of Moorabbin and she used these patterns to make clothes etc.for her family and the Choral Society. Madame Weigel who migrated to Melbourne in1877 with her husband Oscar; began publishing in 1878 and distributed paper patterns of the latest fashions, throughout Australia and New Zealand, She and Oscar became the first commercial manufacturers of paper patterns in Australasia, and to publish Weigel's Journal of Fashion (1880-1915) and Madame Weigel's Journal of Fashion (1915-1950). Madame Weigel had an enormous following of women who used her patterns across the generations, and across the life cycle from babies to 'matrons'. Madame Weigel died in 1940 aged 92 years. Finally, after 91 years of business and millions of patterns sold, Madame Weigel's paper pattern business closed in 1969.Gladys Reed was a member of the Ormond Choral Society c 1950. who performed plays and musicals in the City of Moorabbin and used these patterns for clothes etc for members of her family and the Choral Society. Madame Weigel was one of the most remarkable of early Australasian business women.A black and white booklet of 37 pages with advertisements, sketches, articles, photographs, knitting,crochet and tapestry instructions, dressmaking patterns and recipes. Volume LV111 pages 122 - 159 completeFront Cover ; Registered at the General Post Office Melbourne for transmission by post as a Newspaper / 4d / Published Monthly / MADAME / WEIGEL'S / JOURNAL OF FASHION / Vol LV111 No. 688 / A Delightful Home Journal / JUNE 1, 1937 / 58th YEAR OF PUBLICATION / Illustrated at Right - / Crocheted Cushion of / Unusual Design./popular Bed-Jacket. / ( Daisy Wheel Design) /Illustrated at Left - FREE Pattern ; / Lady's Costume Coat. / 34 Inches Bust Meas. Back Cover : Advertisement for Bushells Blue Label Tea / Printed and Published by Geo. Humphries for Madame Weigel Pty Ltd , Lennox and Rowena Sts., Richmond. Vic.haberdashery, cotton, lace, pillow cases, sheets, clothing, dressmaking, needlework, market gardens, dairy farms, lacework, craftwork, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, moorabbin, cheltenham,reed gladys, clark judy -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Clothing, Hat feathers x 8 c1910, c1910
Victorian and Edwardian ladies adorned their hats with various bird feathers. Although living conditions in Moorabbin Shire c1910, were basic families still held onto their traditional English and European customs and took pride in presenting elements of refined society. Gladys Reed was a member of the Ormond Choral Society c 1950. who performed plays and musicals the City of Moorabbin and she was skilled in craftwork, hand knitting, crochet and dressmaking. Her garments were used by her family and the Ormond Choral Society C1910 Women in Moorabbin Shire followed the fashion from Europe and made their own clothes and accessories using their dressmaking, craftwork and design skills 8 x feathers of various sizes and colours for adorning a Lady's hat c 1910 a) Blue & b) White Ostrich, c) Black Cockerel, d) Black Emu Feathers. e) Brown stripped Coque Diamond Tail f) Pink dyed ostrich, g) Black duck, h) black fur clothing, millinery, hat feathers, haberdashery, crochet, doilies, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork , bentleigh, lacework, moorabbin shire,reed gladys, clark judy, dairy farms, fruit orchards, footwear, shoes, buckles, clothing, silver, pewter, brass, victorian fashion, edwardian fashion, mckinnon, moorabbin, cheltenham, wedding dresses, evening wear, -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Book, Lady of Fashion 1800 /1935
... Lady of Fashion 1800 /1935... Cottage Museum) Joyce Park Jasper Road Ormond melbourne Lady ...non-fiction -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - CASTLEMAINE GAS COMPANY COLLECTION: PHOTO PEOPLE
Gas and Fuel Fashion,Food,Fitness. Four men in suits posing for photo, three are holding glasses of liquor. Lady in red dress in background. Date and location Unknown.event, social, gas & fuel fashion, food, fitness -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - CASTLEMAINE GAS COMPANY COLLECTION: PHOTO PEOPLE
Gas and Fuel Fashion,Food,Fitness. Four men in suits posing for photo, three are holding glasses of liquor. Lady in red dress in background. Date and location Unknown.person, group, men and woman -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - STUDIO PORTRAIT OF A STANDING LADY, 1915
Sepia photograph of a standing lady. Inscriptions: on front - 'To dear Tom and Jane with Bessie's love, Feb 1915'. 'Monteath, Melb.'.Monteath, Melbourneperson, individual, female portrait, female, clothing, costume, fashion, individual -
Hume City Civic Collection
Photograph, Late 19th century
It is a portrait of a person assumed to be a distant relative of the Evans family. The photo has been handed down through four generations to the donor, Jane Ireland.A framed copy of an oval type photograph of a lady. The frame is made up of a brown stained timber on the outside with a gold surround in the middle and a red velvet inner surround. The head and shoulders portrait shows a lady dressed according to the fashion of the late Victorian era.evans, anne, holden, anne, emu bottom homestead, settlers, george evans collection -
Hume City Civic Collection
Photograph, c 1965
This is stage in the Sunbury Memorial Hall decorated for the Presidential Ball held on the 21 May 1965. The Shire president, Cr. John Joseph McMahon and his wife Margaret, along with Major General Sir Rohan Delacombe and Lady Delacombe were among the official guests.A black and white photograph of a decorated stage.debutante balls, memorial hall, dancing, fashions, presidential balls, councillors, shire of bulla, mcmahon, john .j., margaret, o'leary, jack, nolan, clem, delacombe, rohan. (sir), george evans collection -
Chiltern Athenaeum Trust
Clothing - Pair of gloves and an umbrella/parasol cover, Unknown
Ladies’ gloves were an essential part of life in the 1840s to 1900 Victorian era, regardless of class most ladies wore gloves. The glove design, material, and fit would hint at a lady's status, despite their hands being covered. A shorter style of glove would have been used for daytime wear, along with the matching parasol cover and would be matched to the owner's outfit. Leather was a material often used since the 1900s, however when WWI hit the price of leather gloves increased and many resorted to cheaper materials for their accessories. Although particular styles for evening-wear gloves altered throughout the 20th Century, the classic neutral leather glove was a staple throughout Australian ladies' fashion during this time. The need for gloves and parasol cover however disappeared in the 1960s when gloves were only used in the winter months as a practicality rather than a fashion accessory.The leather gloves and parasol cover indicate the owner was wealthy and was able to spend money on good quality accessories. This may have been due to the fact that Chiltern was a gold-rush town and would have had some wealthy families living there from the late 19th Century. The leather items are a symbol of such wealth and social signifiance in the rural town of Chiltern.Gloves: Beige colour with brown hand stitched detail on the upper hand - 3 lengths. Brown stitched all around with finger gussets. Three brown leather button detail to the upper cuff (actual leather circular pieces meant to resemble buttons, hand stitched in beige). Umbrella/parasol cover: Same soft leather as gloves and detail, metal zip along the length and tapered to one end. Two leather circular pieces meant to resemble buttons, one missing at the top). chiltern, leather, leather gloves, leather parasol cover, parasol, parasol cover, gloves, wealth, gold rush, chiltern athenaeum museum, chiltern gold rush -
National Wool Museum
Sample, Yarn
One of a batch of yarn sample cards. Alexander Lau established his business in 1950 in the Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston Street, Melbourne. He designed textiles and commissionned many of his textiles to be spun andf woven in Geelong mills. He had a long association with the Returned Soldiers and Sailors Mill and with Mr Schofield, the manager. In 2000, he retired and closed the business.GRENAT/GREY/LADY/LOGIEtextile design fashion textile industry - history, alexander lau pty ltd, textile design, fashion, textile industry - history -
National Wool Museum
Sample, Yarn
One of a batch of yarn sample cards. Alexander Lau established his business in 1950 in the Nicholas Building, 37 Swanston Street, Melbourne. He designed textiles and commissionned many of his textiles to be spun andf woven in Geelong mills. He had a long association with the Returned Soldiers and Sailors Mill and with Mr Schofield, the manager. In 2000, he retired and closed the business.GREY/ LADY/LOGIEtextile design fashion textile industry - history, alexander lau pty ltd, textile design, fashion, textile industry - history -
National Wool Museum
Archive - Advertisement, Eagley Woollen Mills, 1956
Note from collector- "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from."The wonderful warmth of Eagley (lady in bed)The wonderful warmth of Eagley Pure Wool Blankets/In fascinating colours and intriguing designs/Hygienically wrapped in cellophane/Obtainable from All Leading Stores blanket, blanket fever, wool, eagley woollen mills, advertisement, woman's day -
National Wool Museum
Archive - Advertisement, Laconia Woollen Mills, 1949
Note from collector- "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from." Australia's Most Beautiful Blankets (Lady with Blanket)The Laconia Blanket/Guaranteed All Pure Wool/Australia's Most Beautiful Blankets/Laconia Blankets Make Goodnight a Certainty blanket, blanket fever, wool, laconia, advertisement