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 silk waisted hip-length over-jacket with commercial lace trim. The silk on one of the sleeves has been ripped. fashion - melbourne - 1860s, jackets, women's clothing, jean woollard

Description of women's costumes from 1860s to 1970s, illustrated by photographs from various sources.10 p. text and black and white/sepia photographswomen's costume, dating photographs, clothing, fashion, women's clothing

Carte de Visite. Portrait photograph, c. 2.25x3.5 ins.card mounted, with the photographer's name, etc. on the back. Cost cut by use of multiple lens. Collected (friends, celebrities, etc.) , for albums; not used as visiting cards. Mainly 1860s, but the fashion revived in the 1890s with a larger 'cabinet card'Hand tinted, with oil paint Carte de Viste of a middle aged woman. Held in a hinged leather bound case with a clip fastener. Photo surrounded by patterned gold leaf on left hand inner side. The right hand side covered with padded brown velvet. Daguerreotype.photography, photographs / slides / film

Ann Austin of Melbourne was the name of a Melbourne millinery house. Thelma Prentice was one of the partners in the house, and the chief designer/milliner. Very little information about the millinery house and the milliner are available online but there is an interesting article, published in the Brisbane Courier Mail on 8 October 1949 which describes the influence of French style on fashion and design in Australia. The article by Lucy Gough recounts the views of Thelma Prentice who had just returned from the Paris fashion shows. "Australian millinery toes line with Paris From LUCY GOUGH LONDON, October 7 (Special) Australian hats can compare very favourably with those designed in Paris, and are considerably cheaper, says Miss Thelma Prentice, partner in a well-known Melbourne millinery firm, who has just completed six months' visit to England and the Continent. An ordinary hat, Miss Prentice said, would cost at least £15 from any of the top Paris houses. Australia could achieve the same effect for a lot less money. Miss Prentice went to all the Important dress shows as well as the millinery houses in Paris, because she believes that millinery is an accessory to fashion and to obtain the best idea of new trends hats must be shown with frocks to get a complete follow-through and tie-up between the two. At their packed shows, with standing room only, Path and Dior were selling hats they designed, faster than many well known Paris millinery houses, Fath's favourite line was the becoming 'wing treatment,' which he achieved by a profile flattering side swing of material jutting out almost 10 inches from the face. This was completely different to the side drape already seen in Australia. Dior, as a direct contrast, was specialising in skull hats, which almost followed the hair line, to show very little hair at the back of the head. His cocktail hats were heavily sequinned and beaded. Every model was designed exclusively for short hair, and Miss Prentice, whose own hair is beautifully short cut by a Paris hairdresser, said that French mannequins' hair was so abbreviated at the back it was almost a semi-shingle. Hats generally she found were plain, with sharply angled self trimming, and black one of the most popular colours." The hat was donated by Kathleen Gervasoni, a resident of Kew, and during the 1970s a Mayoress of the former City of Kew. The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.High crowned hat made of burgundy felt with decorative pink jersey turban folds attached to the side by clusters of pink beads. The hat was designed by Thelma Prentice of the ' Austin of Melbourne' millinery house. Label, inside centre crown, woven in black on white polyester: *ann austin / OF MELBOURNEmilliners, hats, ann austin of melbourne, thelma prentice, australian fashion - 1960s, kathleen gervasoni

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.Tan/Rust-coloured silk bodice and skirt. The silk used in the garment is self-patterned with a leaf design. The bodice has extensive gold and silver coloured glass beading. The silk used in the sleeves of the bodice and the skirt is badly degraded/‘shattered’.australian fashion - 1860s, women's clothing - 1860s, dresses - 1860s, shattered silk

From its beginnings in 1958, the Society has mounted exhibitions and/or displays, in early days in shop window 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. Photograph of three costumes exhibited at the Kew Library, all donated by Netta Fuller, and dated to the 1860s.netta fuller, australian fashion - 1860s, women's clothing - 1860s, dresses - 1860s, kew historical society - exhibitions, exhibitions - victorian era fashion

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.The donor, a resident of Kew, provided a handwritten provenance with the donation. "This is an heirloom dress, worn in Tasmania by a Fletcher relative c. 1860s, 1870s. It was for years, with another in the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, then borrowed for concerts. In (the) 1990s it was enlarged at the back for a Centenary reenactment. I thought you might like it for your collection."19th century white cotton day dress, photographed as accessioned, which is printed with a design in black. The front has a 3/4 length buttoned opening. The dress has wide ruffles in the same fabric at the base of the skirt. The later 1990s inserts which can be seen in the first and third images have been removed in preparation for the dress to be restored. The buttons are a later addition. Historically appropriate replacement buttons were later added.women's clothing, day dresses, australian fashion - 1870s, coralie coulston

Stella Long's millinery business was located in the Block Arcade Melbourne. She was one of the best known Melbourne milliners during the 1950s and 1960s.The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Pale pink silk circular hat bordered with darker pink satin, and crowned with pink feathers and a silk rose, all draped with pink net. The hat was retailed by Stella Long, 14 Block Arcade, Melbourne. Label: Original model from Stella Long. 14 Block Arcade Melb. 638507.milliners -- melbourne (vic. -- stella long, milliners -- stella long -- block arcade, women's clothing -- hats, headwear

1870s women's fashion placed an emphasis on the back of the skirt, with long trains and fabric draped up into bustles with an abundance of flounces and ruching. The waist was lower in the 1870s than the 1860s, with an elongated and tight bodice and a flat fronted skirt. Beige coloured silk top with narrow mauve stripes. The top has a piped mandarin collar. The top has satin trimming. women's clothing, fashion - melbourne - 1870s, bodices

The firm of Harbig was a Melbourne millinery company owned by Mr and Mrs Richard Ernest Harbig. In 1949, an article in the West Australian newspaper reported their return from the United States. It records that: 'FEATHERS SYDNEY, Sept. 14: Mr. and Mr. Richard Harbig, Melbourne milliners who reached Sydney by air tonight from America, gave these details of hat trends for next winter. Shapes: Head-hugging cloches to suit short hair, cut away at the back to clear high collars, and built up and out at the front to give height. Materals: Felts, velours, velvets, and a new long-haired fur fabric called flamond. Colours: Muted pastels, few jewel shades, and no vivid colours. Trimmings: Little veiling, "but feathers and feathers and feathers".'The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Pale green woman’s hat created by Harbig of Melbourne with a large border of flowers and leaves in shades of green. The crown of the hat is swathed with pale green silk gauze.Label: Harbig. Melbourne, New York, Parismilliners -- harbig, women's clothing -- hats, floral hats

The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Soft broad brimmed black coloured woman’s hat by Janell constructed of black straw and covered with fine black silk gauze. The shape of the hat is in the 'mushroom' style.Label: Janellmillliners -- australia -- janell, women's clothing -- hats, headwear

The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Woman’s hat retailed by Beryl Richards of Melbourne which is constructed on a stiffened net and covered with pieces of white fabric cut to simulate the shape of petals.Label: Beryl Richards Hats - Melbourneberyl richards, milliners -- melbourne (vic.), women's clothing -- hats, headwear

The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. Most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women. There are however a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Woven red woman’s half hat with the addition of red net and flowers at the side in the same colourNilwomen's clothing -- hats, cocktail hats, headwear

R&M Dower was a major millinery partnership located at 146 High Street, Kew in the 1940s and 1950s. Examples of this millinery firm's hats are in other major public collections, including the National Gallery of Victoria.The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Wide brimmed navy blue fine straw woman’s hat retailed by R & M Dower of High Street, Kew, with red, white and apricot coloured fabric flowers surrounding the crown of the hat.Label: R & M Dower 146 High St., Kew. Phone WM 8527r & m dower, milliners, hats, australian fashion, women's clothing

An article in the Melbourne Age (2 March 1978, p. 25) recorded the retirement of Clare Ralph of Goullet of Melbourne (active 1953-78). "One of Australia's most talented milliners, Clare Ralph, of Goullet, is selling her business because she wants to spend more time in her garden. "I have been in the business for 25 years and last week I turned 60 and so I thought now is the time," Mrs. Ralph said at her Richmond shop yesterday. ... Mrs. Ralph is selling cheaply $10,000 for the label, which also covers sportswear, and tenancy and lease of the premises which have a showroom and workroom. ... Mrs. Ralph is as unpretentious as the relaxed Goullet styling which brought the new concept of millinery to Australia non-hatty hats with none of the "Melbourne Mum" quality so rife at the time. She said she started off making hats rather than dressmaking because she couldn't afford to buy the three yards of material necessary for a dress. "I wanted to get out of the house and so I did millinery night classes at Caulfield Tech." Her first efforts were sun-hats of natural straw which Mrs. Ralph trimmed extravagantly … "gold fishnet and braiding and sparkly jewels all over the crown. "They were ridiculous but a lot of fun," she said. She carted them by train to the city and nervously showed them to a store buyer. After the meeting, she couldn't face taking the samples home again on the train and left them. Before she could collect them, to everyone's amazement particularly Clare Ralph's, they had been sold. "The next thing was people were asking me what I was going to do for winter. I hadn't thought I was in the industry. I just thought I had sold a couple of sun hats and that was marvellous because I needed the money," she said. If the new buyer is interested, Clare Ralph will continue designing hats on a consultancy basis for them, which would be great for all the fans she has collected since those crazy sun-hat days.The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. Most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women. There are however a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Wide brimmed woman’s hat designed by Clare Ralph of Goullet of Melbourne, constructed of white stiffened fabric with a white fabric cord surrounding the crown of the hat.Label: Designed by Goullet of Melbournegoullet of melbourne, clare ralph -- milliner, women's clothing -- hats, headwear

The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Pale green woman’s fascinator retailed by Janelle which is constructed of two joined circles and covered with net of the same colourLabel: Janellemilliners -- australia -- janell, milliners -- janell, women's clothing -- hats, fascinators, headwear

R&M Dower was a major millinery partnership located at 146 High Street, Kew in the 1940s and 1950s. Examples of this millinery firm's hats are in other major public collections, including the National Gallery of Victoria.The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Small brimless woman’s hat retailed by R & M Dower of High Street, Kew. The structure of the hat is made of stiffened net, covered with multicoloured flowers, leaves and a purple ribbon.Label: R & M Dower, 146 High St., Kew. Phone WM 8527.r & m dower, milliners -- kew (vic.), women's clothing -- hats, headwear

In the descriptions of two hats by La Rene in the Museum Victoria collection it is suggested that their origin may be French. La Rene was also a Sydney design house and it is believed that the fedora in the Kew collection is an Australian product. This hat and the MV examples have similar attributes.The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Deep pink coloured felt woman’s fedora by La Rene with a broad navy ribbon at the base of the crown. The rim is fastened to the crown at one side of the hat.Label: Fashioned by La Rene. 37-6622; 36-1690women's clothing -- hats, headwear, milliners - la rene

The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.A conical, stiffened net, woman's hat covered in white silk and feathers. Nilwomen's clothing -- hats, headwear, hats -- turbans

The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Broad-rimmed soft, black polyester velvet woman’s hat designed by Caterina Lucci and imported to Australia by Crochetta.Label: Caterina Lucci [A Crochetta import]. Made in Chinawomen's clothing -- hats, headwear, caterina lucci

The hat was owned, worn and donated by by Jill O'Brien, member of the Kew Historical Society and a former mayor of Kew. The rose is a later addition.The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Soft pink coloured woman’s hat; the high crown swathed in fine pink silk, while the brim is covered with white chiffon. Two large floppy silk roses are used to decorate the hat.Nilmilliners, hats, women's clothing, australian fashion, jill o'brien

The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Pale pink coloured straw woman’s hat featuring a low crown and a wide brim. The latter is covered with silk chiffon of the same colour. A metallic adornment comprised of concentric rings is attached to the base of the crown. Nilstraw hats, sun hats, cartwheel shape hats, women's clothing -- hats, headwear

The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.A grey woven raffia woman’s hat featuring a wide brim. A narrow grey ribbon is used at the base of the crown. A posy of ivory coloured flowers is attached to the rim.Nilsun hats, women's clothing -- hats, headwear, straw hats

The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. Most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women. There are however a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.A dusky pink straw woman’s hat with a wide brim. The hat features a fitted pink ribbon at the base of the crown and a white rose (sic) attached to the flat bow of the ribbon.Nilheadwear, women's hats, clothing

The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Very finely woven pink straw hat with a very large rim. The low-domed crown is surrounded by a band of black velvet to which are attached deep purple grapes. Black net is attached to the ribbon. Nilwomen's clothing -- hats, sun hats, straw hats

The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Wide brimmed straw woman’s hat banded at the crown and on the rim with black ribbon. Highlighting the lower part of the crown are regularly spaced black plastic buttons. Attached to the bow is a posy of crimson poppies.Nilwomen's clothing -- hats, sun hats, straw hats

Trude Jonas was a Melbourne milliner with her business operating from 159 Mavern Road, Malvern.The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Elegant broad rimmed purple straw woman’s hat retailed by Trude Jonas with a purple ribbon of the same colour at the base of the crown.Label: Trude Jonas. Model Hats, 159 Glenferrie Rd., Malvern.milliners -- malvern (vic.), milliners -- melbourne -- trude jonas, trude jonas -- model hats

In the KHS Minutes of June 1999, it is recorded that Marion Blatchley (a member) had restored the brown bridal hat. This is the only possible candidate. The minutes do not record the date of the hat's origin.The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. Most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women. There are however a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Open weave straw woman’s hat featuring a low domed crown and a wide brim. The dark brown hat has a pale green ribbon surrounding the base of the crown. Unclear handwritten marking: Sylvie Walsh (sic). Wynne Saish (sic)women's clothing -- hats, sun hats, raffia hats

The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. Most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women. There are however a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.Finely woven straw hat with a cream ribbon around the base of the crown. Nilsun hats, women's clothing, headwear, straw hats