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 outfit was owned, worn and donated to the collection by Dione McIntyre.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.Brightly coloured, long sleeve floral cotton coat dress which has regular pink plastic buttons to waist.Label: Kenneth Pirriekenneth pirrie, women's clothing, australian fashion - 1970s, mcintyre collection, day wear, coat dresses

This book was owned by the late Dr Elizabeth Kerr and was donated to the Museum by the executor of her estate, Margaret Cameron. It was produced by Coats Patons and contains knitting patterns for mens and womens garments. The skirt modelled on the front cover and on page 13 is acknowledged as being a 'Kenneth Pirrie Creation'. Kenneth Pirrie was an Australian fashion designer from the 1960s who appears to have worked in Melbourne and Sydney.Patons / KNITTING / BOOK No. 708 / Latest young fashion - long / stockings or socks with / sweater to match in / TOTEM or TYROL / Two-of-a-kind sweaters, / for him and you, in TOTEM, / ARIEL and MOHAIR / A sweater or shift in TOTEM: / a man's cardigan in JET / 2'3 / PATONS . BEEHIVEknitting handicrafts - history, coats patons (australia) limited, pirrie, mr kenneth - kenneth pirrie creations, knitting, handicrafts - history

Linda Britten is a fashion designer who graduated from RMIT in 1968. Following her graduation she worked in the design house of Noleen King and freelanced for Kenneth Pirrie. She opened a shop in Hampton, Melbourne in the mid 1970s, and then another in Chapel Street. She first used the ‘Linda Britten’ label in 1978, designing and selling ‘up-market couture and eveningwear. Later, from 1980 she was to specialise in bridal wear. In 1980, she was awarded the Australian Fashion Designer of the Year. Three quarter length peacock-blue polyester taffeta dress with black collar. The fabric is gathered at the sleeves and at the waist to provide fullness to the design.Label: Linda Brittenlinda britten, women's clothing, australian fashion