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Have a question? Contact Circa Vintage Archive
Bikini swimsuit with structured bust cups, straps and elastic back. Boning to the bust. Bottoms are short style, high-waisted with piping and a small bow at the front. Centre back metal zipper and button to secure. No stretch to the waistband of the shorts, although the elastic at the back of the top will allow for a bigger bust.
Unlabelled.
Dressy day ensemble set - Fitted dress with short sleeves and straight skirt Centre back metal zipper Band of cream guipure lace above the waistline Fitted cropped jacket with shawl collar trimmed in matching lace Three quarter length sleeves to the jacket Pipping trim to most edges Both pieces are fully lined
Labelled "Duval of Melbourne Pure Silk"
One piece swimsuit with sweetheart neckline, small square bow under the bust and faux front pockets trimmed in white piping. Back is fully ruched with elasticated shirring. Wide straps secure and adjust at the top with buttons. No openings, step in - bust is lined in the same cotton and features boning.
Labelled "Princess Togs" Medium All Cotton
One piece swimsuit with cross over bodice, structured bust cups, straps to tie in a halterneck or connect with the back. Centre back metal zipper topped with a clear glass button and metal adjusters to the straps. Condition: Very good - a couple of small marks that did not come out with a launder and a small hole in the lining, not seen when worn.
Labelled "Sea Nymph"
One piece swimsuit with plunging back, adjustable straps with button fasteners, built in lace bra cups. New and unworn old stock.
Labelled Finlaw of Melbourne.
Large tiara style garden party hat of twisted silk cording, netting, wired frame and assorted flowers in shades of blue, grey and white. From the Collins Street salon of top Melbourne couturier La Petite.
Labelled "La Petite 165 Collins St. Melbourne"
Manufactured by Botany Knitting Mills Pty Ltd
One piece ladies swimsuit with boy style leg and plunging backline. Thin shoulder straps. Built in black woollen knickers. The advert pictured is from the Adelaide Register News, 28 Nov 1930
Seagull Flex-o-knit
Evening or opera coat with princess line seams and shawl collar. Leg o' mutton sleeves, full length flared skirt of six panels and secured with one self covered button and bound buttonhole at the waist. Fully lined in cream coloured silk taffeta. Fabric is printed in gold with flowers, vines and butterflies with hand silk screened roses and forget-me-not flowers over the top
None
One piece swimsuit with sweetheart neckline and cross over straps at the back. Sweet little metal bow buckles to adjust the straps.
Jantzen Made in Australia
Sleeveless evening gown of delicate lace with a drop waist, scalloped detailing and slightly flared skirt. Fastens through a side opening of press studs. Photographed with a petticoat underneath due to the sheerness of the fabric.
None
Sourced at Battersea Vintage Clothing Fair, London in 2005.
A good example of an early 20th century corset
Early 20th century corset underbust style with ivory coloured cotton with lace detail. Front opening with busk and lacing, allowing easy adjusting. Six wide, adjustable suspender straps with fancy metal clips Boning at between one and four inch intervals, mostly no more than two inches apart. Several re-enforced seams inbetween the boning. Lace trim across the top is not original and has been removed. Elastic panel at base for movement.
Gossard
Sourced from the private collection of fashion designer Lisa Ho, purchased at Moss Green auctions.
A good example of the silk and metallic lame' fabrics available in the 1920s.
Evening jacket of rich lame' in burnished autumn tones of gold, bronze and olive. Ruched square collar, long sleeves with turned back ruched cuffs. No openings, is worn open. Fully lined in chinoise style rayon jacquard in a cafe au lait colour - lining dates to the 1940s and probably replaced a delicate silk original lining.
None
This dress was featured in a fashion editorial in the Herald Sun 2012 for a Jerry Hall style look, and also a fashion parade at the Love Vintage fair in 2011 as well as in the book "Style is Eternal" 2009.
This dress is representative of 1930s style fashions created by the House of Merivale in the 1970s
Halterneck maxi dress with scooped neckline, and deep lace up back. Flared, bias cut skirt perfectly matches up the pinstriped fabric. Centre back nylon zipper.
Labelled the House of Merivale
An excellent example of Australian ladies fashion of the time.
Exceptional two piece dress with fitted and boned bodice and bustle skirt and train. Bodice features many panels and internal whaleboning with cotton lining. Waist tape to secure. Pointed waistband to the exterior, trimmed in panels of velvet and lace inserts. Pleated sleeves and high, stand up collar with white cotton insert. Row of metal hooks and eyes to secure at the centre front, covered with a row of small metal and enamel buttons with butterfly design (all present) and hand finished button holes. Another row of hooks and eyes over the top. Skirt is full with the gathers focused on the centre back with a row of cartridge pleats and metal hooks and eyes to secure at the waist. Row of cotton tape sits under the hips to be gathered into the desired fullness. Ornamental panels of velvet provide a faux wrap styling to the front. Underskirt of silk faille with a box pleated trim to the hem. Underneath is a third hem finished in a row of white cambric and lace trim. Train falls from the waist and displays the same hem treatments as the dress. The dress has been mostly machine sewn but with large amounts of hand sewn finishing.
none
Simple day dress constructed from feedsack cotton fabric: Short, puffed sleeves, small opening with slight V neck and pointed collar. Centre front fold with red plastic buttons - the originals were missing but these are period correct replacements that match the red plastic buckle. Two front pockets on the bodice shaped like flower pots. No openings, pops over your head. Self-covered belt has a different material underneath: a smaller blue and white floral print.
None
These boots are rare and unworn
High heeled boots with lace up style, curved heel and rounded toe. Two-toned effect with the colours of black and pale toffee. Leather uppers and canvas and polished cotton lining. Metal grommets to lace up. Original ribbon laces with metal tips. Circa 1920
Printing inside reads: 1695-37-5 and the same number (in reverse) is on the sole eg, 37-5-1695
This dress was featured in the book "Love Vintage", published 2009 by Carter's and has appeared in vintage fashion parades at the "Love Vintage" fair and the 2016 Glen Eira Storytelling Festival.
This dress is an example of the "atomic" style printed design that was popular in the '50s and also shows adaptive use by its wearer, to facilitate breast-feeding.
Sleeveless day dress with flared, mid-calf length skirt and big style front. Extra deep pockets and black piping trim to ornament. Bib style front features two large buttons and has been adapted for breast-feeding: the front is secured with press studs and the centre front seam underneath has been opened up, secured with a hook and eye. Side metal zipper. Printed cotton in multi-coloured "atomic" style design.
Labelled Julius Pollack Original
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
