Historical information

This bag was used in the 1950s by Mrs Annette Lord, and was part of a large collection she donated when helping found Mont de Lancey Historic Homestead. Annette and her husband were large travellers and often bought their clothes and accessories while overseas.

This silver mesh bag closely matches other 1950s Whiting and Davis bags - a U.S. company who became incredibly fashionable in America and Europe after WWII.

Australia is often considered ‘behind the times’ when it comes to 20th century fashion, with silver mesh bags only becoming popular in the 1960s, with the creation of Australian Glomesh bags. It then reached its height in the 1970s, right as silver mesh bags lost popularity in the U.S. and Europe.

Annette’s bag here suggests a different story. One where certain classes of Australians are more in tune with Western fashion then originally thought. One wonders how much effort Annette put into keeping ‘current’ while living so far away. Or was it just a natural consequence of her travelling lifestyle?

Physical description

Late 1950s silver mesh evening bag with diamantes encrusted frame and clasp.
Silver chain,white lining 1 compartment.