Hairy Hairnets!!!

What a fabulous find these real hair hairnets are! Delicately packaged in paper envelopes, each hairnet is a beautifully inticate pattern of hand-tied knots. I managed to pick up about half a dozen of these from a market and they date from between 20’s to the 30’s. I just love the illustration below showing the vision of ideal beauty at that time – the hooded eyes and finger waved hair is just gorgeous.

Who wants to be Martha Washington? I do I do!!!

What lass doesn’t love a mop cap n’ apron combo? This extraordinary vintage pattern is a real treat, showing sewers how they too can look all First Lady circa 1700. I’m doing a little research to see when this pattern dates from, but at the measly price of .45 cents I’m thinking it was a long long time ago!

 

 

Happiness IS pants!

Isn’t she divine?! I absolutely love this Simplicity sewing manual that I picked up from a local market. Each section of the manual is tabbed a different colour and introduced with a call to sewing action - ”Slim slacks belong in your life” is but one example.  

The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957

Dior’s ‘New Look’ – 1947

This amazing exhibition needs to get marked in your diary now! Though it’s not due to land at the Bendigo Art Gallery until the 7th December this year (running until March 22nd ‘09), ‘The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-1957′ you must be forewarned – this is the best fashion exhibition you will ever see! I was lucky enough to catch it in it’s home gallery the V&A in London in November 2007 and I’ll never forget it. So much sparkle, so much razzle so much dazzle!

Focusing on the period of fashion that started with the introduction of Dior’s ‘New Look’, this exhibition gives an insight into the couturiers art. Never has fashion looked so very very good!

For More information check out the link below

http://www.bendigoartgallery.com.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_Id=150&h=0

Bendigo Art Gallery: Fashion in the Age of Queen Victoria

‘Fashion in the Age of Queen Victoria’ is a fashion devotee’s must see exhibition. Running from 17th May -20th July at the Bendigo Art Gallery, this exhibition is full to bursting with exquisite examples of Victorian Era fashion. The pieces come courtesy of Charlotte Smith, the custodian of her Godmother Doris Darnell’s extensive clothing collection. To find out more about the exhibition and Doris Darnell follow the link below.

Unknown, France

Evening Gown c1881

Silk, velvet, lace

The Darnell Collection at ESMOD

Photograph by Ian Hill

http://www.bendigoartgallery.com.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_Id=154&h=0

Vintage Patterns: 1944 Wedding Dress

A beautiful example of a ’40’s wedding gown by Butterick. In this pattern we see the styling so typical of the 40’s silhouette – a slim, tapered waist and narrow hips with wide shoulders. In this design the shoulders are padded and frilled to add to the illusion of width. In the below picture an inset image shows an alternative version of the gown for evening wear, with extra long gloves and a veiled cocktail hat as accessories.

Smocking the Old Fashioned Way

I found this wonderful example of smocking at the Camberwell Market in Melbourne. A testament to the painstakingly slow process of hand smocking, this cotton frock was never finished. In this example, a wire weaves through the fabric to create hundreds of tiny pleats. The sewer then stitched a design on top.

Biggest Fan

This 1920’s Japanese fan was a beautiful find at my local op-shop. According to the shop assistant the previous owner had traveled the world and collected fans as mementos. She was a very conscientious collector and labeled each one with the date and place of purchase and the materials used. This one is made from hand painted silk and wood.

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