I love Australia’s country towns, especially those who have worked so hard to retain a sense of their history through their gardens and architecture. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to visit one of my favorites, so I packed up the family and headed off to Bendigo to catch the end of the Golden Age of Couture exhibition at the Bendigo Gallery. Knowing that the weather was predicted to be in the high 30′s, and that the cues for the show had been 90 minutes long the previous week, I planned my outfit with care. I wanted fitted, but cool; comfortable yet super stylish, and it all had to work with a low heel for hours of walking and standing around. The perfect outfit came in the form of one of my recent acquisitions, this navy and taupe spotted dress by Blonde Venus. Blonde Venus is a Melbourne label known for their simple and elegant designs made with precision and top quality workmanship.
With it’s soft as silk lining, it breathed perfectly and handled the heat of the day with style, rather than melting into a pile of wrinkles. The shoes were a great thrift find some time back. All shiny and patent with a gold trimmed grosgrain bow and low heel. With so many skirts in my wardrobe they had the potential to look dowdy, but this dress was just the right length to give them a vintage day wear look, rather than a more ‘granny in a time warp’ feel. I’m rather pleased as they are the most comfortable and well made shoes in my wardrobe. All hand stitched inside with padding in just the right places. But enough about the outfit and more about the day.
Being an organised little Virgo, I had not only pre-planned the outfit, but pre-bought my tickets, so we skipped the crowds and headed straight in. I had tried not read too many reviews of the exhibition as many of them gave far too much information on the display, somewhat ruining the surprise of it all. It really is a collection not to be missed, but if you did, it will be returning to the V&A, so next time you head to London Town, put it on your must see list.
The limitations created by the age and fragility of the garments created the biggest problems for me with this exhibition. Low lighting meant that details could not be seen without super vision, and you were straining to really see the exquisite finishes on many garments. Also, most of the garments were behind glass, but highly reflective glass. So the dress you thought was green was only a reflection cast by the woman standing beside you. But once I learnt to accommodate these hiccups, and squint a bit, the beauty came into focus.
The garments themselves were indeed stunning and I found myself wishing that the gallery had issued commemorative patterns so I could whip one up myself (ha!), but it was the films and photographs that really caught my imagination. Silver glicee prints of Dovima, the ultimate 1950′s supermodel, who’s arched brows left me in mind to add a brow lift to the Christmas wish list. Cecil Beaton looking every inch the dandy in his cravat and top hat. Reels of salon shows, watching models corset down to waist’s the size of a child’s.
These were the elements that transported me, making me pine for a time when dressing in itself was an activity. It was romance in it’s truest form, and despite the crowds, left me walking on air.
Outfit Details: Dress – Blonde Venus, Shoes – Beninni, Watch – Guess, Sunglasses – reproduction vintage cats eyes.
You’ve made Australia look like Paris! Great photos.
I wish could have gone, too! It’s sounds like a fantastic exhibit.
you prayers have been answered…. a patterncreated for the exhibition inspired by a Day Dress by Horrockses Fashion
http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1486_couture/create.php
I have printed and cut out my own pattern…just need to get around to actually making it…
Elise: Stellar! I would love a pattern for that tartan day suit. So so fabulous!
Tara: Thank you, the backdrop does wonders for the ambiance.
K Line: It rather felt like a Parisian moment… or Three Coins in a Fountain.
The second last picture is beautiful, you look like a glamorous film star from the 1940s!
Yay, lovely pics – isn’t Bendigo beautiful?! I can’t wait to go again
I LOVE the dotty dress!
It was such a treat to catch up with you both there! We had a delightful time, so good it must be done again.
I wish I’d had the time to head up to Bendigo while I was in town over Christmas/NY. Looks like I’ll have to live vicariously thru you.
Imelda: It would have been looking rather dry then. They have done an amazing job bringing the town back to life. I can’t tell you what it was like to see gardens with lawn and flowers in full bloom!
Tizz: Being that you are in Europe (well to us it is Europe anyway), I’m sure there are so many opportunities for beautiful adventures.
Wendy B & Flora Poste: The power of Black and White!
Jennine: It helps to have great surroundings and an active imagination.
Audi: Ah so you feel my angst then. I can’t find those hangers here, but my wardrobe goes in for regular re organisation – by style, length, colour, season etc… as does just about everything round here!
Rebecca: Ohh you’ll have to make quite an itinerary then. No, the shoes are some sort of Italian “comfort” brand that I found at the red cross store. Brand new, $5, so even if I was a bit dubious about how to style them, I couldn’t pass it up!
Id love to go to an expedition like that!
And the pictures are absolutely gorgeous!
Beautiful photos.
Gorgeous photos. Black and white pictures have such glamour!
everything looks gorgeous!
Lovely dress; you look so glamorous as always! The ‘organized little Virgo’ comment cracked me up — I’m a fellow Virgo and also pre-plan all my outfits. My skirt hangers all have that extra hook in the front so that I can hang all the garments together. No doubt it’s the sign of a sick mind.
Oh I missed it! luckily I will be in England for Christmas so I will stop by the Gallery and check it out there.
You looked fabulous in that dress.
Also are those shoes Laura Beninni?
You look amazing.
And I love the copyright/advertising watermark on your photos – it doesn’t detract from the photo and looks classy. I’ve seen some shocking ones plastered on blog photos, but yours are really nice.
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