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During their Bicentennial year, Woolmers Estate, Longford will be celebrating the Tasmanian Heritage Festival by presenting, “200 Years of Fashion’, in partnership with the National Trust.
The exhibition which will run from May 13 – 31, will feature the amazing changes that have occurred in women’s fashions over the last 200 years through costumes drawn from a private collection, together with 19 costumes from the National Trust’s collection housed at Clarendon and from Woolmers Estate Collection.
“This is a truly exciting year for Woolmers and this event is one of a kind and a chance to see how fashions have changed over the lifespan of Woolmers,” event organiser Carney Cox said.
“We are hoping that this is the first of many collaborative projects between the National Trust and Woolmers.”
Imagine, if you will, a reproduction 1817 English evening dress made from antique fabrics, rubbing shoulders with a circa 1915 purple silk satin and chiffon dress trimmed with ecru lace from Jays of Regent Street, London, outfitters to Queen Alexandra.
Juxtaposed with a navy velvet two piece afternoon dress circa 1890, or a Gianni Versace printed velvet two piece from 1990.
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Woolmers has been a time capsule for Australian history and this exhibition is the perfect chance to see the fashions that portray the era.
A very special feature at the exhibition will be the wedding gown of the last Mrs Archer, made for her wedding in 1915 and later cut down and altered for use as a cocktail dress, it has been recently cleaned and restored for display. It will be of great interest to many who remember her time at Woolmers. Another delight is the wedding dress made for Eveline Grubb’s marriage to William Gibson of Scone.
On to 1968, a caftan designed by Dame Zara Holt for her shop MAGG, when she was the Prime Minister’s wife, and a couture Madame Gres silk jersey draped cocktail dress from 1960, together with a red Chanel two piece suit with a pleated skirt, along with camellia and pearls.
As for a glimpse to 2017 , you’ll just have to come to the exhibition in Woolmers Cottage and see for yourself.
Track the changes in women’s fashion from the restricting petticoats made of multiple layers of heavy stiff fabric, to the lightweight hoop or bell crinoline underskirts, which were introduced in the late 1850s.
These amazing changes in fashion have been the stepping stone for what we wear today, indeed, many modern women would not even know what a petticoat was used for, much less wearing one.
The exhibition will be open daily from 11am-3pm.
Admission is $10/person, payable at the door.