The serial fashion exhibition goer
In an area where fashion exhibitions are few and far between, I’ve been to TWO in the past week (not counting Allan Aughey last week). How lucky am I!
I went to both of them with Mum, who also sews, so it was extra nice.
Here are some of the highlights of both. If you live in or are visiting Adelaide, South Australia, I highly recommend getting along to them – I would definitely go and see both of them again.
Living in the 1970s
At the Unley Museum until the end of April. Entry is free.
This exhibition is pure fun! So many bright clothes. No high fashion here, just clothes worn by everyday women 50 years ago in their everyday lives.
The exhibition groups outfits in themes, such as dinner party attire, beachwear, going to church, nightwear, women in the workforce, etc, rather than individual descriptions. The clothes have been photographed on models and then put into what looked like a page from a magazine, with a description underneath. This fooled me for the first one or two – I thought Wow! They managed to find identical garments in an old magazine!
Doesn’t the dress look so different when it’s being worn?
Mum and I didn’t know what the green and orange round fish things were, but Instagram friends have since confirmed they’re paper plate holders (we thought they might have been some sort of beach game or something).
I also wondered if it was homemade. Mum and I speculated whether some things were homemade or shop-bought (or had been altered at home).
I’m not sure how one would get into this – there doesn’t seem to be any zips etc.
Note the fab lime green crocheted dress in the background.
Almost all of the outfits looked 100% synthetic. Crimplene trousers from Target, acrylic crocheted dresses, nylon caftans, etc. Everything was pristine – I have no doubt the clothes will last another 50 years!
Women typically weren’t allowed to wear slacks to work unless it was part of a pantsuit.
Along with the clothes, there were accessories on display too…
This is a really fun exhibition, and great to see with someone who remembers the 1970s.
Silhouettes – Fashion in the shadow of HIV/AIDS
At the David Roche Foundation House Museum until June 18th.
It’s 40 years since the emergence of HIV/AIDS and this exhibition celebrates the work of fashion designers lost to the virus. Consequently, most of the clothes on display are from the 1980s, but some are from the 1960s and 70s.
Of the designers, some were familiar names (Halston, Bill Gibb, Tommy Nutter, Perry Ellis, Moschino were ones I knew) but there were plenty I hadn’t heard of. Many had been forgotten, partly due to the stigma of dying with HIV/AIDS. Many of the designers quietly put their affairs in order and closed their businesses when they became ill. Perry Ellis and Moschino are the only ones that have continued to today.
There was a wide variety of clothes in this exhibition, and a really wide variety of materials used – knits, lycra, sequins, plastics, fur, silk, cotton, tweeds, jersey, leather…almost anything you can think of.
I don’t have as many photos of this exhibition, but here are some highlights:
The gold dress is also by Halston, 1981.
I had only heard of Willi Smith via McCalls sewing patterns (there’s an archive of them here) but reading more, I admire his “affordable, accessible clothes for everyday” ethos.
Hardly any of his garments exist now, but he produced many patterns for McCalls and Simplicity.
Kelly was the first American to be admitted to the Chambre syndicale du prêt-à-porter.
Bill Gibb is included in this exhibition; although officially he died of bowel cancer, it was widely reported that his death was AIDS-related. The claim was refuted by his friends and family and this archived obituary reflects some of the shame and stigma around HIV/AIDS.
I admit found this fashion exhibition somewhat sad, as every designer featured was dead; many didn’t live beyond their 40s. Some had partners die at the same time and others left young families.
There are more exhibition photos and an interview with the curator here. Btw, the souvenir catalogue for this exhibition is excellent – one of the best I’ve seen. Reading it is almost like visiting the exhibition again.
Silhouettes is a wonderful opportunity to see international fashions up close, and also to discover the talent of forgotten designers.
Cheers!
What an amazing collection! The 70’s fashion with the ‘magazine’ touch was very clever. Thanks Liz for the experience of a trip down memory lane. I loved it! I was a teen in the 70’s and yes, hot pants were in the wardrobe – a bright yellow bib and brace affair, set off with a long sleeved shirt that had thick cuffs and an elongated pointed collar in black fabric covered in white daisies. Oh! and let’s not forget the black ‘chocker’! So cool!!! And the smock top with matching hot pants, flairs and body shirts and of course the white V-kneed jeans. One could go on and on ……. The trip has left me with a crazy grin.
Cheers Julie, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Your 70s wardrobe sounds absolutely fabulous!
Wow! I am having some sweet memories of prom dresses I wore that were home sewn. I was more of an Oleg Cassini girl, my sewing buddy a Bill Blass aficionado. Thanks for the post.
Cheers Michelle! I think Mum was a bit Oleg Cassini in her day. So grateful for designers who do sewing patterns.