Legendary Fashion

The Triennial exhibition by the National Gallery of Victoria is stunning, diverse and completely free of charge. There is a huge collection of work from an assortment of different artists, and you can spend hours wondering around and admiring all the unique styles, which range from an ominous black statue made up of microphones, to a room of over 100 giant human skulls.

My favourite collection was Guo Pei’s ‘Legend’ Spring/Summer 2017 couture collection, which was out of this world. The fabrics, the colours, the detail – I still sigh in disbelief when I look at the photos taken, because each embellishment and accessory was an individual piece of art. And not to mention the magnificent shoes that were dripping in gold and jewels.

Inspired by her visit to a Cathedral in Switzerland, the religious connotations are evident by the crowns, dresses and the sheer opulence radiating from this collection which reflects the grandeur of some of the Cathedrals around Europe.

Like most couture collections, the outfits are not designed to be worn. However, I would have no qualms about wearing this little number out. There is just the right amount of shoulder-padding, and the moss green contrasts brilliantly against the bright gold. Those shoes would prove to be a little difficult to walk in, considering I can barely manage a pair of simple platforms.

So if you’re in Melbourne sometime before the 15th April, I would encourage you to see the exhibition for yourself – even if just for Guo Pei and her mesmerising art.

Thanks for visiting my blog! x

The Dressmaker Exhibition

On a bitterly cold winter’s evening in Melbourne, my family and I attended The Dressmaker 1950’s party at Rippon Lea estate. The Dressmaker is a book-turned-movie starring Kate Winslet and is set in rural Australia in the 1950’s. Its poignant and often unexpected storyline was immensely entertaining, however the costume designs by the award-winning designers Margot Wilson and Marion Boyce truly brought the aesthetic appeal.

The Dressmaker costume exhibition has been on display since April and will continue until 31 July, and it was a real treat to be able to experience it when an exclusive 1950’s pop-up bar evening was hosted. Not only was everyone required to dress in 1950’s attire, but there was even a band playing 50’s music in the ballroom to enhance the old-fashioned setting. The main reason why I wanted to go was to see the breathtaking costumes, of course.

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You could not compare the way Kate Winslet’s character’s costumes looked on her in comparison to how they sit on the mannequins. Her curvaceous figure practically made those dresses look as stunning as they did.

 

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The effect of the embellishment is divine, particularly with the golden sash of leaves. Gertrude wore this when making her debut with her new makeover.

 

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This didn’t exactly come under the category ‘breathtaking’, but it was certainly startling.

 

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This pale gold lamé dress is one of my favourites. It’s sheer Hollywood and I love how it accentuates curves.

 

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Simply fabulous. The pink socks are a striking touch.

 

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Grecian chiffon wedding gown.

 

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The costumes showcase some of the best design elements of the 1950’s, including plenty of glamour and gorgeous fabrics. If you haven’t yet seen the film I would recommend it purely for the delightful costumes, and if you are in Melbourne I would urge you to see them for yourself! Stay tuned for my next post on what I wore to the event. x

Follow me on my instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog for more of my fashion musings and personal style.

200 Years of Australian Fashion Exhibition

So, a while ago before the whole surgery debacle and numerous exams, I visited the 200 Years of Australian Fashion Exhibition at NGV as you may recall from my previous blog post (it has been a while, so terribly sorry!). It was a beautifully presented exhibition showcasing an array of Australian fashion from as early as 1805 to present day, and truly captured Australia’s unique and impressive fashion scene. There were some of the most embellished and extravagant gowns I have ever seen from the mid-20th century, which contrasts against the abstract and colourful outfits from the 1970’s and onwards. The diversity and beauty of Australian fashion over the years is astounding.

Here are some outfits I could not resist taking snaps of:

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Earliest Dress Found, c.1805
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Evening Dress, c. 1907
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Ball gown, c. 1956
Evening dress, c. 1958
Evening dress, c. 1958
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c. 1967
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Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson c. 1970’s
Linda Jackson and David McDiarmid, c.1980
Linda Jackson and David McDiarmid, c.1980
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Romance was Born, c. 2015 and Discount Univer$e, c. 2015

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Toni Maticevski, c. 2015
Toni Maticevski, c. 2015

To remember the history of Australian fashion and the lovely outfits exhibited, I got sucked in to buying the fashion book. It provides a history of each period in fashion and how it reflected the social constructs at the time, and also features some of the most notable Australian designers of our current age.

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If you live in Melbourne and are looking for something worthwhile to fill your day, I highly recommend this. It’s open until July 31 so don’t miss out!

Want to see more of my personal style and fashion musings? Follow me here and on Instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog ! x