Vintage style on show
5.15PM 2-6-2011
Swinging ’60s: Model Jan Stewart, c1965.
JANICE WAKELY
Welcome to yesteryear! This week we focus on the Melbourne beauty queens of the 1950s and ’60s. Straight out of deportment schools where they were taught grooming routines and ladylike manners, these models were the leading image makers of their time. Photographed by famous artists including Helmut Newton and Athol Shmith, these models gave Melbourne fashion its own distinctive style and identity.
Set in Como House, the exhibition Mannequin: Fashion Modelling in the 1950s and ’60s delves into a vast archive of material. It showcases Melbourne’s top models through their own personal memorabilia, images and couture designs. Importantly, the clothes, wigs, handbags and accessories have been donated by the elite fashion women of the time. It gives the public an insight into the glorious years of the Menzies era. They can learn about the role and customs of a model in the ’50s and ’60s – a robotic, completely poised image maker who requires a remote control to operate.
Designer Hall Ludlow
This evening frock has been made out of gold lamé. It is belted around the waist, free flowing, and utterly charming. I can only imagine that the hair would have been waved and quaffed in a french roll, possibly with a hairpiece to exaggerate the weight. This dress should aways be finished off with pearls.
Robert Fritzlaff dress
Designed by Australian Robert Fritzlaff, this gown is a soft buttermilk shade. It has an empire style and an extraordinary contrasting cape. It’s to be worn with high gloves, white, patent, square shoes and what we call a fluffy hairstyle – teased, then tamed into a bouffant round do. This is perfect outfit for a parliament ball.
The metallic evening dress
This shimmering evening dress is timeless. Designed in the 1960s, it was praised for its extraordinary tailoring and ladylike shapes. The hair should be worn in a bob with a heavy fringe, and possibly some Twiggy-inspired Perspex earrings.
» MANNEQUIN: Fashion Modelling in the 1950s and ’60s at Como House until July 3.
» www.comohouse.com.au