The following is a copy of a press release from Council. The Unley Museum will launch its latest exhibition Snappy Dressers on Monday 6 May, 2013.
This dazzling exhibition shows off clothes and accessories from the collection of Violet Rowe in a celebration of fashion trends from the glamorous forties to the funky seventies.
Curator Bron Lloyd says that “although this was a relatively short period in history, the world saw some of the most dramatic changes in fashion ever. These changes took place in living memory of many people, so I think there will be quite a bit of reminiscing amongst museum visitors. I look forward to hearing their stories.”
The exhibition explores fashion changes from the austerity of the war years, to the liberal use of fabric typified by Christian Dior’s post-war ‘New Look’ which remained popular well into the 1950s. It then moves through the conservative styles of the early 1960s to the Beatles-inspired psychedelic, ‘flower power’ clothes later in that decade, finishing with the stylish suits, hot pants, platforms and wide flares of the 1970s.
Collector Violet Rowe says “fashion trends mirror the times in which they emerge”.
“Changing styles reinforce the morals and values of their eras. Think of the difference between the formal haute-couture in the early 1960s and clothes worn by psychedelic, rebellious, free-loving hippies later in the same decade – this reflects a society going through significant transition.”
Snappy Dressers is part of the About Time SA History Festival and will run until Wednesday 28 August.
Unley Museum is located at 80 Edmund Avenue, Unley, and is open Mondays to Wednesdays from 10am until 4pm and Sundays from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. It is closed on public holidays. Admission is free. www.unley.sa.gov.au/museum
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