To create a big splash for the start of the History Festival History SA held a major event on the theme of dressing up.
Held over three days, the Dressing Up program included a fashion parade of Victorian-era costumes and a workshop about underwear, a host of short talks and demonstrations on a huge variety of topics including millinery, steam punk, kimono, swimwear, and making replica period costume, and a temporary exhibition of costume and other items on the theme of dressing up. More than 20 individuals and groups contributed to the wonderfully diverse program.
The Dressing Up exhibition presented objects and stories from History SA’s own collections (from the Migration Museum, the National Motor Museum, and the SA Maritime Museum) along with objects from community museum collections. Much more than a costume display, the exhibition included objects relating to three themes: dressing up to go travelling, dressing up for fun, and dressing up for milestones in life. The choice of themes meant that as well as some wonderful examples of clothing from the late 1800s through to the 1970s some more unexpected items could be included – water skis, Latvian mittens, a school satchel and travelling trunk fitted out as a portable wardrobe were among objects displayed.
More images from the Dressing Up event and exhibition can be seen here.