Festival History

An afternoon fashion parade at Ayers House will bring to life the glamour of garments from the 1750s to the 1950s. The event will feature quality reproductions of the historic gowns on display during the History Festival, including the stunning Vienesse ball gown.

with Royal connections — Reville & Rossiter, who designed Queen Mary’s Coronation Robes, and Norman Hartnell, who was dressmaker to the late Queen Mother and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. A Le Long gown from the 1940s war years in Paris will also be on display, together with a gown made by Chambrelent, who managed the Worth Salon in the same period.

PICTURED:

Opposite page: The rare Viennese sack ball gown, c. 1752. Top: Costume collection honorary curator Sandy Whitelaw and volunteer Kelly Pop carefully unpack the gown and prepare it for display. Above and left: Some of the gown’s exquisite detailing. Photos by James Field Photography.

The Viennese gown will only be on display during May at Ayers House Museum which is open on weekends 10am- 4pm.

Date: Saturday, May 15

Time: 1.30 pm to 3 pm.

For more information about South Australia’s History Festival and to book tickets visit www.festival.history.sa.gov.au