As part of the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week, QV in conjunction with The Age, are celebrating Melbourne’s love affair with style, sophistication and sleek chic in a free fashion photographic exhibition. Running until Sunday, September 26, the exhibition offers Melburnians a tangible slice of history, documenting the influences, ideologies, icons and inspirations behind Melbourne’s signature style.
Presented across twelve photographic towers over spacious platforms located throughout QV Square, The Age of Fashion features more than 90 black and white and full-colour images, and offers an honest and candid snapshot of Melbourne society.
Curated by Rachel Wells, one of Australia’s renowned fashion voices and The Sunday Age Fashion Editor, the exhibition celebrates the reminiscent moments, people and places that highlight the unique style of Melbourne.
“The Age of Fashion showcases Melbourne fashion in all its glory,” says curator Rachel Wells, “From the ragtraders of the 1950s – many of whom arrived from the ashes of the Holocaust and turned to garment manufacturing for a livelihood – to today’s crop of independent designers.”
The exhibit features classic photographs of iconic Australians in fashion from models like Alyssa Sutherland to popular fashion designers such as Alannah Hill and Teresa Liano. Also documented are visits from high profile models including Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and the famous shot of Christy Turlington enjoying a drink at Spaghetti Bar.
The collection of images pay close attention to the changing looks of the Spring Racing Carnival and embrace the clean, mod lines of classic 1950s style to the headline-grabbing image of Jean Shrimpton in 1965 dressed in what was, at the time, a very controversial above-the-knee shift dress.
More recent images include Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria in a pretty watermelon pink dress when she was invited as a guest to the 2005 Derby Day. Also featured is the famous photo of Oaks Day 2005 that received a Walkley Award for ‘best daily life’ capturing how the wind wreaked havoc with women’s racewear and portrays a local focus on Melbourne people.
Pictures of leading Australian department stores David Jones and Myer are included along with their respective ambassadors, Miranda Kerr and Jennifer Hawkins. Let’s not forget how fashion and football combines in Melbourne either – the 2004 AFL Brownlow Medal award makes an appearance in the exhibition and includes the image of Rebecca Twigley in that plunging red number dubbed the “dress that stopped the nation.”
From the bustle of 1950s Flinders Lane textiles factories, through to the Melbourne-born fashion designers taking the international world by storm, The Age of Fashion captures the changing face of Melbourne style.
QV is located between Russell and Swanston and Lonsdale and Little Lonsdale streets in Melbourne. QV Square is located on Level 2 of the precinct. To find out more visit www.qv.com.au or call 03 9658 0100.
