Charlotte Fifth Avenue Gowns & The House of Elegance II
9 & 10 March 11:00am & 2:00pm
Following on from our sold out Catwalk shows, this exhibition features the world’s largest collection of garments from two of Australia’s greatest mid-century fashion houses ‘Charlotte Fifth Avenue Gowns’ and ‘The House of Elegance’. Curated by fashion anthropologist Tom McEvoy, this interactive experience showcases the Darlington Swans who will glide throughout the Mansion dressed in select pieces from the archives.
Within the timeless beauty of the Villa Alba, you’ll get an intimate experience exploring these archival garments along with vibrant stories from family members. This event will never be repeated as a selection of garments will be up for sale for those who want to own an incredible piece of Australian fashion history.
Charlotte Fifth Avenue Gowns & The House of Elegance
2 March 11:00am & 2:00pm
Come and see the world’s largest collection of garments from two of Australia’s greatest mid-century fashion houses curated by fashion anthropologist Tom McEvoy: ‘Charlotte Fifth Avenue Gowns’ and ‘The House of Elegance’. Appreciate many of their archival garments and hear family members share their precious and drama filled memories of being part of these iconic Australian fashion houses.
Sorry, this event is sold out. Please see our new Charlotte Fifth Avenue Gowns & The House of Elegance event and check back for other events.
Marvellous Melbourne Mansions with Andrew Dixon
27 April 2:00-3:30pm
Three marvellous mansions in Melbourne: Labassa (Caulfield North), Villa Alba (Kew) and Mandeville Hall (Toorak) are all rare survivors of the late nineteenth century.
Labassa’s lavish interiors feature ornate stained glass, gilt-embossed wallcoverings, and a rare trompe l’oeil ceiling. Villa Alba showcases unique, hand-painted interiors created in 1883/84 by Scottish-trained interior decorators the Paterson Bros. The sumptuous décor of Mandeville Hall was influenced by the Aesthetic movement and commissioned from important London firm Gillow and Co.
Each property has architectural, aesthetic, historical and social significance to the history of Victoria and rich stories to tell. Presenter Andrew Dixon will compare and contrast the key features of these fascinating properties and provide insights into their past, present and future.
The presenter: Andrew Dixon has a long involvement as a volunteer at Villa Alba Museum and Labassa Mansion.
Bookings will open when the Melbourne Festival details are available. Check back soon!
Georges: Souvenirs From Collins
15,16 & 22,23 June 11:00am & 2:00pm
The upmarket department store was a fixture in Melbourne for over 100 years before it closed in 1995. Villa Alba is hosting a retrospective mounted by Friends of Georges. Georges historian Justin Maclean and fashion anthropologist Tom McEvoy have curated a wide-ranging display.
Next Open day at Villa Alba Museum
The Museum is ordinarily open to the public on the first Sunday of the month: full details of times and bookings.