silhouettes from the powerhouse museum collection

3.3 Historical silhouettes

Silhouettes from the Powerhouse Museum collection illustrating style changes

1. 1775–80Silk brocade openrobe, with sacback draping fromthe shoulders.

2. 1790–1810Irish muslin daydress with silkspencerillustrating highwaisted fashionfrom Regencyperiod.

3. 1822Muslin gown wornby Ann Marsdento a GovernmentHouse Ball.

4. 1834Ann Haslingden’swedding dress.The waist is lowerand the skirt arounder shape.

5. 1835–45Mens woollensuit, the firstblack and greyfashion for men.

6. 1860–70Womens silktaffeta dresswith droopedshoulders, highwaist, crinolineand wide skirt.

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All Powerhouse Museum collection. 1. Female, purchased 1985. 85/854; male, purchased 1986. 86/299. 2. Dress, gift of Audrey Twynam Horn, 1987. 87/821; spencer, gift of Winifred Watkins, 1962. H6934. 3. Gift of the Royal Australian Historical Society, 1981. A7882. 4. Gift of Mrs J Campbell, 1987. 87/533. 5. Purchased 1987. 87/1249. 6. Womens dress, purchased 1986. 86/237; girls dress, purchased 1981. A7692. 7. Gift of William Hudson Shaw, 1968. P2768. 8. Gift of the Fashion Group, 1974. A6356. 9. Gift of Mrs H E Atkinson, 1996. 96/69/1. 10. Purchased 1987. 87/305. 11. Womens dress, purchased 1959. H5964; fan, gift of Anne Schofield, 1980. A7471. 12. Purchased 1959. H5996. Photos by Penelope Clay, Sue Stafford, Andrew Frolows

7. 1870 Photograph of Margaret Preston showing back drape and train.

8. 1870–79Silk bodice of dress shows corseted body shape.

9. 1883 Silk gown with bustle and train.

10. 1880–90 Mourning gown, with drape at front and train at back.

11. 1895–1901Belle Époque tea-gown by Jays of London, illustrating a particularly feminine style with full skirt and soft fabrics.

12. 1905–10 Evening gown showing the new drooped front waistline and layering of translucent fabrics.