Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Bundaberg Art Gallery, Fairymead House and The Darnell Collection team up Akira Isogawa to host an extravagant fashion evening



Black Tie gala at Fairymead House celebrating the opening of 'Flora and Fauna: The Nature of Fashion' at Bundaberg Regional Gallery

 Flora and Fauna held court during the most spectacular evening at Fairymead House in Bundaberg, Queensland to celebrate the opening of 'Flora & Fauna: The Nature of Fashion' at Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery. 

The ambience was set by the stunning table decorations, twinkling lights off the verandah, celestial singing by Chelsea Stutchbury under a floodlit palm tree in the garden and the delicate strands of roses strung by fine wire from the rafters above our heads as we dined on a four course meal created for the event by local super chef Dion Taylor. 

Twelve beautiful models from Bundaberg graciously donned Darnell vintage and paraded on the verandah for a unique and personal experience of 100 years of flora and fauna in fashion.

Akira Isogawa, Australian designer extraordinary, spoke eloquently about his fashion experiences and his reflections on the vintage garments in the parade. 

As Eliza Goetze, reporter for News Mail wrote, 'It felt like a set of The Great Gatsby'.
It truly did! What a memorable and beautiful evening. 
(Photographs of the models by Paul Beutel)
Tables along the verandah at Fairymead House. Stunning decorations by Saskia.
'100 Years of Flora & Fauna in Fashion' timeline! 
Kate Ludwig's trousseau peignoir made of fine wool
1910
A lace dress and a cotton mesh shawl with hand beaten brass strips from Egypt
1920
A pretty floral cotton organdie summer evening dress
1930
A rayon floral day dress and wide brim straw hat (with a Brisbane provenance!)
1940
A Horrockses of London cotton party dress and a mandatory string of pearls
1950 
A silk embroidered cheongsam looks striking
1960
A polyester dress from Saks Fifth Ave. The fabric is called 'Cloudburst Over the Canyon'1970
A wool evening dress by Australia designer, Prue Acton
1970
A wool cardigan and cotton hand knit skirt by Australian designer, Jenny Kee. The skirt is from her Barrier Reef series
1980
A Christian Lacroix skirt and jacket is as opulent as the decade
1990
Wearing a Gordon Clark, New Zealand designer, halter dress (with matching cape) seated beside Judith Stutchbury

With Akira Isogawa, Australian designer, Chelsea Stutchbury, singer, and Theo, blogger (BlogByTheo)

20th and 21st centuries.
A 60s mini dress from Canada and a wool ensemble by Akira Isogawa
Straight from the rose gardens of Bundaberg. Magnificent!