Fashion Parade at the Roaring Twenties festival at the Hydro Majestic Hotel

Fashion Parade at the Roaring Twenties festival at the Hydro Majestic Hotel

The Fifth annual Roaring Twenties/Charleston Challenge event took place high in the mountains of NSW on (another) foggy day. We didn't beat the world record for the number of dancers, dressed in vintage, dancing the Charleston, but we certainly had a fabulous time trying.

Following the Challenge, 250 people adjourned to the Hydro Majestic marquee to spend the afternoon wining and dining on a locally produced five course meal. 

The Darnell Collection was featured in a mini catwalk parade of rare and stunning 1920s garments and accessories, co-hosted by the fabulous Damien Beaumont, presenter at ABC Classic FM radio.

What a great day. I'm still recovering! 

Congratulations to everyone who organised and brought this festival to fruition. Bring on 2018!

A misty moment dancing the Charleston

With my great friend and Patron of the Festival, Claudia Chan Shaw

Winners of the Best Dressed competitions

Posing!

At the Long Lunch 20s fashion parade. Olivia wears an original 20s 'step-in' chemise (or 'onesie' as we call it today!)

Olivia wears a 20s silk 'teddy'

Eleni wears a silk tricot knit sweater, palazzo pants and hand printed silk chiffon blouse

Eleni's second outfit is a beautiful silk and glass bead embellished dress with an Egyptian motif

Kate wears a stunning silk 20s wedding dress

Anetta wears a delicate lace and silk crepe evening dress and a silk with silk moire shawl 

Posing on the terrace at the historic Hydro Majestic Hotel, Mellow Bath, Blue Mountains

Parade's over. Time to relax!

Flapper Dress gifted to The Darnell Collection

20s Dance Dress Worn on the High Seas

Storytelling Brings Fashion to Life

In 1927, Rosa Perlman of Melbourne, embarked on a world cruise with her husband, owner of The Bias Binding Factory, at the time the only manufacture of bias binding for the thriving fashion industry in the city.

Rosa loved to travel and on this journey planned to sail from Australia and visit her favourite cities: Paris, Colombo, Kowloon and Berlin. At each city she made a point of buying something exquisite to wear and in Berlin she found this stunning silk chiffon dance dress, embellished with celluloid sequins in shimmering bronze, silver and gold.

As Rosa and her husband were champion Charleston dancers she knew this dress would turn heads as she twirled in the ship's candlelit ballroom in the arms of her husband as they sailed the high seas.

This dress was gifted to The Darnell Collection by Rosa Perlman's daughter, Barbara, 

who lives near Melbourne.