After Five : Fashion from the Darnell Collection

I can't remember where I read that Hazlehurst's latest exhibition was a fashion collection, but it left me more than a little excited.  Granted we're not exactly spoilt for choice of galleries in the Sutherland Shire, but who needs choice when you've got Hazlehurst.  I have always loved fashion exhibitions, and although I had no idea what After Five: Fashion from the Darnell Collection was about, saw no reason why it should be the exception.





As it happens I had also been wondering what The Darnell Collection was only a couple of months before while reading Love Vintage.  Its not often your curiosity gets answered by an exhibition in your local arts centre.  I can't sum it up better that the press bumph.

The exhibition is entirely drawn from The Darnell Collection of International Vintage Couture. Now considered Australia’s largest private collection of fashion, the collection has an intriguing provenance. The core of the collection was put together by Doris Darnell, a Quaker from Pennsylvania, who from the 1930s gathered together items of clothing worn by her wealthy friends and acquaintances. Of particular interest were the glamorous garments worn for special occasions. In 2004 Doris bequeathed half her collection to an American university, and the other half to her goddaughter, Charlotte Smith. Since inheriting her godmother’s collection of precious fashion, Charlotte has continued to develop the collection, which now numbers over 6000 items of dress. New acquisitions by Charlotte have resulted in many of the works represented in this exhibition bearing an Australian provenance.

For me what was most beautiful about the collection was Doris Darnell's interest in the lives of the clothes and the women who wore them.  It told a story of so much more than pieces of fabric.  These were dresses owned and worn by women who loved fashion and loved dressing up, which made me feel a very real connection to them.

I also went to the Ballgown's exhibition at the V&A last year, and while I greatly enjoyed it, I preferred After Five.  The dresses at the V&A were worn by more famous people and designed by the best but the fact many were in glass cabinets made it a little impersonal.  I think seeing the Darnell Collection up close (but not touching) made it so much more the real.  After Dark also had its fair share of pieces by leading designers and also one particularly beautiful home made dress.

I don't yet have the confidence to be taking photos in public, and I'm not sure I would even have been allowed to in this instance.  I did think I'd be able to find pictures of some of my favourite dresses online, but it turns out I was wrong.  Here's the images from Hazlehurst's website, it gives you an idea.


The exhibition remains on until the 12th of May, I for one will be popping in every time I can get away with it.