Tuesday 8 October 2013

The Age of Aquarius - NZ Fashion Museum: Pop up exhibition 2. part


The Age of Aquarius - A 1970s revolution in fashion
NZ Fashion Museum
14 SEPTEMBER - 13 OCTOBER 2013
Geyser Building, 100 Parnell Rd, Auckland / New Zealand
Exhibition hours are 10am to 4.30pm. Open Monday-Saturday. 

After that I read the Fashion Museum's catalog about The Age of Aquarius, It was necessary to turn back second time to see the 70's garments. These clothes, carry a lot more interesting details than one might think at first glance. I discovered fabrics, print and knit techniques which has been completely forgotten so I would like share with you this experience.

Gold jumpsuit by Pepertree in satin jersey, loan courtesy of Christine Ludbrook
Full-skirted dress in red printed jersey knit with thin shoulder straps and back lacing,
Hullabaloo label 1977
Loan courtesy of  Fiona Carter 
Hullabaloo label 1977
Loan courtesy of  Fiona Carter 
Home sewn bright blue cotton velvet dress with embroidery.
Left: 3-piece dress in ombre-dyed peach silk with stencilled cloud, flower and butterfly motifs by Susan Holmes, loan courtesy of Aorewa McLeod
Right: Kimono jacket and trousers in black crepe with stencilled flying bird print by Susan Holmes
courtesy of Aorewa McLeod
Swirling coat in navy cotton velvet extensively stencil and block printed inside and out by Susan Holmes
courtesy of Aorewa McLeod
Custom made cape and full-lenght dress in blue jersey knit with stencilled flying bird print by Susan Holmes, 1976.
Loan courtesy of Karen Roberts


Ensemble  comprising - Hullaboloo blouse in small floral print rayon, unlabelled zip-front jacket in dusky pink crushed velvet,  Biba flared trousers in mushroom cotton sateen, unlabelled navy printed scarf.
Kaftan in bold geometric print on linen, Peer Gynt label.
Front: One-pice El Jay silk culotte in vibrant abstract floral print on black ground.
Loan courtesy of Diane Strevens
Back: Full lenght silver lurex knit dress with butterfly sleeves by Society.
Loan courtesy of Deborah Wilson
Evening dress by House of Raymonde in black crepe with silver braid belt and floor length cap sleeves in chiffon with circle motif,
Courtesy of Betty McCrostie





Bikini in orange cotton gingham by Maggy, worn with butterfly pedant necklace.
Loan courtesy of Anita Arlov
Block printed habotai silk shirt, unlabelled, courtesy of Liz Powell.
Printed panné velvet flares, Elle, Tudor Arcade Hamilton label, loan courtesy of Kathie Figgins


"... many ethnicities questioned how "safe" the testing of nuclear weapons was, it the French needed to do it in our Pacific neighbourhood, rather than in their own backyard."
NZ Fashion Museum's catalogue: The Age of Aquarius
"Hullaballo butique in Victoria St in 1970. This was an early concept store with the fittings, signage, props, music and lighting all carefully selected to support the brand image."
NZ Fashion Museum's catalogue: The Age of Aquarius

70's badges of the women's liberation movement


" The social climate was ripe for creative local solutions and that was reflected in the fashion of the day, both un what we wore and in the way our clothes were being made and sold."
NZ Fashion Museum's catalogue: The Age of Aquarius

Knickerbockers suit in brown corduroy by Colin Cole, unlabelled sheer printed lawn shirt, John Webster tie, ox blood platform shoes, PM by Maitland. Loan courtesy of Geoffrey Bailey
Cuffed flares in cream checked, unlabelled, orange muslin shirt with puppy ear collar, unlabelled, Fair Isle pattern knit tank top, Forum label. Sanders label photo print Tevira tie.
Unlined dark brown gabardine suit,  Zelfra label, yellow shirt with pintucked bib front, Summit label (loan courtesy of Kim Smith), unlabelled tie.

Tuesday 1 October 2013

The Age of Aquarius - NZ Fashion Museum: Pop up exhibition 1.part

The Age of Aquarius - A 1970s revolution in fashion
NZ Fashion Museum 
Pop up exhibition in Auckland
Exhibition hours are 10am to 4.30pm. Open Monday-Saturday. 100 Parnell Road, Auckland.

Designed by Zora Price - black wool tunic with lurex thread, trimmed with gold braid - worn with gold lame hot pants

The Age of Aqurius exhibition provides a platform to see and experience New Zealand  in the 1970s through the wardrobes and stories of six individuals, and through examples of six different modes of fashion making.

Zora Price green wool and lurex jumpsuit and orange textured polyester trimmed with intricate roulé work and has a matching caplet.
"The 1970 s were a time when the prevailing interpretation and side effects of prosperity were being challenged. People sought a way to live more harmoniously and cooperatively with nature and with each other. At the end of the decade Lake Manapouri had indeed been saved, the Vietnam War was over and military service was no longer compulsory. The Waitangi Tribunal had been established to redress land alienation from kiwi. It provided a legal process where these grievances could be aired and resolved. And while it would take until 1996 for the French to stop nuclear testing at pacific, political action had raised awareness and let to New Zealand staunch antinuclear stance, which resulted in Labour passing the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act in 1987.
At the end of decade the population was only 3.2 million, as the rate of population growth slowed thanks in part to the increased availability of the pill and access to abortion.
The domestic Purposes Benefit had been introduced, providing independence and economic support for women with children, and the Equal Pay Act and Matrimonial Property Act had been passed, giving women more social status and freedom."
New Zealand Fashion Museum's catalogue: The Age of Aquarius







Designed by Phil O'Reilly for Black Sheep
" The 1970s were a time when the prevailing interpretation and side effects of prosperity were being challenged. People sought a way to live more harmoniously and cooperatively with nature and with each other. "
New Zealand Fashion Museum catalogue The age of Aquarius



Virginia label


The fabulous 1970s furniture that features in the exhibition is from Karakter.

The mannequins are in the 70's