At the end of September I went to the Horrockses Exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey, London. This exhibition of Horrockses Fashions' cotton dresses - ultra-feminine "shirtwaisters", stylish "housecoats" and beachwear in delightful colours and patterns from the 1950's has been so popular that it has been extended until 28 October 2010. If you are a fan of that period and anything stylish, feminine or vintage, then this exhibition is a must.
Julia McAusland, 50, lecturer in fashion and textiles (pictured above) is sporting a genuine Horrockses dress, alongside other vintage pieces that make her whole outfit. She is a devoted vintage collector:
"I have an expanding collection of vintage fashion pieces; my personal shoppers range from Babs and Chas in Oxfam to Marco in Liberty but it is to Penny Phillips that I owe thanks for sourcing this 1950s Horrockses dress and bolero ensemble. Other treasures of mine include a wonderful beaded ankle-length column dress, probably from the late 1960s, and two 1950s ballgowns, one of which has large hand-painted flowers adorning the full, layered skirt that swishes at every movement. However, the ultimate has to be a gold leather Moschino jacket – my justification for having it is that, if I am still wearing it when I am 80, then it will have been worth it!
I love seeking out treasures at every opportunity whether in charity shops or vintage fairs, which to me are like giant dressing-up boxes. It is fascinating to look at construction methods and details of finish, and to wear any of my purchases gives me a thrill and makes me feel special; I am unlikely to find someone wearing the same thing as me and it is great to know that I am giving these things a second life as well as benefiting charities and being kind to the environment. Long live vintage!"
When I met Julia at the Pat Albeck's talk at the exhibition, she was wearing her above-mentioned gold leather jacket and she did look fantastic!
