What Australian women wore in the early 20th century

20s afternoon tea dance Miss Page gown display 2011

I am extremely lucky to have a collection of dresses made by a local Blue Mountains dress maker, Violet Florence Page, I wrote about her last year in Heart's Broken After War. In that post you can read how I came into this small costume treasure from a local jobbing dressmaker spanning the 1920 - 1950s.

What fascinates me about these dresses and gowns made by Miss Page, is that they represent what women wore during the years of the 1920s through to the 1950s in Australia. When I do costuming, particularly in anything prior to the 1950s, the dress style and fashion is very American, British and Europe centric. While I love the gowns made by the couturiers and ateliers from overseas, I'm Australian and l would prefer to reflect style as it was here, in Oz, during these times.

20s afternoon tea dance Miss Page gown display 2011

Of course our Australian fashion was (and is) very much influenced by overseas trends. In the 19th century women eagerly sort the fashion magazines that arrived under sail from England and Europe. By the time they arrived, already 6 months or more out-of-date, the local dressmaker would take those styles and adapt them to our climate and to the trims, fabric, and resources available, and so with Miss Page.

The Australian Home Journal (1902 - 1982,  available online at the National Library of Australia), the Australian Women's Weekly (started 1933 and also available online at the NLA),  the New Idea (started 1902 and still going strong) amongst other local fashion magazines, provided women with an Australian flare to the overseas trends, especially through WW1 and WW2 when we were cut off from overseas influences.

20s afternoon tea dance Miss Page gown display 2011

I really appreciate Miss Page's dresses, they reflect my local area, a working dress makers life and they provide me with inspiration to create in the studio.

Her gowns and patterns are my inspiration for my move into pattern making for a commercial audience. Yes, for you, my readers, patterns made for the 21st century women but using the style, structure, design, and sewing techniques from the original time period.

I am starting in the 1940s with my Miss Page pattern collection, its a period that I love, that can show the difference of the Australian woman's style during WWII.

It is a huge learning curve for me, but I am loving it.



I am launching the first of these 1940s patterns in May this year. If you would like to be notified by email of the launch, please send me an email to enquiries at thetailorsapprentice.com and I'll pop you on the notification list. You won't be annoyed by other emails, I hate spam as much as you do!

Vintage dresses – make yourself a fabulous gown

Together we will make a beautiful vintage outfit from last century, think flapper or cool 30’s sophisticate, the fabulous lean but beautiful fashions of WWII and the glorious gowns of the post war years and then the funky fashion of the Carnaby Street 50’s.

This is a 10-week course; four hours class time each week, total 48 hours tuition time for the course.

Suited to the beginner, novice or expert sewer wishing to extend their skills.

You and I will create a vintage gown that will be beautiful, fit you well and be period perfect.

At the end of the course you will have a lovely vintage gown and improved your seamstress abilities, plus have a great deal of fun!

Contact me for an enrolment form enquiries@thetailorsapprentice.com

Course No.	Day	Time	Commences	Concludes	Availability	Fee
VG-2011-1	Tuesday & Thursday	18:00 – 20:00	2 August & 4 August	9 November	4	$650