Friday, March 29, 2024

New exhibition showcasing vintage fashion

Recent stories

Port Pirie Regional Council, Media Release, 8 February 2023

Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery is excited to present an exhibition of local and regional South Australian significance: Tina Hooft: A Country Women’s Wardrobe II.

Featuring vintage clothing and accessories from bygone eras, this exhibition draws on the considerable collection of Dutch-born, Merriton-based collector Tina Hooft, who has been collecting vintage garments, accessories and more for over 20 years.

A special Launch Event will be held at 6pm on Friday 10 February at the Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery located at 3 Mary-Elie Street, Port Pirie.

Free tickets for the launch are available via Eventbrite.

Tina Hooft: A Country Women’s Wardrobe II will be available to view at the Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery daily from 11 February until 26 March 2023. Gallery opening hours are 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 2pm on weekends and public holidays.

The Vivian Crisp Gallery

The Eleanor Spice Collection is a remarkable collection of dresses, glamorous vintage garments and accessories from the ubiquitous Mrs Eleanor Spice (1922-2022). She has been described by her granddaughter as a “country woman of style and substance, who lived a long and remarkable life in country South Australia, whose wardrobe, “was full of stunning elegance, style and grace…. twin sets, coat and dress ensembles, matching hats and gloves, and an impressive collection of shoes, including her beloved stilettos.” This display represents a fraction of Mrs Spice’s wardrobe and her love for well-made beautiful garments. The collection is a throwback to a bygone era and delves into the social history and lifestyle of post-war regional South Australia.

Flinders Gallery

Tina has drawn inspiration from The Leon Rodda Band, a time that saw some women get glamorously dressed up to dance to music of The Leon Rodda Band. Rodda lovingly remembered as the King of the keyboards who played in everything from big bands to solo spots, dazzling crowds with virtuosity in genres from pop to jazz in and parish halls, town halls, and clubs across this region and beyond from the 1940s onwards. This display features a large-scale photo of the Queen of the Ball finalists circa 1950s, picturing The Leon Rodda Band playing, dresses on display are from a similar era.

Barbara’s Little Dresses is a range of handmade bespoke children’s clothes from the local Crystal Brook Community. While womenswear followed three broad trends, a continuation of the previous decade’s ladylike elegance, childrenswear saw less change, but also became more casual and brighter in colour and pattern. The pieces in this display were lovingly handcrafted to ensure children were well presented.

A Day out for the Ladies features a small number of day dresses and accessories collected across the Mid North lovingly cared for by Tina Hooft.

Supported by Port Pirie Regional Council and Friends of the Port Pirie Regional Art Gallery.

KEEP IN TOUCH

Sign up for updates from Australian Rural & Regional News

Manage your subscription

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.