COSTUMES FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD EXHIBIT.

If there is an event within 100 kilometres I'm telling ya The Brisbane Vintage Mafia Social Events Aficionado Mz Billie is all over it like red lippie on a pin up .  

I'm not ashamed to admit that when she invited me along to a private tour and Q&A with Christopher Salter one of  the curators of "Costumes of the Golden Age of Hollywood" and the actual OWNER of the costumes Nicholas Inglis , I felt a tad light headed and giggly......

 and for a change it wasn't because the I had an extra Codral Night time tablet.

 

I wore an original 1940s novelty print silk rayon frock  that I had bought from Atomic Martini Vintage.

 

This exhibition is drawn from a sole private collection owned by Brisbane resident Nicholas Inglis who has been collecting motion picture costumes and memorabilia for close to two decades.

Nicholas has amassed around 300 costumes and this exhibition features some of his favourites.



 

PHOTO COURTESY OF Nicholas Inglis



From the moment I walked through the front door of the exhibition I was swooning and gasping. I  had my hand pressed to my heart like some sort of duchess in Downtown Alley who would  shortly be in need of some smelling salts!  From start to finish my mouth was gaping in awe & wonder.

PHOTO COURTESY OF Nicholas Inglis

I think I was not only overcome with delight at seeing the simply beautiful costumes but I was also in joyous disbelief that this collection lives here..... in Brisbane!!
Every single piece is truly breath-taking.  
Slowly & deliciously surely Chris & Nicholas talked us through the pieces and in some cases the incredible ways that Nicholas had acquired them.  In one case he had what most of us vintage fashion lovers dream of when he had a "Storage Wars" moment. Some people had bought a container unseen & it was filled with boxes of costumes from MGM and didn't know what to do with it all & so contacted Nicholas.  I can just imagine how his heart must have been pounding as he opened each box to find the treasures within.

PHOTO COURTESY OF Nicholas Inglis

But this exhibiton is not just about a clothing. No no no. 

Complimenting each outfit is an original movie still showing the costume in it's scene and also colour televisions adorn the walls playing reels of the actual movie scenes in which the costumes appear.

To see the outfit not 5 metres in front of me and then to watch some of my favourite actors & actresses on screen in the actual outfit really did leave me feeling very emotional and overcome by the beauty and of it all. Quite surreal.

 

PHOTO COURTESY OF Nicholas Inglis



PHOTO COURTESY OF Nicholas Inglis

 

As a budding dressmaker extraordinaire (cough cough) I almost fainted dead away with wonder at the costume design art that was also included.  Each framed piece was just sublime and featured the drawing of the actress in costume, the name of the actor, the movie it was for and to my absolute glee a swatch of the fabric to be used.  Incredible.

What I wouldn't give to have these in my little sewing den!

 

PHOTO COURTESY OF Nicholas Inglis



It almost IMPOSSIBLE to pick a favourite outfit because they are all incredible on different levels.

I mean there are outfits worn by Julie Andrews, Fred Astaire, Marlon Brando, Judy Garland, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Lana Turner, Barbra Streisand, Esther Williams, Gene Kelly AND MORE!!!

Each with astounding work-manship and detailing.

 

PHOTO COURTESY OF Nicholas Inglis

PHOTO COURTESY OF Nicholas Inglis

 

I think my favourite outfit was probably the Judy Garland outfit from "Easter Parade". The jacket is just so unusual in its design & is just timeless.

 

 At the end of the tour, there was a Q&A time with Nicholas & Chris and they happily answered our flood of questions. 

I thanked them on behalf of the BVM and told him in all honesty how much we appreciate that someone is preserving such works of art and for making them available to be seen & enjoyed by the general public. 

I'm not exaggerating when I say that the majority of us had tears in our eyes because we were so overcome with joy and amazement.  

I must also commend the curators on the lay out of the exhibit.  It is just fabulous and truly works well to showcase each outfit. The colour scheme and the lighting is magical.

 

BUT THE DAY WASN'T OVER YET!!

 

Nicholas and Billie.

 

 All of us glamourzons headed to Jo Jo's restaurant for some lunch & light bevvies.  We were very spoilt because Nicholas came along for a chat and a rest after a very exciting morning.

 

 

Unfortunately, I missed out on the stampede to buy his book.  At the restaurant the dames were quick to pounce on Nicholas, pens poised to get him to sign everyone's copy!

You couldn't wipe the smiles of their faces! They looked quite flushed but that may have been because of the cocktails.

 

 

What an absolutely glorious day of incredible mind blowing fashion. I feel so blessed to know this bunch of amazing stylish hilarious women & am so grateful to Billie for organising it and for Nicholas for sharing his collection with us and conducting this private tour & for taking time out to join us crazy broads socially afterwards.

Note - I'm only holding the cocktail for effect . Nicholas & I. 

 

 

Taking photos was not allowed in the exhibit and so I would also like to thank Nicholas from the bottom of my heart for giving me permission to use his photos in my blog.

 

If you are at all interested in fashion and in particular the costumes of MGM studios from the 1920's to the 1950s I encourage you all to check out Nicholas's personal blog:

 

http://vintagefilmpropsandcostumes.blogspot.com.au/

 

The Brisbane Vintage Mafia - spreading the word of timeless glamour where ever we go

 

The Exhibition is on at The Museum of Brisbane at City Hall in King George Square and will be running until 24th May.

AND IS FREE!

For more information on the exhibition go to the Musuem of Brisbane website:

www.museumofbrisbane.com.au/whats-on/costumes-from-the-golden-age-of-Hollywood


xoxoxoxooxox
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