Flappers, Speedos And The New Look – Fashion In Australia in the 20s, 30s and 40s 

Presented by Claudia Chan Shaw

In the 1920s there wasn’t an Australian style in women’s dress. David Jones in 1921 advertised its “modestly priced reproductions and adaptations of Paris fashions.” Almost overnight, the arrival of an economic depression brought a serious tone to society. Women’s hemlines dropped, and the carefree age of the flapper was over. By the time Australia entered the Second World War, the traditional role of women shifted with many joining the Australian Land Army. Rationing was brought in and women were taught to make ‘New Clothes from Old’ and ‘Make Do and Mend’. By 1947 Christian Dior’s New Look had restored femininity to both the fashion industry and women worldwide. While all the fuss was being made about the Parisian fashions, two local designers were quietly paving the way for an Australian look and the beginnings of the Australian fashion industry. Enter Beril Jents and Hall Ludlow. Join Claudia Chan Shaw to discover the story of fashion in Australia from the twenties through to the forties.

Dates and Locations

Monday 30 March 2026 Mudgee (NSW)

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