Mrs Prime Minister & 50 Years of Party Dresses

The Rockhampton Art Gallery will have two exciting exhibitions (especially for the ladies) on show during Beef Australia 2012 - Mrs Prime Minister and A Sense of Ocassion: 50 Years of Party Dresses.

Admission to both exhibitions is free and the Rockhampton Art Gallery on Victoria Parade is open daily from 10am to 4pm.

A sense of occasion: Fifty years of party dresses

5 April – 13 May - A touring exhibition drawn from the Darnell Collection

A sense of occasion is an exhibition of ball gowns and cocktail dresses from the 1920s to the 1960s drawn from the Darnell Collection, NSW.

Each decade will be represented by a variety of day and evening party dresses and a selection of hats, handbags, shoes and jewellery to fit the theme of each era. The collection of gowns from France, United States, Italy, Australia and New Zealand will explore each era, social history, famous designers, style influences and inspirations. Sections in the exhibition will include The Roaring 20s, Hollywood glamour, Dior’s ‘New Look’, Debutantes dress for Society and ‘Mad Men’ cocktail hour.

Doris Darnell, a Quaker from Pennsylvania, USA, began collecting costume in the 1940s with items spanning from the Regency period to the 1980s. Quaker doctrine opposes following fashion and collecting, but Darnell circumvented this rule by wearing many of the items given to her.

Charlotte Smith inherited her godmother Doris's collection in 2004. It has continued to grow through further bequests to over 5500 pieces representing 23 different countries and is considered the largest private vintage clothing collection in Australia. Included are many internationally recognised 20th century designers such as Lucile, Vionnet, Dior, Chanel, Balenciaga, Pucci, Jean Muir, Zandra Rhodes, Westwood, Versace and Dolce & Gabana among many other names.

Mrs Prime Minister - Public image, private lives

7 April – 20 May - A Museum of Australian Democracy travelling exhibition

Old Parliament House’s travelling exhibition Mrs Prime Minister—Public Image, Private Lives introduces visitors to the 25 remarkable women who have been wives to past Prime Ministers from 1901 to 2007.

It reveals the ‘woman behind the title’, examining the unique contribution, style and structure each brought to the position of Mrs Prime Minister, and explores the realities of being married to one of the nation’s most powerful men—including the difficulties of trying to balance public and private life, the glamour, the hardships, the passions, and of course, the politics.

For further information contact the Rockhampton Art Gallery, 62 Victoria Parade, Rockhampton. Phone: 07 4936 8248 or email gallery@rrc.qld.gov.au.