Last weekend I had the pleasure of viewing the Miss Fisher’s Murder Mystery Exhibit at Old Government House. As a lover of 1920s fashion it was an absolute treat and incredibly inspiring to see the fantastic outfits created by renowned costume designer Marion Boyce. Fans of the show will be well familiar with heiress turned detective, Phryne Fisher’s eclectic style that is both elegant and exotic.
When Ms Boyce set out to clothe Phryne Fisher she had to overcome the obstacle of creating era authentic looks with a limited supply or original pieces to work with. As vintage lovers know full well, original 1920s clothing is fragile. The fear of wear and tear is real and the heartbreak immense when fabric shatters and an outfit disintegrates on your back. With an incredibly active and passionate character like Phryne it was necessary to create each individual outfit from scratch.
Luckily with a well curated stash of vintage fabrics, jewelry and accessories, Ms Boyce was able to create impeccable outfits that do justice to the glamour of the 1920s. This is something I personally really loved about seeing this collection, the way that vintage looks were reproduced and combined with vintage pieces for an authentic look.
Having walked through all of the beautiful historic rooms that hosted the exhibition, it was hard to decide on a favourite outfit. Or hat for that matter, because the hats were superb and I stood there coveting them and hoping that one day something similar might appear in my own wardrobe. Let’s just say that there really isn’t a single outfit in Phryne’s wardrobe that I wouldn’t wear! I think this is a sentiment many who visit the exhibit will feel, and you might even find yourself trying to track down your own outfits inspired by Phryne.
The Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries Exhibition is on currently at Old Government House until September 4th and is a must see whether you are a fan of the show or a lover of fashion. Something that really struck me about the exhibit that I hadn’t thought of before, is actually how modern the styles of the 1920s are. When you look at what is in fashion currently you can see how the 1920s never truly went away, and I for one am hoping that perhaps in four years from now when it is the ’20s again they will be back with full flair.
(My viewing of the Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries exhibit was complimentary, but all thoughts and opinions are my own).
That’s just the perfect exhibit for a vintage fashion fan. It’s awesome that you were able to attend and take some photos, too. So often (here at least), I find that museums and galleries don’t allow photos. I understand the conservation reasons behind such, but if it’s not flash photography, I do think that taking pictures should usually be allowed.
Thank you for sharing these ones with us. How awesome are those hats?!
xoxo ♥ Jessica
Copyright can be another reason for museums and galleries not allowing photography. Before the ‘Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries’ exhibition at Old Government House in Sydney, the museum staged a show of 200 years of historical, film and tv show wedding dresses called ‘Love, Desire & Riches’. Everything in the exhibition could be photographed without flash – expect for the dress from ‘Muriel’s Wedding’. No photography was a condition set by the copyright owners for loaning the dress. I preferred Daisy’s wedding dress from ‘The Great Gatsby’ anyway!
I LOVE these fashions. The hats are so incredible and the look was so stylish. Thank you for sharing.
It really does look like the most wonderful exhibition. I too think that the 1920s still have a modern feel – that velvet jacket thing is almost identical to one on the catwalk for this AW16. It wouldn’t be a bad thing for the ’20s fashions to roar again! x
I’m super jealous of everyone who got to see this amazing exhibition! But your fantastic photos are almost as good as going. Thank you.
It looks amazing! Such beautiful clothes. Thanks for the lovely photos – almost makes up for not being able to go 😉
Amazing! I must say I’m a little bit jealous that there isn’t a Miss Fisher exhibit here in Germany.
The series is amazing and I can’t wait for the new season which will be available in Germany in September.
Many hugs,
Sandra <3