It's time to remember the decade that style forgot, writes Jamie Metzger.
iD Dunedin Fashion Week is an important occasion on any fashionista's calendar. It's also an excellent opportunity for the Otago Museum to share showstoppers from our costume and textile collection, a dream wardrobe that spans decades, and even centuries.
Known to some as the decade style forgot, the 1970s is the focus of a cutting-edge display to celebrate this year's fashion week.
Following on from the rebellious, revolutionary 1960s, the 1970s signalled a freedom not seen in fashion before. The liberation exuded by one's '70s wardrobe was diverse and chaotic. But in an era symbolised by the peace sign, personal style was pulled in radically different directions.
The carefree spirit of the era inspired the museum team to consider new ways of presenting this year's objects. Head of design Craig Scott challenged conventional display methods by converting the museum's cloakroom into a time warp straight out of the '70s.
The lockers are perfectly suited to displaying objects from the museum's collection that illustrate the key style characteristics of the decade. Eight of the 24 lockers are converted into bohemia and disco-glam cubbyholes. Visitors can see a pair of towering cork platforms, a Rolleicord camera (complete with its psychedelic original packaging) and a glittering sequinned beret. A small area in front of the lockers showcases some larger garments, including a possum-trimmed coat and a collection of menswear.
To enhance the area design services officer Annah Taggart created a sumptuous vinyl pattern inspired by shapes, colours and motifs from '70s textiles in the museum collections. The baby pink and mustard yellow colour scheme complements this pattern.
The team hopes that by creating a display disruption in an unexpected space visitors will take away a new understanding of the continuing influence of the 1970s on design.
- Jamie Metzger, Otago Museum collection officer
