Fashionable donation

Barbara Brinsley with the outfit donated to Otago Museum. Photo: Gregor Richardson
Barbara Brinsley with the outfit donated to Otago Museum. Photo: Gregor Richardson
Otago Museum has been given a woman's woollen suit designed by Hardy Amies, at a time of growing international interest in the creations of the late English fashion designer.

Dunedin resident Barbara Brinsley, a retired former Dunedin Hospital nurse, provided the suit and a silk shirt.

She bought the suit and shirt at the DIC department store in Dunedin in the early 1970s.

The garments were made under licence in New Zealand.

Amies (1909-2003) was closely linked to English fashion through his Savile Row House, which operated under a royal warrant signed by Queen Elizabeth.

He published books such as The ABC of Men's Fashion (1964), and the Queen has long worn clothes designed by him.

Mrs Brinsley said Amies was well-known for his "timeless bespoke tailoring and approach to design'' and she was pleased other people would get the chance to enjoy the ensemble at the museum.

Museum curator, humanities, Moira White said there had been a "fresh surge of interest'' in Amies' designs for women with the opening in England of "Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from The Queen's Wardrobe'', exhibitions of clothing worn by the Queen.

john.gibb@odt.co.nz

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