A glamourous weekend of high fashion is on the way to Skipton Mechanics Institute Community Hall.
The McFarlane Dress Collection will be featured at the Fashion Through The Ages Exhibition on the weekend of 19 and 20 September.
The event will showcase Spectacular vintage gowns from the 20th century including designs by Australian couturiers Carla Zampatti, Suzanne Cole, Dana Mathers and Matthew Eager.
The free exhibition is open from 10am-4pm on both days with a catwalk parade and afternoon tea from 1pm on the Sunday.
McFarlane Dress Collection curator Jennifer Blomeley has accumulated the collection over the past 25 years.
Her hobby snowballed after Ms Blomeley found a pre-loved green velvet dress and jacket from a vintage shop in Queenscliff.
"After a freshen-up and a couple of stitches, carefully rolling it into a suitcase, it was ready to wear to a special anniversary dinner in Sydney.
"The dress was by Australian designer Josef Ribkoff. Later research revealed it was a bargain purchase."
As the collection grew, friends and acquaintances sourced or donated dresses from vintage boutiques or op shops - even a backyard shed and a dress-up box
"Several dresses are on-line purchases, mostly in reasonable condition," Ms Blomeley said.
"Often the seller will tell me the story of where the dress was worn etc. In some cases they cost a little - some cost a little more. The hunt and the negotiations are fun, but the reward is the finished dress."
Particularly notable inclusions are Lady Gwenda Manifold's 1950s pink tea dress, a 1960s striped dress worn to the Titanic Restaurant in Williamstown, and a gold ball gown by Melbourne's most prestigious evening gown provider, De Lara Couture.
In the collection is a red ball gown by Australian designer Matthew Eager, who has dressed newsreader Natalie Barr, Marcia Hines and Amanda Keller.
"Also in the collection is the orange version of a light blue Carla Zampatti dress worn by Miranda Kerr. Dame Quentin Bryce and Delta Goodrem often wore Carla Zampatti designs."
Ms Blomeley's favourite item is either a navy J'adore dress, or a wedding dress she recently bought online. Both were designed in Australia and needed extensive repairs.
The J'adore, bought online around 2017, was described as "The train of this dress was accidentally walked on by a fellow contestant and torn in several spots."
"This was time-consuming but a satisfying repair of a half shoe imprint tear and multiple heel tears - replacement of three sequined panels in the train, mending of smaller tears."
Corangamite Shire Mayor Kate Makin invited fashionistas from across the region to come along.
"The McFarlane collection really is an amazing journey through 20th century fashions.
"It shows off the skill the designers and artisans who turn material into dresses that really are works of art.
"For the mechanically minded, there will also be a display of vintage sewing machines owned by Leanne Delahunty."
The Fashion Through the Ages exhibition is presented by Corangamite Shire Council with funding from the Victorian Government.
Pictured: McFarlane Dress Collection curator Jennifer Blomeley with a 1950s by Suzanne Cole and a 1980s by Mr K.
