We went straight from the farmers markets to the National Trust property out a Saumarez near the airport. This large colonial home has nice gardens and a house open to public inspection - much like many National Trust buildings in the UK I have reported on from time to time. However, our purpose today was to see an exhibition of late 19th and early 20th century garments worn by the women of Saumarez house, the HQ of a large and prosperous pastoral property on the edge of town. This was in a corner of the main house and the exhibits we found all over the house after it passed into National Trust hands. This was incidentally the first time they had been brought together to give something of the flavour of life at the turn of the 20th century for a wealthy family. Here are some of the exhibits:
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Each of the items was well-made - often exquisite - and dealt with different activities during the day - sporting apparel (tennis), evening gowns, outdoor clothing, sleepwear (not shown here) and so on. And the items came from some of the best suppliers of the day like David Jones, an up-market department store chain that's still going today.
I must admit that I didn't think I'd like the exhibition, but instead I found it extremely interesting. I came away thinking that we live in much better times. In those days people went to preposterous lengths to demonstrate their wealth and station in life. Fortunately, today's technocratic society has no need to waste such pointless time, expense and effort. These days people with $20 billion in the bank are quite happy to walk around in jeans and a t-shirt. In fact, when I see a bloke in a suit I assume that he's a crook, a used car salesman, a politician, or has some chronic psychological deficiency (such as craving attention or a lack of self-regard). Nowadays most people don't even dress up for a funeral ... and anyone wearing formal gear who turns up for my own will be barred from attending! I'm planning a rave-up instead.
AS
Each of the items was well-made - often exquisite - and dealt with different activities during the day - sporting apparel (tennis), evening gowns, outdoor clothing, sleepwear (not shown here) and so on. And the items came from some of the best suppliers of the day like David Jones, an up-market department store chain that's still going today.
I must admit that I didn't think I'd like the exhibition, but instead I found it extremely interesting. I came away thinking that we live in much better times. In those days people went to preposterous lengths to demonstrate their wealth and station in life. Fortunately, today's technocratic society has no need to waste such pointless time, expense and effort. These days people with $20 billion in the bank are quite happy to walk around in jeans and a t-shirt. In fact, when I see a bloke in a suit I assume that he's a crook, a used car salesman, a politician, or has some chronic psychological deficiency (such as craving attention or a lack of self-regard). Nowadays most people don't even dress up for a funeral ... and anyone wearing formal gear who turns up for my own will be barred from attending! I'm planning a rave-up instead.
AS
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