All posts filed under: Events

Mansfield & the Modern Woman thedreamstress.com

Mansfield & the Modern Woman

My talk on Katherine Mansfield, the New Zealand Suffrage movement, and the changing roles of women in the late 19th and early 20th century was last weekend at the NZ Portrait Gallery. It went off beautifully, thanks to assistance from students from Toi Whakaari The New Zealand Drama School, who modelled and assisted as dressers. The talk coincided with the exhibition: Katherine Mansfield: A Portrait, which includes depictions of Mansfield by various artists, from the famous Anne Estelle Rice portrait, to more modern interpretations of Mansfield. They art provided an interesting counterpoint to the models in their outfit.  The costumes illustrate the development of more modern ideals and roles for women in fashion, and the different facets of the ‘modern woman’ that emerged in Mansfield’s lifetime.  The artworks show the different ways in which people view and interpret Mansfield: the facets of her personality. After the talk the models enjoyed the other, equally appropriate exhibition, Worn Identities: And the bookstore: And then we moved out to the waterfront for photos: (it is a truth universally …

Ruffled unders at Ruffles & Rebellion thedreamstress.com

Mansfield & the Modern Woman: a fashion history talk

Need some fashion history in your weekend? Come hear me talk about Katherine Mansfield, the New Zealand suffrage movement, and ideals and archetypes of femininity in late 19th & early 20th c New Zealand – all illustrated with models in gorgeous costumes. Mansfield & the Modern Woman New Zealand Portrait Gallery, Shed 11   Sunday, 7th October, 1pm Free This talk is part of Mansfield 130 and Suffrage 125 There will be models in gorgeous dresses, fabulous artwork, and interesting history.  What’s not to love? If you aren’t able to come in person, enjoy some of the media coverage of me in preparation for the event: I talk about sewing, books, films, and more on Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan on RadioNZ The Fortnight in 1916 and some corset mythbusting in the Herald.  

Ramsay to Renoir Fashion History Talk, 18/8/2018, Richmond, Nelson

Ramsay to Renoir: I’m coming down to Nelson for a fashion history talk!

I’m very pleased to announce that I’ll be in Nelson on Saturday the 18th of August to give a charity talk on behalf of Life Linc. Life Linc is a fantastic charity that provides very low cost professional counselling within Nelson & Tasman. Mental health support is a cause that is particularly close to home for me.  A few years ago I struggled with a period of extremely severe depression.  At the time, I had very little disposable income.  Heavily discounted counselling through a charity helped me to cope with the depression, to identify what was triggering it, and eventually to find a way move out of it.  I’m incredibly lucky to have been able to keep a reasonably even keel since, but it’s because of the tools I was given in counselling: I’m aware of what my triggers are, what I need to be happy and balanced, and know how to re-set myself if my emotions start going pear shaped. Because of my own experience, I know how incredibly valuable counselling can be, and …