The National Museum of Australia in Canberra is now home to more than 1,000 significant items that chart the colourful history of Australian and international fashion and design over 150 years.
Drawn from one of the world's largest and most diverse private fashion collections, the items date from the 1850s to the 2000s and were collected over 30 years by leading Australian-American fashion expert Charlotte Smith.
Wedding and evening dresses, shoes, gloves, underwear, nightwear, blouses, hats and handbags, feature in the ensemble, which represents one of the richest and most diverse fashion collections held by an Australian cultural institution.
'Charlotte Smith's private collection spans thousands of items and has captivated people from around the world for decades,' National Museum Director Katherine McMahon said.
'As a result of this milestone acquisition, the National Museum is now home to a collection that provides an intriguing window into how Australian fashion and design has been shaped by global trends and forces.
'We are absolutely thrilled to offer a home to more than 1,000 items which so powerfully illustrate Australian and international fashion and design history.'
Charlotte Smith inherited the original collection from her American godmother – Doris Darnell – a Quaker from Pennsylvania who had a passion for fashion.
