Welcome!
What is the Australian Dress Register?
The Australian Dress Register is a collaborative, online project about dress with Australian provenance. This includes men's, women's and children's clothing ranging from the special occasion to the everyday. Museums and private collectors are encouraged to research their garments and share the stories and photographs while the information is still available and within living memory. The Register encourages people to consider their collections very broadly and share what they know about members of their community, what they wore and life in the past. This provides access to a world wide audience while keeping their garments in their relevant location. More
Feature garment
Bessie Rouse's crimson silk outfit
This crimson figured silk bodice extends to the hip in 'cuirasse' style and is constructed in eight panels to give a shapely fit. The low square neck is piped with burgundy satin. The bodice fastens with 9 ruby glass gilded and painted buttons & hand sewn buttonholes. The original sleeves, ... More
Themes: Special occasion
Feature video
Who, what, where, why, when? - A contributor's perspective
What the Australian Dress Register means to Justine Malinowski: "it's a tool to allow people to research what is out there in other people's collections"
Feature garment
Tartan cutaway jacket
Norman McSween, the Scottish owner of the coat, came as a widower with his family from the Isle of Skye on the “Ontario” in 1852. The Ship’s indent says that they were “a very poor and destitute family”, so perhaps the coat was their one treasure and a reminder of their native land. Norman died ... More
