High fashion demands austerity, a certain hushed respect in sterile halls, yet the genuine, dizzying joy of dress truly blooms only when it’s drenched in sticky soda and remembered by a twelve-year-old in fluorescent pink tights. This is the glorious contradiction that pulses at the heart of the National Gallery of Victoria's newest celebration for younger audiences.
The exhibition, *Let's Party! Fashion for Kids*, is not merely a display of garments; it is a meticulously constructed memory machine designed to inspire immediate, unbridled fun. Designer Danielle Brustman captured this essential truth: the school lessons often fade, but the shimmer of that grade five disco slumber party lasts forever.
She remembers the neon Wham! T-shirt worn as a defiant dress, the tight fluorescent pink tights, a thin studded belt, and a solitary lace glove—a perfect, messy symphony of youthful self-expression. It was a real incident.
The Curated Chaos of Couture
The NGV’s Fashion and Textiles Collection has momentarily shed its reserved demeanor.
A truly memorable party must possess layers; it cannot be one note of polite reverence. The exhibition features party-starting pieces that deliberately juxtapose the sublime with the ridiculous. The high fashion centrepiece is unapologetic in its grandeur: Look 27, Top and Skirt, by the Japanese designer Tomo Koizumi—an outrageous cloud of ruffled organza that somehow defies gravity and perhaps good sense, in the best possible way.
This theatrical elegance finds a strange, happy companionship with street eccentricity.
Jeremy Scott’s flowery Adidas sneakers, absurdly adorned with stuffed teddy bears, prove that high art can walk, or rather, stomp, with pure silliness. Alongside these, we encounter floral suits suggesting a spontaneous garden rave and idiosyncratic ballgowns that reject convention.
There is genuine leather jacket-clad punk history embedded within an outfit from designer Des Kirwan. It’s an honest, optimistic representation of how we actually dress for profound joy—a beautiful, inaccurate clash of style and sentiment.
The Studio 54 Dreamscape
Brustman, acting as the interior designer, did not just house the clothes; she built the atmosphere where the clothes fundamentally belong—a party within the NGV itself.
This is a swirling dream world, a vibrant, undulating anti-chamber that perfectly complements the focused seriousness of the accompanying summer blockbuster, *Westwood | Kawakubo*. Glam rock lightning bolts streak across the walls; heart-shaped mirrors reflect every spontaneous grin. Pure chaos is permissible.
The centerpiece commands instant attention: a colourful, Studio 54-style disco dance floor, ringed by silent mannequins modelling the NGV's classic party outfits.
This space is interactive, essential to the purpose. Children—and emphatically, everyone—can control both the music and the exuberant lighting simply by smashing an oversized star on the dedicated DJ booth. The playlist spans the emotional spectrum: the sophisticated energy of Oasis sits right next to the viral absurdity of the "Chicken Banana song." Before the dance, the outfit station beckons; young partygoers can choose between cut-out hearts, stars, or lightning bolts for an immediate, temporary transformation before heading over to strike a pose in the photo booth.
The ultimate intention here is clear: confidence must bloom.
Dressing up is a form of transformative magic. Brustman fundamentally hopes this vibrant collection, combined with the pure fun of the dance floor, inspires crucial self-confidence in these young generations. When the music thumps, when they choose their metallic cut-out, and when they find themselves dancing beneath the flashing lights surrounded by extreme fashion, they are actively designing their own indelible memories.
They leave having experienced not just the display of art, but having worn the feeling of the party itself. That is the truly lasting couture.
The world of fashion is often reserved for adults, but a new exhibition is changing that. A fashion exhibition designed specifically for kids is set to captivate young minds and inspire their creativity. According to broadsheet. com. au, this innovative exhibition is an interactive and immersive experience that allows children to explore the world of fashion in a fun and engaging way.
The exhibition features a range of hands-on activities and displays that showcase the art of fashion design, from sketching and sewing to styling and accessorizing.
Kids can learn about the history of fashion, different cultures and their traditional clothing, and even create their own fashion designs. The exhibition aims to encourage children to think creatively and develop their problem-solving skills, all while having a blast.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is a "design your own outfit" station, where kids can let their imagination run wild and create their own fashion masterpiece.
With a variety of fabrics, colors, and accessories to choose from, the possibilities are endless. The exhibition also features a "fashion show" area, where kids can model their creations and strut their stuff on a mini catwalk.
The exhibition is not just about having fun, but also about learning and education.
Other related sources and context: Visit website“Growing up, parties were the highlight,” says Danielle Brustman , designer of Let's Party! Fashion for Kids.◌◌◌ ◌ ◌◌◌
