blazers

Queensland and sport go hand-in-hand, so sportswear seems a natural place to start when thinking about the influence of Art Deco sensibilities on local women’s fashion. Across the Western world, the 1920s saw a boom in women’s sporting participation, linked to their increasing visibility in public life and a newfound sense of independence. Fashion, in general, embodied these new values, observed in the abandonment of corsets, rising hemlines, and simplified designs. Sportswear was no exception. Let’s begin with tennis as a case study, a sport deemed suitable for women’s participation from the late 1800s. To set the scene, this first image of the Queensland Ladies Interstate Tennis Team from 1908 illustrates the kinds of physical restrictions women contended with prior to the arrival of modernity. As a Queensland representative team, it could be assumed these women were among the more serious and adept players of the game, yet their movement would have been severely restricted by their Edwardian ankle-length skirts, narrow waistbands, long-sleeved blouses, ties, and broad-brimmed hats. By the 1920s, things had started to change. This illustration appearing in The Queenslander in 1921 shows the strong influence of modern fashion on what was considered appropriate tennis attire – the dress is slimline and drop-waisted in accordance with the androgynous or ‘beanpole’ style that came to define the decade. Importantly, looser-fitting dresses, slightly higher hemlines sitting above ankle-length, and less cumbersome hats all combined to allow women freer athletic movement. It seems unlikely anyone would have seriously attempted to play the sport in the kind of heeled shoes shown here, but they served as a visual reminder to women to maintain their femininity even in the throes of an exhilarating tennis match. However, this isn’t where things ended for tennis attire in the 1920s. The woman in this next photo from a mixed double match in Brisbane in 1927 sports an even less structured dress with a substantially higher hemline and short sleeves – all changes that brought still greater mobility. Indeed, this is a woman who embodies modern values – she is physical, strong, in-flight and free … not to mention playing alongside a man. Source: queenslanddecoproject.com/2014/10/22/sporting-women-1920s...

From their website... From 1890 until 1980 the old Good Counsel College stood in the heart of New Ross. It was a small boarding school which catered for students from all parts of Ireland. Quite a bit of variation in the school uniform here. Some with ties, some without, and several different tie designs. Some with waistcoat, some without. And many with no uniform.

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyelightfilms] Thanks for the confirmation on New Ross! Wonder if it was an easy-going environment at this school - not such strict regulation of uniforms?

I love the informality of this group shot - and what's so noticeable is that the kids clearly had a terrific relationship with the staff: arms draped round each other, even two boys sitting on masters' shoulders. Looks like it was a fine school with a happy atmosphere.

Not a cleric in sight. Wonder if that made the difference.

Marvellous school shot. Instead of standing to attention in lines waiting for execution they are all relaxed and at ease. Wonderful memory for the lot of them.

It is a very nice photo and they do make for a good looking group. Uncle Gaybo is yer man if you could contact him, he would have been there around then unless I am mistaken. Maybe he is even in there. The right hand parting is not the only one, that lad in the plimsolls or "tackies" as we called them in Limerick was in danger of the ire of the Christian Brothers for wearing those in the front row.

Second from right, middle row. Were's your jacket boy?! Great photo.

Swordscookie Swiftly checked an authoritative source (Wikipedia). Apparently Gay Byrne (famous Irish broadcaster) was born 5 August 1934, which'd make him only about 7 in 1941. I think that's a little younger than these chaps. And love tackies - have tagged for that...

Nick Stewart I wonder did he get in trouble, what with it being photo day and all?

Gaybo's older brother who died a few years back (can't think of his name just now - AL?) was also in that school and also worked for RTE. The chap on the right on the middle row looks a lot like him. There's something about the chap 3rd from right in the front row next to the lad with the tackies that is very familiar and reminds me of a Barrister or politician.