French Mannequins present the New Look

The Australian Woman's Weekly magazine brings together top French and Australian models ('mannequins') with the latest Paris fashions at Sydney's Trocadero nightclub in 1948. Australian model Judy Barraclough features.

The 'New Look' in the title is a reference to Christian Dior's revolutionary post-Second World War fashion collection for Spring-Summer 1947. Upon seeing the collection in Paris, Harper's Bazaar's editor Carmel Snow exclaimed 'Your dresses have such a new look!' – a headline that was used by journalists to refer to the collection's unique silhouettes, lengths, tiny 'wasp' waists, accentuated bust lines and return to a fairytale feminine ideal.

Designers featured here include Elsa Schiaparelli, Jacques Fath, Marie-Louise Carven, Jean Dessès, Edward Molyneux and Marie-Louise Bruyère.

Mary Hordern is the commentator for this newsreel segment which comes from Cinesound Review No 878.

An accompanying newsreel, 'Christian Dior Fashions Bring Breath of Paris: Sydney' (1948), shows the first time a collection of Dior garments had been seen outside of Paris.

Notes by Beth Taylor