An extraordinary collection of Edwardian couture clothing lies in the vaults of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, once worn by a debutante named Heather Firbank. When Heather’s maid persuaded the museum to accept her former mistress’s entire wardrobe, the V&A’s Fashion and Textile department was born. So who was Heather, and what secrets do her clothes reveal?
Tessa Boase draws an intimate portrait of shopping, high society, seduction and ruin in the years leading up to the Great War. This is social history at its most intimate and revealing.
Tessa Boase is a freelance journalist, author and lecturer with a passion for uncovering the stories of invisible women from the 19th and early 20th centuries. She is the author of three books of social history, including London’s Lost Department Stores: A Vanished World of Dazzle and Dreams (2022).
We have 5 x double passes to give away to this ArtsNational Adelaide lecture on Wednesday 26 August 2026. Winners can choose to attend either the morning or evening session.
Morning session: St Andrews Church, 43 Church Terrace, Walkerville – lecture at 10am, morning tea to follow.
Evening session: Burnside City Uniting Church, 384 Portrush Road, Tusmore – lecture at 7.30pm, supper to follow.
For more details and tickets, visit: artsnational.au/societies/adelaide
Prize details
- 5 winners will each receive a double pass
- Winners can choose to attend the morning or evening session
- Each double pass is valued at $100
- Winners’ names will be held at the venue on the day
How to enter
For your chance to win, enter your details below.
