The Fashion and Textile Gallery

Charlotte Smith

about us

Charlotte Smith, Curator, The Fashion and Textile Gallery

Charlotte Smith is Curator of The Fashion and Textile Gallery which is home for The Darnell Collection, the vintage clothing and accessory collection she inherited from her godmother Doris Darnell. Since 2004, Charlotte has researched and catalogued the 5500 pieces in the collection, considered the largest private clothing collection in Australia. With a background in antique furniture, textiles and paintings and a BA in Art History, social history and its impact on fashion fascinates Charlotte. She shares her passion for the world history of fashion by lecturing using the collection as an abundant illustrative resource.

The collection provides a unique opportunity for students, curators, researchers and educators to work hands-on with selected pieces at The Fashion and Textile Gallery. As custodian of The Darnell Collection, Charlotte recognises the importance of its role in the fashion history education and makes it available to the public through exhibitions held in the gallery and around Australia.

Charlotte and The Darnell Collection have been written about in numerous journals, Charlotte has been a guest on The Collectors ABC TV, on national radio and has just published her first book, "Dreaming of Dior: Every Dress Tells a Story", with HarperCollins Australia.

Charlotte was born in Hong Kong and grew up on the East Coast of the United States of America and South West England. She lived life to the full in London, Paris and New York before falling in love with Australia where she has lived since 1998.