---
node: fashion_au_federation
type: fashion
slug: federation_era_australia_fashion
title: "Fashion in the Federation Era"
lead: "In the Federation era Australia became one nation, and dress still followed British (Edwardian) fashion; at the same time Australian symbols appeared, such as the slouch hat turned up on one side."
published: 2026-07-28
updated: 2026-07-28
image_file: federation_era_australia_fashion.jpg
image_source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:StateLibQld_2_200055_Federation_celebrations_in_Queen_Street,_Brisbane,_1901.jpg"
image_author: "Federation celebrations, Brisbane (1901)"
image_license: "Public domain"
change: "Created as a fashion sub-page under the history section, with a period image (australia region)"
requester: internal
reason: "Per the owner's decision, fashion lives under each history era"
---

## Overview

In this age of Federation in 1901, dress stood between British fashion and a growing national feeling.

## Key garments and style

City people followed Edwardian British fashion — suits for men, corsets and large hats for women. In the military, the slouch hat (a felt hat turned up on one side) was worn and would become a symbol of the Australian soldier, while sturdy practical dress continued on the land.

## Transition

In the age of the world wars, this hat and the soldier's dress became bound up with national memory.