Celebrating all things to do with fashion, president of the CWA Helen Norris delved into the way history shaped style at an afternoon tea that celebrated shoes and handbags at the Anglican Church Hall.
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She said the Bible explicitly identified Judas Iscariot as having worn a purse, while Egyptian art depicts purse-like pouches that were tied to the waist.
Medieval handbags were linked to marriage and a common gift from the groom to the bride was a pouch decorated with love stories.
As for shoes, the oldest surviving pair date back to 5500 years ago in Armenia.
In her opinion the saddest time not just for fashion, but for Australians was WWII.
"Those who stayed at home with little children made camouflage nets and knitted woollen socks for the men overseas," she said.
"Wool was in great demand to line the pilot's flying jackets. Old men were brought back into the working place. Teachers were brought out of retirement.
"My teacher at Richmond was ancient, she was Mrs Whittington who wore a shawl around her shoulder and treated us all like grandchildren.
"Every man, woman and child was affected by this very sad time for Australia. Fashions changed. Women wore dungarees, overalls and slacks, heavy boots and the sundowner hat. The kid gloves changed to leather hard working gloves. We were in crisis and everyone pulled their weight. We had rations and ration books so it didn't matter how wealthy you were, you were rationed."
This meant no stockings for many women who would sometimes stain their legs with gravy and draw a seam on the back with eyebrow pencil.
It is little wonder that the arrival of the 50s and 60s stuck with Helen as a wonderful time.
"What an era. The love of colour came into its own," she said.
"The beehive hairstyle, the sharp pointed shoes with stiletto heels, handbags to match with a jaunty square line."
She recalled wearing striped dresses with full skirts, long red fingernails and red toenails -everything matching when she was engaged and went to meet her husband's family.
"I was washing up at the sink which overlooked the chook yard and Eric was talking to his mother in the chook yard (as you do if you are going to have an argument)," she said. "His mother was saying 'this will not work Eric, she will not settle, she is too flighty'.
"On the way home I asked Eric 'why didn't you tell me your parents were strict Methodists and I could have made adjustments'.
"His reply was 'I love you just as you are and didn't want to change you'.
"We were married 44 years and as he was dying Eric said 'always be as you are, and when I am gone, be the merry widow'."
You can find socials of the Stepping Out shoe-themed afternoon tea in Friday's edition of the paper or online in our gallery.
