BADGE, BOOT, BUTTON

The story of Australian uniforms

Craig Wilcox NLA Publishing

Uniforms are a language unto themselves. Even if we know nothing else about the person wearing the uniform, we know what they do. Think of the ‘baggy green’ worn by Australian cricketers, the red and yellow attire of the volunteer lifesavers, the combat-style outfits of customs and immigration workers. Badge, Boot, Button charts Australia’s social history through more than two centuries of civilian, corporate, sporting and defence uniform changes. We see how designs have been modified over time: to allow for greater freedom of movement; to make more visible or better protected; to refresh an organisation’s profile; to showcase colours and patterns that reflect the country’s heritage. Who could forget the Qantas flight attendant stretch-fabric boomerang print dress?