DRESS: EVENING, SLEEVELESS, V NECK, HIGH WAISTED BROCADE, FULL SKIRT BUSTLE EFFECT WITH LARGE BOW

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c. 1955

Subcollections

Overview

Full length sleeveless dress in heavy rayon brocade with individual woven pattern in two shades of lime green. Empire line bodice with self bow centre front, from which falls twelve gored panels flaring to very full skirt. Back waist is trimmed with large self material bow, stitched to dress on one side and fastened by press studs across zip on other side. Two artificial flowers of self material and velvet decorative bow.
Edges are unfinished and cut with pinking shears.

Historical information

Full length sleeveless dress in heavy brocade with indistinct woven pattern in two shades of lime green worn by Mrs Abrahams, wife of Mayor Abrahams.

[Formerly property of Mrs. J. Abrahams.]
In the 1950 is high fashion we see the reintroduction of stiffened petticoats and crinolines from the 1900s.
This dress would have been supported by underskirts or a crinoline.
Mrs Abrahams as the wife of the Mayor would have been in higher circles than the everyday woman so had more social and evening dresses.
We often see the handmade flowers for offcuts of the dress fabric in the 1940s and 50s it was a way of using all the fabric (rationing) as well as a way to add extra embellishment.
Meet the Queen in 1954 and then the Queen Mother on her visit in 1958 .

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-43-1984.199

Item type

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