DRESS: BODICE AND SKIRT OF CREAM SILK AND LACE

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Overview

Cream silk and lace dress in two parts.

The bodice (a) is made of cream silk with a high neck and long full sleeves. The bodice is front fastening with a row of hook and eyes down the centre. On either side of the front are a double pleated panel of silk with a row of medallion lace down the middle. The front of the high neckline is made from netted lace with floral medallions and small pleated stiped of netting. The collar of the neckline is also from netting lace with floral medallions and there is an attached frill to the top of the neckline. The collar fastens with a hook and eye. The sleeves are made of ruched silk with eight (8) rows of ruched gathering that finishes at the elbow. From the elbow to the wrist the sleeve is made from the same netted lace as the collar. There are two (2) rows of floral medallions and ruffle lace at the wrist. The back of the bodice has a central panel of netted lace that goes down to the middle of the back where it meets a scalloped lace medallion. There are three rows of the floral motif running down the back of the lace. The back of the bodice has two panels similar to the front with pleated silk and attached lace medallions. It also has two tassels attached to the right side.

The bodice is lined with silk and has seven (7) channels of boning, four at the front and three across the back. The collar is also boned.

The skirt (b) is made of cream silk with lace panels of floral medallions running down the central panel. It has a pleated cumberband waist.

Historical information

According to the donor:

'The dress attached to this memo belong to Mrs Alice Holt (Wife of George Holt) and lived at number 14 Campbell Street Subiaco.

George Holt was a campaigner for Dr Tom Dadour (who was both a Councillor and Member of Parliament at the same time) in 1973.

This was the first occasion Richard (the Donor's husband) nominated for Council at the suggestion of Leif Nilsson who was the Deputy Town Planner to Paul Ritter at Perth City Council.

I (the Donor) was handing out leaflets for Richard on this occasion in 1973 and standing outside the Council Chambers with my large English pram and my 3 other children alongside of me.

George came up to me and said I might as well go home as I was wasting my time, as Richard has no chance whatever toppling Tom Dadour.

He was right. Tom received 8 votes to every one of Richard's votes.

Following on from that experience we became very good friends with the Holt Family and we all lived happily thereafter.

It took Richard 3 elections to win a seat on Council and 2 elections to win the Mayoralty. '

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-43-2025.224a-b

Item type

Textiles

Material

Silk

Lace