100 years of bridal fashion

Where do the hours/days/weeks go?
I have so many ideas for posts and a so many folders of photos scattered throughout my computer and phone, and somehow they've all been jumbled up into a confused mess.
So a sorting I must go..................

These photos I took WEEEEEKS ago.  Early May in fact.
I went to a Friend's Day High Tea with The Cavalcade Of History And Fashion and had yummy nibblies and witnessed a wonderful display and talk about wedding fashion over a century - between 1880's and 1980's.

So here are some photos I meant to show you - oh - about a month ago (better late then never right? Right?......)

Please note that my little phone camera and limited photography skills did absolutely no justice to these gorgeous creations.

 

This elegant gown was worn by blushing bride Violet Llewellyn when she married Christopher Bennett in Balmain, Sydney in April 1880.  Violet was the grand-daughter of the first Manager of the Bank of NSW.

The gown is cream satin with a luscious long bustle train that has an orange blossom trim.

Gals were stylish in the 1880's (as compared to the 1980's which you will soon see for yourself).

Love the cute kindy paintings in the background of the photo below.



 

 

Edwardian Era dress.  One of my favourite decades of the 20th century (well ok, every decade up to the 1970's is my favourite - but then I'm a gal of many tastes...)

This stunning cream satin gown was worn by Grace Peters when she married Thomas Hackney in Petersham, Sydney in September 1909.

 

 

 

 

 

The roaring 20's and my favourite dress of the day. 

Winifred (Winnie) Rouse wore this gold lame dream of a dress when she  married Lieutenant Frank Leslie Crane at Darling Point, Sydney in June 1922.  Apparently the couple were mad polo players.  The dress is silk embroidered with metallic thread and trimmed with chiffon (sigh)...

 

 

 

 

 

The decade when curves came back into fashion.

Wedding gown from 1938. 

Ivory silk with "Lily Of The Valley" print with a flat bows trim at the back and on the sleeves.

Elegance.

 

World War II era dress. 

A lot of war era brides (my own Nanna included) just wore their best outfit or invested in a pretty dress they could wear later.

Some brides however still went the whole hog - as much as their rationing coupons would allow.

This gown from 1940 is cream lace over taffeta with pearl buttons and a long train. 

1956 and nylon is the new wonder fabric!

This nylon gown is embroidered with seed pearls.  The skirt is made up of layers of taffeta and nylon, the top layer being 'glass nylon' and has a bow at the back.

The bride made her own headpiece.

This gown reminds my of my mother's gown, even though she got married in the next decade (and the skirt was layers of tulle).

 

 

 

 

 



 

The swinging 60's. 

This cream dream was worn by Helen Chambers when she married Hendrik Martin at Epping, Sydney in 1962.

The gown is made of cream synthetic faille and has a detachable train with a fabric rose trim, that I tried soooo hard to get a photo of but couldn't manage without risking knocking down the display.

Helen graduated in medicine at Sydney University in 1960.  Back then women were expected to leave work after marrying and definitely not work after having children.  But Helen continued to practice medicine after marrying and having children.  Makes her a pioneer in my book. 

 

Two wedding dresses from 1972.

The dress on the right is white nylon with an appliqued bodice and a large bow trim.

It was worn by Joanne Connors when she married Graham Rose in Newcastle in 1972.

 

 

1980's - the decade that fashion forgot.

Well that's unfair - there were some fashion from the 80's that were cool.  Trouble was, I didn't wear any of it.

I remember many wedding dresses being fashioned on Princess Dianna's gown.

This cream raw silk gown from 1980, has a verrrrrrry full princess-like skirt with a slight train.  The bodice and sleeves are embroidered with ribbon and pearls.

 

 All the ladies in their glory.

 

 

 

 The afternoon was finished off with yummy cakes and coffee served in delicate china.

 

 

I'm very much looking forward to the next one.