NOLMS:2021.010.001

Cream lightweight satin brocade wedding dress with a woven pattern of scrolls, leaves and flowers and a shiny finish. The dress has a sweetheart neckline and buttons down the back. The neckline is faced with the same fabric. The full-length sleeves look fairly fitted, have three small darts at the elbow, and come to a point over the back of the hand. They fasten at the wrist with six small spherical buttons and button loops. The wrist section is lined to a depth of 7". The front bodice is shaped by two waist darts and is drop-waisted, coming to a point front and back. The full-length skirt is formed by three panels which flare out to produce a very full skirt. The panels are gathered into the waist at each side, but are flat under the pointed front. There is a narrow, hand-stitched hem. The back of the dress fastens with 29 larger, spherical pearl buttons and fabric button loops. The button loops are formed from a continuous strip of dress fabric which is twisted between each one inside the dress facing to lie flat. On the outside, this gives the appearance of each loop alternating round the button, as the selvedge, then the flower pattern, curves round the button. The button loops are top-stitched into the dress back opening. There is a short hand-stitched dart on each shoulder, and a deep dart into the waist, which comes to a point to match the front. The skirt is gathered across the whole of the back and has a centre back seam. Again, the skirt is very full and extends at the back into a semi-circular train, about 58cm longer than the front. Three cream fabric flowers with buds and green leaves are wrapped separatelty and included with the dress. DIMENSIONS: Bust: 1000mm, Waist: 820mm

NOLMS:2021.010.001

dress
wedding dress

Margaret Lawtey

c1952