The sleeveless evening dress is made of black netting and is heavily embroidered, beaded and sequined. The bodice of the dress is embroidered with silver foil thread. Opal sequins form various patterns over the whole dress most notably forming hollow circular patterns in the bodice. Small silver plastic balls and silvered glass beads form zig-zag patterns through the lower half of the dress. The silver balls are grouped in threes. A row of balls and beads trim the U-shaped neckline. The lower half of the dress consists of three layers. Each layer is made up of diamond shaped pieces of material joined together. This is similar to Van Dyke style collars. The hem of the dress is uneven and pointed. Each layer is trimmed with diamond tear drop shaped gold sequins. On the back of the neck of the dress there are two labels. One label has 'MADE IN FRANCE' on it and the smaller label states the size of the dress which is '46'. The dress has no fastenings on it so the wearer would slip it over her head to put it on. The dress is a typical 1920's style ie. no definite shape and no waist. The original linings have not survived. The dress was inexpensive and was purchased in Perth in about 1925 It belonged to Mrs Violet Dorothy Threlfall (nee Newton). She wore the dress only when travelling overseas in Singapore and Penang. There was no one to go to balls and dinner dances with in Perth at that time as many of the men of her age group had died in the World War One. Dorothy wore the dress with a beautiful peacock-green blue-pink Spanish shawl with a fringe all around. It was worn with a midnight blue or old world pink satin lining. Dorothy was born 15 August 1898 in Perth, the daughter of Tom and Alice (Alexis) Newton. She graduated from Perth Modern School in 1915 and from the University of WA in 1920. With a total salary of 50? pounds per annum she worked as a monitor at Perth Girl's School from 1916 to 1917. From 1917 to 1950 she taught in secondary schools (Perth for two years, the rest in Bunbury and Albany). From 1950 to 1958 she taught at Graylands Teacher's College and at Claremont Teacher's College. She was known to her students as Dolly Newton. In 1958 she retired at the age of 60 years, and married Arthur Thomas Threlfall. Dorothy was a feminist, conservationist and was active during the Vietnam War. She is now 95 years old.
Department:
History DepartmentCollection
History Collection
Collection Item Data
| Accession Number: | H1989.746 |
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| Accession Date: | 29 Jul 1989 |
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Material
| Silver/Metal | Black netting, silver foil thread, silvered glass beads, plastic, cotton.
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| Plastic/Synthetic/Polymer |
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Measurement
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