item details
NameGoing away dress
ProductionPatricia Olliff; knitter; 1969; London
Classificationdresses
Materialswool
Materials SummaryKnitted wool dress
Techniquesknitting
DimensionsCentre back: 790mm (length)
Registration NumberGH017008
Credit lineGift of Patricia Olliff, 2010
Overview
This is an excellent example of a fashionable late 1960s hand-knitted mini dress, which was made by Patricia Olliff for her honeymoon in Britain in 1969. It reflects the fashions in London at the time (when London had a big influence on youth fashion in particular).
Patricia used a pattern to knit the dress, and did it all 'on a shoestring' budget. The intense gladioli colour is in marked contrast to her cream wedding dress, but was the colour her mother had dressed her in as a child, and it suited her.
Honeymoon (or 'going away') dresses are often in marked contrast to wedding dresses. They provide the opportunity to wear something fashionable, colourful, and 'of the moment', and can easily be worn again.