'L'aimant', Formal Dinner Gown

This formal dinner gown and coat is made from pure wool chiffon. Jill Bussell described the colour as 'Paris pink'. The full length coat is sleeveless, slightly flared andat the front witha hook and eye. The dress is slim fitting and trimmed with 'nine yards' of wool chiffon which has been hand-smocked at the wrists, neckline and hem, finished with soft 'pie-crust' frills.

The ensemble was designed by Jill Bussell,Principal of the Wellington Academy of Elegance, and made by Madame Sofia of Exclusive Fashions. Bussell named the dress 'L'aimant - symbolising magnetism and love'. She was perhaps inspired by the Coty perfume of the same name, which wasoriginally launched in 1927.

As L'aimant, Bussell entered the ensemble in the Formal Evening Wear section of Benson Hedges Fashion Awards in 1966, where it was modelled by Liz Craddock, a graduate of the Auckland Academy of Elegance.The dress was not placed.

Following the awards, Jill Bussell frequently wore the dress to functions, including the Auckland Academy of Elegance Graduation Ball in October 1966 and the Evening of Fashion for the Polynesia Appeal in 1971.

Jill Bussell's participation in the Benson Hedges Awards is documented in one of her scrapbooks, which is held in the Te Papa Archive.