'Going away' dress

This two piece assymetrical bustle dress was worn by Christina Prouse (nee McIlvride, 1860 - 1951) as her 'going away' dress following her marriage to Richard Prouse (1855 - 1921).  The dress is made from a light brown silk featuring a self-patterned trellis pattern, and a contrasting rich brown velvet. The dress is trimmed with wide brown ribbons and narrow pale blue ribbons and bows at the nexk and cuffs.  Christina wore it with a straw bonnet adorned with a pink ostrich feather, which is also in Te Papa's collection.

For the wedding itself, which took place at Christina's famiy home in Wainuiomata on 22 May, 1879, the bride wore a white cashmere dress.