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Overview
Dawn Velma Harris wore this wedding dress in 1961. Unusually short for the period, the length is cleverly disguised by a round overskirt, which can be removed. The intense yellow gold of the Thai silk was also unusual for the period. The dress raised a few eyebrows, but is indicative of an opening up of what was considered acceptable wedding attire taking place at the time.
The dressmaker
The bride's close friend Miss Beverley Gordine (1934 - 2015) made the dress. Gordine had begun her career as a dressmaker in Auckland in the 1950s. Though largely untrained, she had a flair for cutting and reproducing garments in the style of overseas fashions. An excellent hand sewer, she could handle fine beadwork, grafting of lace (so that a garment appeared seamless), and other precise and delicate needlework. Formal dresses of the 1950s and early 60s frequently required such skills.