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Overview
Since the 1920s, New Zealand girls and young women have marched in precision formation in striking outfits. From the mid 1940s to the 1970s, marching became a major sport in which thousands of girls and young women marched in parades, competitions, and civic receptions for visiting royalty and dignitaries.
White boots and white gloves were an important part of a marching girl's uniform, for as they 'drew attention to the extremities of the body in marching stride and gave pleasing effect to a team moving on a green field or on a dark grey road'. (1)
This pair of well-worn white marching boots were worn by a member of the Gore Cavaliers senior marching team in the late 1950s.
References
Charlotte MacDonald, ‘Moving in Unison, Dressing in Uniform: Stepping Out in Style with March Teams’ in B. Labrum et al, Looking Flash: Clothing in Aotearo New Zealand, AUP, 2007, p. 197.