Wednesday 15 July 2009

Dress for Victory

I had such a gloriously vintage time last Friday. Mum and I went to Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum for The History Wardrobe's 'Wartime Wedding' evening. It was fabulous! Lucy and Gillian entertained us all with tales of wartime fashion and a wedding trousseau, complete with authentic clothing and accessories, as well as outfits made by Gillian from original vintage patterns.

Lucy and Gillian in their wartime finery. They really were brilliant. I must admit, I kept thinking, "I wish I could get my hair to look as fabulous and '40s as Lucy with her 'Victory Roll'"!

Lucy in her Land Army uniform. Even when working in the fields, there was a hat to be worn!

Lucy, in a wedding dress made by Gillian from a 1940's pattern, stands next to an original wartime wedding dress. The headdress (pure vintage) that Lucy's wearing is decorated with tiny wax flowers.

The embroidered detail and glamorous satin fabric of this vintage wedding dress is just stunning.

I love the fabric of this child's dress. It's so classically 1940s!

Gillian and Lucy brought along all sorts of vintage loveliness for us to see. The green suit is American - the jacket nips in at the waist with a belt and has the most wonderful shoulders!

If I ever come across a Gladstone bag as fabulous as this one in a shop or at a sale, it's coming home with me! I'm such a bag fanatic and this style is so fabulous!

'Victory' hairpins, a Make Do and Mend pamphlet, a hair curler, compacts, patchwork and magazines...there was so much to look at!

Gillian and Lucy (a.k.a. The History Wardrobe) have sixteen different talks to choose from...from 'Undressing Mr Darcy' and 'Regency Romance' to 'Dressing Queen Victoria' and the 'Fabulous Fifties'. I think I might have to make it my mission to see all of them!

(A huge thank you to Lucy for the first two photos posted here.)

9 comments:

BusyLizzie said...

wow! that looks like my sort of day out! Wonderful!
Lizzie x

Country Cottage Chic said...

What a fantastic event to attend!

Jayne

Unknown said...

Land Army Ladies were very, very stylish. She looks great!

A Bun Can Dance said...

Dear Katie
This is so wonderful - I must see their shows!!
I adore, adore, ADORE 1940's clothes - so stylish so feminine!
Now when is the undressing of Mr Darcy?!!! Any sign of Colin???
Happy days
Denise x

The fabric of my life said...

Wow, I would have loved this!!

Sam said...

I would have LOVED to come to that!!

Just my cup of t!!

Sam xx

Unknown said...

Hi again...have left you an award on my blog if you fancy it...
x Philippa

Suzy's Vintage Attic said...

Hello Katie
What a great evening! I would love to have seen all that. I love the forties look!
Isabelle x

THISNTHAT said...

Hi, Thanks for becoming a follower of my blog. I've really enjoyed browsing through your recent and older posts. Loved the pics from the forties event in Worcester. We used to live near there before coming to Devon. All the best with the next year of your City & Guilds course.
Lesley X