Margaret Wills (born McAdie) bought this elegant two-piece ensemble from a DIC department store in February 1968 to wear to her eldest son’s wedding.

The outfit comprises a sleeveless A-line dress and a coordinating jacket, both made of mustard gold lamé fabric. The jacket features three-quarter sleeves, a collar and revere that taper to a waist-level hook and eye fastening, and it is finished with a decorative bow.

Margaret accessorised it with a chic turban-style hat and loved the ensemble so much that she wore it on many other occasions.

The label inside is by Eastex, a British fashion brand that was manufactured under licence in New Zealand by Classic Fashions Limited. With factories in Wellington, New Plymouth, Auckland and Christchurch, the company supplied stylish garments to department stores and salons throughout the country.

Margaret donated this cherished outfit to the Museum in 1998, along with other pieces from her wardrobe spanning the 1930s to the 1970s. This generous gift offers a window into personal style and changing trends in local fashion history over four decades.

By Trish Nugent-Lyne, Pou Tiaki/Collections & Curatorial Lead at Whanganui Regional Museum.

Jacket and Dress ensemble, 1968
Designed by Eastex Fashions, United Kingdom
Made under licence by Classic Fashions Ltd, New Zealand
Made from lamé
Gift of Margaret Wills, 1998
WRM 1998.44.5

Photographed by Kathy Greensides

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