Bridesmaid Isabel Schmidt wore this eye-popping dress to her sister Sylvia’s wedding to Alexander Robson at Christ Church in Whanganui in 1968.

At the end of the 1960s bridal wear was becoming brighter and less formal. In previous decades, hourglass shapes and a pointy bustline were fashionable, with full skirts and short, tailored sleeves. Attendants wore subdued colours so as not to upstage the bride. This dress signals the shifts that were happening. Bridal parties began to wear higher, empire waistlines with softer flowing, everyday fabrics. Larger sleeves dominated.

Sylvia made this dress with her mother. It has an empire waistline, boat neckline and split three-quarter flared sleeves decorated at the elbow with a self-fabric button. The psychedelic multi-coloured nylon fabric is unusual and reflects the youth culture of that era. The bride wore a similar style dress in white but with a cowl neckline and full-length split sleeves. The bridal party wore their hair up in a small beehive with scattered kiss curls.

This dress was donated in 2016 by Isabel’s other sister Margaret Pearson.

By Dr Bronwyn Labrum, Pou Ārahi/Director at Whanganui Regional Museum.

Main image: Bridesmaid dress, 1968
Made from nylon fabric with taffeta lining
Made by Sylvia Schmidt
Donated by Margaret Pearson
WRM 2016.46.8 1968
Photographed by Kathy Greensides

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