Social history author to host fashion talk at Whanganui Regional Museum

Bronwyn Labrum will host the fashion talk in the museum on August 2. Photo / Karen Hughes

THREE KEY FACTS:

• The Whanganui Regional Museum’s next Outfit of the Month is a hand-crafted bridesmaid dress worn for a Whanganui wedding in 1968.
• Pou ārahi/director Dr Bronwyn Labrum will present and discuss the dress with an informal public talk in the museum at 12.15pm on Friday, August 2.
• Bronwyn Labrum is the author of the book Real Modern: Everyday New Zealand in the 1950s and 1960s.

A home-made mid-century bridesmaid’s dress is the latest offering in the Ko te Kākahu o te Marama-Outfit of the Month series at Whanganui Regional Museum.

The nylon multi-patterned dress with taffeta lining was carefully made for Isabel Schmidt to wear at her sister Sylvia’s wedding to Alexander Robson. The couple were married at Christ Church, Whanganui, in 1968.

Designed with a scoop neckline and split sleeves, the dress is made of shades of pink, green, and blue. It was a collaborative creation by Sylvia and her mother. In 2016, another sister, Margaret Pearson, donated this cherished garment to the museum.

The 1960s were an era of vibrant fashion, and wedding styles from this period reflect the decade’s distinctive blend of tradition and modernity. Home-made dresses were particularly popular, offering affordability and a personal touch.

Bridesmaids’ dresses often featured bright colours, playful patterns, and elegant yet simple designs. Materials such as nylon, taffeta and chiffon were commonly used and favoured for their durability and aesthetic appeal.

Pou ārahi/director Dr Bronwyn Labrum will host an informal public talk to present the dress. Bronwyn is a mid-century design enthusiast and has written widely about New Zealand’s cultural and social history. She is the author of the book Real Modern: Everyday New Zealand in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Outfit of the Month series highlights unique garments from the museum’s collection, each with a rich story and historical significance. The Schmidt dress showcases the ingenuity and craftsmanship of home sewers in Whanganui and offers a glimpse into the fashion trends and social customs of the 1960s.

The community is invited to attend the presentation at the Museum at 12.15pm on Friday, August 2. Admission is free. Koha for the museum is always appreciated. No booking is required, all are welcome. The dress will be on display in the museum throughout August.

Internationally renowned

Founded in 1892, the Whanganui Regional Museum is internationally renowned for its Taonga Māori Collection. Located in Pukenamu Queen’s Park, visitors can view the exceptional creations of tūpuna (ancestors) of Whanganui tangata whenua (indigenous people) alongside a changing exhibition programme encompassing a world-class collection of natural and human history with a regional emphasis.

The ground-level boutique museum store sells a range of local and Māori jewellery, books, cards, art, and other New Zealand-made gift items.

The Whanganui Regional Museum Trust is an independent legal entity that owns the collection and governs the development of the museum on behalf of the Whanganui community.

Open to visitors daily from 10am to 4.30pm (except Christmas Day and Good Friday), entry to Whanganui Regional Museum is free. Connect with Whanganui Regional Museum at www.wrm.org.nz or on Facebook and Instagram.