Dandre Gowns pink gingham dress

Pink party dress with rick rack and gingham details
1950s
Sydney, Australia
By Dandre Gowns
This dress is made from a plain weave, cotton gingham head cloth.

Label reads:
Dandre Gowns, 15 Rowe Street, BW 3796

Other information
(Rowe St was a narrow lane between Castlereagh and Pitt Streets that is remembered as the centre of Sydney’s bohemian life before its buildings were demolished to make way for the MLC Centre in the early 1970s.
http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/rowest/

The asymmetrical effect of the lightweight, but eye catching gingham fabric gives the skirt optical density and fullness. The dress is lined with a paper-like lining (Vilene) for extra stiffness and strength. The skirt is unlined and a full, netted petticoat would have been worn underneath. It had a matching bolero jacket.

The dress is in the New Look inspired by Christian Dior when he launched La Corolle in 1947. The bodice is fitted by pleats and lining (without requiring metal or plastic stays) to create a nipped in waist effect. Spaghetti straps complete the 50s look.

Rik Rak braid was popular in the 50s and gives the dress a country charm.

Jennifer Johnston, of Armidale, NSW, wore this dress in the 1950s. She called it her ‘first love’ dress and recalled the times when she wore it. The dress was donated to the collection in 2008.

50s dresses and fashion
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/50sclothes.html
http://www.fashion-era.com/1950s/
http://www.fashion-era.com/1950s/
http://www.20thcenturyfoxy.com/en/1950s/a32