Design may be by Germaine Rocher or she may have had it copied directly from a French model dress or toile purchased by Rocher in Paris. She travelled twice a year to Paris to buy original models and toiles for copying, she also did her own designs or adapted overseas models.

Made in Germaine Rocher's salon in the Trust Building in King Street Sydney. Sha had a team of seamstresses but may have also done some work on it herself. The dress is finely made with hand finished details.

The dress was purchased and worn by Kathleen Munro, wife of the famous Australian jockey Darby Munro (both now deceased). She was part of Sydney's social set and had a large wardrobe of couture clothing from Australian and overseas designers.
The dress was purchased by the donor Margot Riley from the auction of 'The Kathleen Munro Haute Couture Collection' at Lawsons Monday 21 October 1996.

Evening dress and stole, silk/metal, made by Germaine Rocher, worn by Kathleen Munro, Sydney, Australia, 1950-1960.

Full length evening dress with matching stole in two shades of grey silk organza.
-1. Dress: full length dress with strapless fitted and boned bodice with draped neckline at centre front. Neckline trimmed with cream silk organza gathered and pleated. Bodice is lined with grey shot silk satin. Full skirt of two layers of silk organza gathered onto waist, grey over a layer of cream. Skirt lined with dusty pink rayon with long vent at left side seam. Inside waistband is white cotton webbing fastening at centre back with two metal hooks and eyes. Centre back opening fastens with metal zipper and small metal hook and eye. All machine sewn.
-2. Stole: long wide stole made of double layer organza, dark grey over pale grey lining. Gathered together at one point and decorated with a large pink silk flower and narrow strap. Machine sewn.

Made: Rocher, Germaine; Sydney; 1950 - 1960

: Rocher, Germaine; Sydney


Used: Munro, Kathleen Waverley; Sydney

Inside centre front waist, white fabric label: 'Germaine Rocher/SYDNEY'.

98/136/1

1950 - 1960