The ideal of the 'white wedding' dates from Victorian times. A young woman dressed in white with her head covered by a veil remained a powerful symbol of modesty and purity for over half a century. Even in the 1960s, when many traditional social mores were being challenged -- particularly in relation to women -- the ideal persisted, undoubtedly inspired by lavish royal weddings including Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier in 1956 and Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon in 1960. This collection provides a particularly interesting insight into 1960s Australian weddings as it includes pieces from most of the wedding party as well as from the trousseau. Furthermore, as the bride's mother (Zelma Steeper) had trained in dressmaking and tailoring at Emily McPherson College, Melbourne, all the garments and some of the accessories were design and made by her.

It is also significant that Beverly Silby has taken such care to preserve this collection of her clothing and accessories. As she writes, 'I am just an ordinary person with no claim to fame and certainly not to fortune of any monetary kind, but hope that someway this collection will give some idea of the clothes that people such as myself have worn through their life. It is a form of social history, and I felt that it was worthy of recording.'

The dress, jacket and hat were designed and made by Zelma Steeper.

Beverly Silby (born 1940) grew up in Victoria and attended teacher's college, taking up her first posting in rural Victoria. There she met her future husband, Gilbert Silby, and after a twelve month engagement they married on an unseasonably hot day, the 29th February, 1964. Beverly's mother was determined to make all her wedding clothes and was devastated when she and Gil decided to get married a year earlier than originally planned as this meant she would not be able to make her underwear. Nonetheless, Mrs Steeper made not only the wedding dress but also the matron of honour and two bridesmaids' dresses, her own outfit, lingerie for the wedding night and a trousseau for the honeymoon.

Mother of the bride outfit, women's, consisting of dress, jacket, hat, gloves, shoes and handbag, silk / cotton / leather / polyester, worn by Zelma Steeper, dress, jacket and hat designed and made by Zelma Steeper, Frankston, Victoria, Australia, 1963-1964

Matching dress and jacket in coffee-coloured corded lace, fully lined with coffee coloured organza.

Dress: tight fitting, calf-length dress with a slight flared skirt, fitted bodice with short sleeves, and a very shallow V-neck. The waist is trimmed with coffee organza piping and an insert of pleated organza at centre front. The hem of skirt has scalloped edging where the lining attaches to the lace. The dress is machine sewn and lined with coffee organza. Side seam opening fastens with metal zipper.

Jacket: the loose fitting jacket is cropped to the waist, has three quarter length sleeves, and a cross over closure at front. The hem is edged with coffee organza piping and trimmed at the front with two small bows. The jacket is machine sewn and fully lined with coffee coloured organza.

Modesty panel: separate 'dickie front' in same materials, with one holder at each shoulder (bra strap holders). The purpose of this panel is not clear.

Hat: made to match in coffee organza with a wide brim, wired round outer edge. Crown is made in lace, with a wide band of the coffee organza pleated to match dress, and a large bow at centre back.

Shoes: pair of court shoes made of copper coloured leather, high heeled court shoe with self bow. The shoes have leather soles and inner soles.

Handbag: made of copper coloured calf leather, small, triangular shaped, with a short leather handle, a gold clasp at top. The bag is lined with beige silk satin and has two inner pockets, one which fastens with a zipper.

Gloves: pair of coffee-coloured nylon, elbow length gloves with embroidered rosettes.

Made: Steeper, Zelma; Frankston, Victoria; 1963 - 1964


Used: Steeper, Zelma; Frankston, Victoria; 1964

Shoes: inscribed on lining: 'Size 7 1/2 A', stamped in gold on inner sole: 'MADE BY/PARKER SHOE CO/ALL LEATHER SOLE', stamped on inner sole: 'Styled in/PARKER CORONAL/NEW YORK/MYER EMPORIUM LTD'.

Bag: fabric label inside side seam 'MADE BY/Parlond/SYDNEY/CALF'.

Gloves: fabric label inside 'NYLON SIMPLEX/Made in Hong Kong/Size 7'.

2005/241/5

1963 - 1964