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 indpired 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 (Zlema 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.'

Made by Beverly Silby in 1963

This dress was worn to the state P.F.A Ball in Melbourne (about 1963) and also to dinner at the Palm Lake Motel where Gilbert and Beverly were to spend the first night of their honeymoon. Beverly Silby recalls that the night Gilbert came to pick her up for the ball 'he walked in the door and he said, 'Oh, you look lovely'. And he never forgot it so I must have looked nice.'

'After five' dress with belt and jacket, women's, silk shantung / satin, worn and made by Beverly Silby, Frankston, Victoria, Australia, 1963

Navy blue silk shantung cocktail dress, knee length, with double shoe string straps, fitted bodice, side zip, and A line skirt with two deep pleats on hips. False opening at back of bodice decorated with four groups of three small self covered buttons. Fully lined, machine sewn, hand finished, with a narrow stiffened belt, fastening at front with flat bow, closed with press studs and hooks and eyes.

Waist length, jacket made of cream satin embroidered with a repeat rose design. The jacket has short sleeves, a centre back opening fastening with five large covered buttons. Fully lined, hand sewn button holes

Made: Silby, Beverly; Frankston, Victoria; 1963


Used: Silby, Beverly; Frankston, Victoria; 1962 - 1965

2005/241/8

1963