09-08-2012
We visited the National Museum for its latest exhibit: The Wedding Dress, showcasing 200 years of wedding fashion from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. To give this collection a local flair, the National Museum has also curated a number of wedding dresses worn by the various ethnic groups in Singapore over the past 100 years.
Dress caps and white muslin were popular in London during the first half of the 19th century.
Muslin embroidered with cotton
Thought to be worn by Mary-Anne-Grace-Quin when she married Herbert Mayo on 3rd November 1934
1828
Silk trimmed with silk satin and bobbin lace, lined in cotton
Worn by Eliza Larken when she married William (later 6th Baron) Monson on 8th May 1828
Get a load of those ruffles. This was worn by Margararet Scott Lang in London, with a cut and decorations typical of the time period.
This gown was designed by famed dressmaker Charles Frederick Worth, and worn by Clara Mathews, daughter of Isaac Singer - the inventor of the sewing machine! So of course, it had to be delicately decorated with faux pearls (a trendy trimming at the time), which glistened romantically in the church's newly installed gaslights.
Velvet dress in a medieval style - popular in the 1920s - worn for a winter wedding.
Designed by Charles James and worn by Baba (Barbara) Beaton, a socialite, inviting high media coverage.
Commisioned by Marit Allen, editor of the 'Young Ideas' page at British Vogue. Fashionably short, but with church-appropriate upper body coverage.
Left: Maxi wedding coat embroidered with silk and silver metal thread, trimmed with Artic fox fur by Bellville et Cie 1968
Right: Mini-dress and coat in cotton gabardine trimmed in silvered PVC by John Bates
Worn by Marit Allen for her wedding to Sandy Lieberson in 1966
Hand-painted coat inspired by Indian artefacts. Worn by Sara Donaldson-Hudson during her civil wedding to a divorced man, as his previous relationship status supposedly made it inappropriate for her to wear a white wedding dress.
Left: 'Lamborghini' trousers suit by Ossie Clark, 1969
Right: 'Rajputana' coat by Richard Cawley for Bellville Sassoon, 1970-71
By Ian & Marcel, with a veil decorated with silicone rubber roses.
This creation was made of silk satin, and ornamented with gold leaf, foil, beads, paste gems, and chenille embroidery.
1992
'Qui a le droit?' (Who has the right?) wedding gown by Christian Lacroix. For me, this is the highlight of the exhibition as I love the works of Lacroix since his debut in the 80's.The intricacy of the embroidery and metal thread beading on the bodice is pure Lacroix. And the chenille embroidery on the skirt is exquisite! Viva Lacroix indeed.
Below I've included a clip of this gown as it appeared on the runway in 1992!
This asymmetrical, spray-painted gown was worn by Gwen Stefani during her wedding to Gavin Rossdae in 2002.
Spray-painted gown in silk by John Galliano for Dior
Black wool suit, shirt and tie by Dior
Worn by Dita Von Teese during her wedding to Marilyn Manson in 2005.
Violet shot taffeta wedding gown by Vivienne Westwood Couture
2005
Corset in silk, machine lace and ribbon by Mr Pearl
Peignoir in machine lace by Nina Ricci
Part of Dita von Teese bridal trousseau
circa 1864-65
Silk satin embellished with Honiton lace
Worn by Eliza Penelope Clay for her wedding in February 1865
1874
Silk gauze trimmed with machine-made lace
Worn by Lucretia Crouch
circa 1883
Steam moulded wedding corset by Edwin Izod
circa 1880
Silk satin with machine-made lace, beading and embroidery by Charles Frederick Worth, whom many considered to be the Father of Haute Couture
1886
Satin, embroidered with glass beads
Worn by May Primrose for her wedding to Major Herbert Littledale in June 1885
The bride died a year later and her family carefully preserved her dress.
1845-1853
Left: Silk waistcoat with silver thread
Center: Silk waistcoat embroidered with lilies of the valley and forget-me-nots
Right: Silk waistcoat worn by George Higgs in 1853
Back: Embroidered cotton shirt
circa 1941
Beaded dress with train by Aida Woolf
1941
Synthetic silk dress by Ella Dolling
This dress worn by Elizabeth King, was made with upholstery fabrics which was not subject to rationing during war times.
Left: Frock coat and trousers circa 1967-68
Right: Shantung silk gown by Jacques Heim
Worn by April Olrich in 1963
Left: 1976
Dress printed with waves and palms in silk chiffon by Zandra Rhodes
Worn by Elizabeth Weiner for her wedding to David Emanuel
Right: 1969
Dress with Celtic scrollwork by Jean Muir
Worn by Pamela Colin for her wedding to Lord Harlech
1987
Wedding coat, blouse and headdress by John Galliano
Worn by Francesca Oddi
2007
Wedding dress in tissue organza by Vera Wang
Worn by Katie Bella Turner for her marriage to Andrew Robert Hayward on 26th August 2007
circa 1841
Left: Cotton print wedding dress
Right: Cream silk wedding dress
2008
Left: Wool Kilt by Vivienne Westwood
Right: Mini wedding dress in silk tulle, chiffon and ribbon by Alber Albaz for Lanvin
Closer look at the necklace in paste gems on silk chiffon tied with silk ribbon.
In the movie Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) wore a similar dress to this for a Vogue fashion shoot. Loved that scene in the movie, and if only they had featured those gowns here too.
Local wedding dresses
Lace gowns
Lace gowns and gold Qipao
Traditional Chinese qun gua, 1953
Songkets worn by a Malay couple on their wedding day: 1960s-1970s
Tradtional Peranakan wedding attire with phoenix design. Late 19th - early 20th centuries
Peranakan wedding garments and Phoenix collar piece
Indian sari and matching choli, 1964O
Finally, the exhibition's featured dress, worn by British socialite Margaret Whigham, and designed by royal dressmaker Norman Hartnell in London.
1933
Silk satin and tulle, embroidered with glass beads by Norman Hartnell
This majestic gown with a 2.6m train was worn by Margaret Whigham when she married Charles Sweeney
10-08-2012 @ City Square Mall Momiji
We visited the National Museum for its latest exhibit: The Wedding Dress, showcasing 200 years of wedding fashion from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. To give this collection a local flair, the National Museum has also curated a number of wedding dresses worn by the various ethnic groups in Singapore over the past 100 years.
Dress caps and white muslin were popular in London during the first half of the 19th century.
Muslin embroidered with cotton
Thought to be worn by Mary-Anne-Grace-Quin when she married Herbert Mayo on 3rd November 1934
1828
Silk trimmed with silk satin and bobbin lace, lined in cotton
Worn by Eliza Larken when she married William (later 6th Baron) Monson on 8th May 1828
Get a load of those ruffles. This was worn by Margararet Scott Lang in London, with a cut and decorations typical of the time period.
This gown was designed by famed dressmaker Charles Frederick Worth, and worn by Clara Mathews, daughter of Isaac Singer - the inventor of the sewing machine! So of course, it had to be delicately decorated with faux pearls (a trendy trimming at the time), which glistened romantically in the church's newly installed gaslights.
Velvet dress in a medieval style - popular in the 1920s - worn for a winter wedding.
Designed by Charles James and worn by Baba (Barbara) Beaton, a socialite, inviting high media coverage.
Commisioned by Marit Allen, editor of the 'Young Ideas' page at British Vogue. Fashionably short, but with church-appropriate upper body coverage.
Left: Maxi wedding coat embroidered with silk and silver metal thread, trimmed with Artic fox fur by Bellville et Cie 1968
Right: Mini-dress and coat in cotton gabardine trimmed in silvered PVC by John Bates
Worn by Marit Allen for her wedding to Sandy Lieberson in 1966
Hand-painted coat inspired by Indian artefacts. Worn by Sara Donaldson-Hudson during her civil wedding to a divorced man, as his previous relationship status supposedly made it inappropriate for her to wear a white wedding dress.
Left: 'Lamborghini' trousers suit by Ossie Clark, 1969
Right: 'Rajputana' coat by Richard Cawley for Bellville Sassoon, 1970-71
By Ian & Marcel, with a veil decorated with silicone rubber roses.
This creation was made of silk satin, and ornamented with gold leaf, foil, beads, paste gems, and chenille embroidery.
1992
'Qui a le droit?' (Who has the right?) wedding gown by Christian Lacroix. For me, this is the highlight of the exhibition as I love the works of Lacroix since his debut in the 80's.The intricacy of the embroidery and metal thread beading on the bodice is pure Lacroix. And the chenille embroidery on the skirt is exquisite! Viva Lacroix indeed.
Below I've included a clip of this gown as it appeared on the runway in 1992!
This asymmetrical, spray-painted gown was worn by Gwen Stefani during her wedding to Gavin Rossdae in 2002.
Spray-painted gown in silk by John Galliano for Dior
Black wool suit, shirt and tie by Dior
Worn by Dita Von Teese during her wedding to Marilyn Manson in 2005.
Violet shot taffeta wedding gown by Vivienne Westwood Couture
Tricorn hat in velvet, shot taffeta, glass beads and dyed mink pompoms by Stephen Jones
Shoes in silk, plastic, diamante and leather by Christian Louboutin
Details of the draped of the voluminous skirt typical of Westwood's style and references to the 18th century.
2005
Corset in silk, machine lace and ribbon by Mr Pearl
Peignoir in machine lace by Nina Ricci
Part of Dita von Teese bridal trousseau
circa 1864-65Silk satin embellished with Honiton lace
Worn by Eliza Penelope Clay for her wedding in February 1865
1874
Silk gauze trimmed with machine-made lace
Worn by Lucretia Crouch
circa 1883
Steam moulded wedding corset by Edwin Izod
circa 1880
Silk satin with machine-made lace, beading and embroidery by Charles Frederick Worth, whom many considered to be the Father of Haute Couture
1886
Satin, embroidered with glass beads
Worn by May Primrose for her wedding to Major Herbert Littledale in June 1885
The bride died a year later and her family carefully preserved her dress.
1845-1853
Left: Silk waistcoat with silver thread
Center: Silk waistcoat embroidered with lilies of the valley and forget-me-nots
Right: Silk waistcoat worn by George Higgs in 1853
Back: Embroidered cotton shirt
circa 1941
Beaded dress with train by Aida Woolf
1941
Synthetic silk dress by Ella Dolling
This dress worn by Elizabeth King, was made with upholstery fabrics which was not subject to rationing during war times.
Left: Frock coat and trousers circa 1967-68
Right: Shantung silk gown by Jacques Heim
Worn by April Olrich in 1963
Left: 1976
Dress printed with waves and palms in silk chiffon by Zandra Rhodes
Worn by Elizabeth Weiner for her wedding to David Emanuel
Right: 1969
Dress with Celtic scrollwork by Jean Muir
Worn by Pamela Colin for her wedding to Lord Harlech
1987
Wedding coat, blouse and headdress by John Galliano
Worn by Francesca Oddi
2007
Wedding dress in tissue organza by Vera Wang
Worn by Katie Bella Turner for her marriage to Andrew Robert Hayward on 26th August 2007
circa 1841
Left: Cotton print wedding dress
Right: Cream silk wedding dress
2008
Left: Wool Kilt by Vivienne Westwood
Right: Mini wedding dress in silk tulle, chiffon and ribbon by Alber Albaz for Lanvin
Closer look at the necklace in paste gems on silk chiffon tied with silk ribbon.
In the movie Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) wore a similar dress to this for a Vogue fashion shoot. Loved that scene in the movie, and if only they had featured those gowns here too.
Local wedding dressesLace gowns
Lace gowns and gold Qipao
Traditional Chinese qun gua, 1953
Songkets worn by a Malay couple on their wedding day: 1960s-1970sTradtional Peranakan wedding attire with phoenix design. Late 19th - early 20th centuries
Peranakan wedding garments and Phoenix collar piece
Indian sari and matching choli, 1964OFinally, the exhibition's featured dress, worn by British socialite Margaret Whigham, and designed by royal dressmaker Norman Hartnell in London.
1933
Silk satin and tulle, embroidered with glass beads by Norman Hartnell
This majestic gown with a 2.6m train was worn by Margaret Whigham when she married Charles Sweeney
10-08-2012 @ City Square Mall Momiji
