Wedding jacket and skirt of wool and mohair, retailed by Bon Marché Department Store, Liverpool, 1948

Wedding jacket and skirt of red wool and mohair. New Look suit of 1948. The jacket is hip length, tightly fitting, and flares below the waist. The generous shawl collar, shaped at the front in a wide concave curve, is medium wide and is outlined with bands of black silk braid. The buttons are of black silk braid and alternates with snap fasteners. The shoulders are padded. The jacket is unlined. The skirt is of matching material. It is gored and there are two small pleats to give extra fullness to the back. It fastens with hooks and eyes at the waistband, and a zip is on the left hip. The red wool and mohair cloth has tiny woven black flecks and heavy braid trimming to evoke a military feel.

Given by Mrs W. Foster

Worn by Rachel Ginsburg for her marriage to Walter Foster, at Brondesbury Synagogue on 4 January 1949. Both bride and groom were students at the London School of Economics. The bride-to-be went shopping with her aunt for her outfit. They purchased the suit for £22 at the Bon Marche in Liverpool with clothing coupons donated by fellow-students. It was one of the first 'new look' costumes Rachel had seen. Her aunt gave her a small piece of net to wear on her head during the service. She had no attendants. Following the wedding the couple had a few days honeymoon staying at an old inn in Burford before returning to college. (Telephone conversation with Mrs. Foster, April 2010.)

Note from Mrs. Foster and Miss. Blumstein. It appeared in the '60 Years of Fashion' film, December 1959.

Attribution note: Probably a British couture model

In February 1947 Christian Dior launched the New Look. It featured pinched waists, full skirts and a soft shoulder line. The New Look was an attempt to reinstate femininity in dress after a period of wartime austerity and shortage. This New Look suit of 1948 has a fashionable curvaceous silhouette. The hip-length tailored jacket is tightly fitted and the skirt falls in a full, soft line. The bright strawberry red and black braid trimming gives the outfit a military flavour.

The original owner bought the outfit for £22 at the Bon Marché store in Liverpool and wore it at her wedding.

T.14&A-1960