Evening dress of embroidered and beaded silk and silk tulle, probably designed by Norman Hartnell, made in London, ca. 1930

Evening dress of pale blue silk tulle, mounted over matching silk, and embroidered in the same tone with beads and pastes in a formal floral design.

It is full length and has a low necked sleeveless bodice, loosely cut and slightly low waisted, with a full flaring skirt covered with frills of tulle and re-embroidered with the same design as the bodice.

The skirt is supported by two matching flared tulle petticoats over a straight lining of matching silk, with a side slit and a scalloped border of matching organza. The bodice is faced at the neck with flesh coloured tulle and chiffon and fastens at the side with alternating snap fasteners and hooks and eyes.

Given by Cecil Beaton

Worn by Miss Margaret Whigham for her coming-out ball in 1930.

Margaret Whigham was the only child of Helen Mann Hannay and George Hay Whigham, a Scottish millionaire who was chairman of the Celanese Corporation of England, North America, and Canada. After being educated privately in New York City, where she moved one week after her birth and lived until the age of 14, and making her debut in London in 1930, she announced her engagement to Charles Guy Fulke Greville, 7th Earl of Warwick. This wedding did not take place as she had fallen for Charles Sweeny, an American amateur golfer, and decided she was not sufficiently in love with Lord Warwick. Margaret and Charles Sweeny married 1933, divorced in 1947, and in 1951, she became the notorious Duchess of Argyll, third wife of the 11th Duke of Argyll.

T.4-1977