Wedding Dress thumbnail 1
Not on display

This object consists of 6 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Wedding Dress

1948 (designed), 1 September 1948 (worn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Wedding dress in cream silk moiré with a full length, full skirt, closely fitted bodice and long tight sleeves. The neckline cut wide and low, with a knife-pleated bertha collar. Row of closely spaced covered buttons at wrists and back zipper. Two stiffened synthetic silk waist-petticoats, the top one in silk with a deep moiré flounce, the bottom a crinoline slip interlined with stiffening to support the skirt. Wedding veil of fine silk net attached to a cream satin band with elastic band. Matching cream silk moiré sandals, made by Rayne, with wrap-over effect peep-toe and button, low-ish heel and ankle straps.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 6 parts.

  • Wedding Dress
  • Wedding Petticoat
  • Wedding Petticoat
  • Wedding Veil
  • Wedding Shoe
  • Wedding Shoe
Materials and techniques
Cream silk moire, silk net, synthetic silk, and silk satin
Brief description
Wedding dress, 1948, English, Molyneux, ivory moire ribbed silk. With two petticoats, a net veil attached to padded satin headband, and pair of heeled shoes, 1948, English, Rayne, covered in cream silk moire with silver gilt buckles
Physical description
Wedding dress in cream silk moiré with a full length, full skirt, closely fitted bodice and long tight sleeves. The neckline cut wide and low, with a knife-pleated bertha collar. Row of closely spaced covered buttons at wrists and back zipper. Two stiffened synthetic silk waist-petticoats, the top one in silk with a deep moiré flounce, the bottom a crinoline slip interlined with stiffening to support the skirt. Wedding veil of fine silk net attached to a cream satin band with elastic band. Matching cream silk moiré sandals, made by Rayne, with wrap-over effect peep-toe and button, low-ish heel and ankle straps.
Production typeHaute couture
Gallery label
(1997)
Charles Creed decided that it was inappropriate for him to design his wife's wedding dress. Instead, he encouraged top model Pat Cunningham to patronise fellow couturier Edward Molyneux. The dress makes a virtue of simplicity: the focal point is the almost off-the-shoulder, shawl-like collar. Stark and elegant, it was the perfect foil for the bride's classic beauty.
Object history
This dress was worn by the fashion model Patricia Aileen Cunningham to marry the British couturier Charles Creed at the Assumption Convent, Kensington Square, on 1 September 1948. Feeling it would be inappropriate if he were to design her dress, Creed recommended his fellow British couturier, Edward Molyneux, to his wife.
Bibliographic reference
De la Haye, Amy (ed.). The Cutting Edge: 50 Years of British Fashion 1947- 1997. London, England: V&A Publications, 1997.
Collection
Accession number
T.250 to E-1979

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Record createdAugust 21, 2003
Record URL
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