Last week I went to Melbourne to see the White Wedding Dress Exhibition at the Bendigo Art Gallery. 200 Years of Wedding fashions from the Victoria and Albert Museum.
We caught the train from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station to Bendigo and it took about 1hour 45minutes. I was able to do lots of knitting for James (my new grandson) on the journey.
We were lucky and got there on time for Edwina Ehrman’s introduction to the exhibition. She is the exhibition curator from the Victoria and Albert Museum. Edwina gave a wonderful presentation about the history of the white wedding dress and highlighted some of the most romantic and glamorous gowns on display in the exhibition. Edwina’s presentation made my experience very enjoyable, bringing the exhibition to life. She was leaving the next day for a holiday with her husband in Queensland and then to New Zealand where the exhibition is heading after Bendigo.
My favourite pieces were the three Brussels lace veils, they absolutely took my breath away. Unfortunately I couldn't take any photos, however I found an example on this lovely UK website www.antiquelaceheirlooms.com.
A major influence for today's white wedding dresses was Queen Victoria's gown (1842). Unfortunately it wasn't in the exibition, however David and I had seen it at Kensington Palace when we went on the Martha Pullen Christmas tour in 2002.
I was disappointed that the cotton organdie wedding dress made in 1953 for the cotton board by Hardie Amies was on the advertising brochures but wasn’t brought out for the exhibition.
While in Melbourne we also went to the Tutankhamun exhibition and that was interesting.
Melbourne is a beautiful city and the weather was perfect. I have come back refreshed and stimulated.
James is now 4 months old and every time I see him, he is more gorgeous. (That’s the granny speaking).
This picture was taken today and he has the cardigan on that I had just knitted for him.
I will try to put some photos on the blog as he is growing so quickly.
