Bridal gowns from across the ages
Models wearing some of Manawatu’s historic wedding dresses have taken to the catwalk in a unique bid to raise funds for a rural social group.
Nine models from the Oroua Women’s Club paraded 23 of the region’s finest bridal gowns of the past century on Friday.
The featured gowns, all worn by Manawatu brides between 1904 and 1993, chronicle not only changing fashion, but also women’s roles.
Club president Marg Short said each gown on display had an interesting story behind it, whether about the bride who wore it, the historic styling or fashion of the dress, or the tailoring and construction of the gown.
Although, one of the challenges of the exhibition was getting the models into some of the vintage dresses, Short said.
‘‘We’re struggling to fit into some of the older gowns. Our hips aren’t quite as small as they were in the past unfortunately.’’
About 80 people showed up at the group’s meeting hall, raising about $1400 for the club.
Its members are hoping to buy a defibrillator, valued between $2000-$3000, to store in its building in case of an emergency.
Short said the dresses were handed down by grandmothers and great grandmothers, some of whom would be watching on in the audience.
‘‘Some of the early ones are really quite beautiful – a lot of lovely silk, smooth ones.’’
She had noticed a progression from cream dresses in the early 20th century to predominately white dresses today.