Vintage Gallery #5 The 1940s Wedding Dress

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Vintage wedding dress (English, 1949)
Worn by Joan Reddington for her marriage to Norman Howlett in 1949. 

The wedding took place at St Peter's Church, Hunslet Moor, Leeds, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. This dress was purchased at the very prestigious department store Marshall and Snelgrove, Leeds. 

Though the Second World War had been over for four years when Joan and Norman married, clothes were still rationed. No acres of fabric for post-war brides to swoosh down the aisle. Those of you who got married in a 1980s meringue may well think, on reflection, rationing was not a bad thing. 

I love that iconic 1940s bodice, so evocative of all those satin gowns on all those Hollywood starlets in all those soft-focus, studio shots. The princess sleeves tapering to a pointed, buttoned cuff complete the old school glamour of this fabulous vintage bridal gown. 

Elegant pointed cuff with four fabric buttons

This dress is part of The Leeds Story collection at Leeds City Museum. 

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