This evening outfit was made and worn by Bertha Frances Dudfield (nee Bruere, 1892-1982). Bertha was born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1892, one of twelve surviving children. Her family migrated to Australia, living first in St Kilda before building the house 'Avon' at 42 Bay Street, Brighton, where Bertha lived with her husband Ambrose Reginald Dudfield until 1975.Evening outfit comprising magenta feathered cape, full-length black velvet dress and a spray of silk flowers. Hem of dress lined with magenta and yellow silk. .1 - cape .2 - dress .3 - floral sprayevening dress, feather cape, bertha dudfield, brighton, 1930s

This waistcoat belonged to Olga Black, a long-time Brighton resident. Part of a Greek national costume, it was designed by Olga in the 1950s, with the silver cornelli work completed by a Collins Street workshop. Olga Maria Black was born in Melbourne in 1930, the daughter of Ithacan migrants Constantine and Toula Mavrokefalos. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Black velvet waistcoat, decorated with silver cornelli work. Pale blue cotton lining. Fastens with hooks and eyes.greece, ithaca, migration, olga black

This bolero is part of a Greek national costume from the Peloponnese. Long-time Brighton resident Olga Black wore it to the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games to represent her Greek heritage. She remembers the stands at the MCG being full of migrants wearing their traditional national costumes. Olga Maria Black was born in Melbourne in 1930, the daughter of Ithacan migrants Constantine and Toula Mavrokefalos. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Red velvet bolero decrated with gold stitching and braid. Lined with red satin. Stand collar which fastens with two metal hooks and eyes. bolero, jacket, greece, ithaca, migration, olympic games, 1956 olympic games, olga black

This dress was donated to BHS in 1973 by local teacher Miss Jean Mole (1910-1984). Information provided on donation suggests that it was worn by Jean's mother, Lottie Richmond Bryan (1873-1959), on her marriage to Ernest Mole (1863-1929) in Daylesford on 27 May 1908. However, the style of the dress indicates an earlier date, circa 1878. It is possible that the dress was in fact worn by Jean's grandmother, Jane Crowe McNeil (1850-1933), who married James Bryan (1838-1886) in Daylesford on 9 February 1870.Beige taffeta silk dress with fine black woven stripe. Olive coloured bias satin trim and vandyked horizontal panels down front of the dress. The dress has a train.wedding dress, silk, 1870s, jean gertrude mole, lottie richmond bryan, jane crowe mcneil

Cream coloured raw silk dress. Lower part of skirt hand-embroidered with floral design. Black and white striped silk collar and placket at front opening with 17 black decorative buttons. Two rows of thick cording insetred into casings around waist area which control the gathering in the skirt.silk, embroidery, 1910s

Worn by Edna Emily Seehusen (1916-2005) when she married William Alexander McQuilten (1911-2010) in September 1947 at Brighton Congregational Church, Black Street, Brighton.Ivory satin dress with train overlaid with machine made lace. High, gathered neckline, leg-of-mutton sleeves, In-built padded hip rolls. Front of dress is decorated with wax flowers. Label, woven pink on cream silk, centre back neck: A / Dorothy Draper / Original / EXCLUSIVE TO / BALL & WELCH LTD. / MELBOURNEwedding dress, lace, ball and welch, edna emily seehusen, william alexander mcquilten, brighton congregational church, brighton

Worn by Elizabeth Goodwin of Liverpool, England, who married Horace Book at St Andrew's Church, Brighton in 1921. The fabric was purchased by her father, a ship's captain, when he was in China. The bride had her dress made in Liverpool and made to a Butterick's pattern. Elizabeth was very active in public life and a well-known member of the Book family. Wedding dress made from cream silk purchased in China. The bodice is made of fine silk embroidered tulle with a vest of cream silk that floats over the top. The skirt has been permanently pleated, has has floating side panels of tulle and features a large butterfly-shaped bow at the back.wedding dress, silk, 1920s, elizabeth goodwin, horace book, st andrew's church brighton, brighton

Black full-length crepe evening dress (.1) with bronze-coloured sequins on bodice; asymmetric neckline and draping. Matching black reticule (.2) with sequins.evening dress, sequins, 1940s

This suit was tailor-made for Latvian dancer, choreographer and dance teacher Vija Vetra, who lived at the Old Hall, 93-95 Bay Street, Brighton and ran a dance academy at 97 Bay Street during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Born in Riga, Latvia in 1923, at the age of sixteen Vija ran away from home in order to study classical, character and modern dance at the Vienna Academy of Music and Performing Arts. She spent several years performing on European stages. When Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1944, more than 100,000 Latvians fled, seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Vija's sister, mother and aunt were among them, managing to join her in Vienna. The following year, all four had to flee again when the Soviets moved into Austria. Escaping to Bavaria, they spent three years in displaced person camps before emigrating to Sydney as refugees in 1948. Vija found success as a dancer in Sydney. She toured Australia and New Zealand with the Bodenwieser Ballet, formed a Latvian folk dancing group and established a dancing school. By the mid-1950s she had gained recognition as a recitalist in her own right. She developed a passion for Indian classical dance. In the late 1950s she moved to Victoria. She opened a dance school in Bay Street, Brighton, while continuing to perform on stage in productions such as the musical 'Kismet' and the ballet 'Corroboree'. In 1959 she starred in the four-part live ABC television program 'Music and Dance'. She left Australia in 1964 for a tour of the United States and Canada, ultimately settling in New York City. Interviewed in the 'ABC Weekly' in 1957, Vetra described her taste in clothing as minimalist, saying she preferred to own as few clothes as possible to save the trouble of deciding what to wear: "And no bows or extravagances, but always a simple line."Two-piece women's suit made of maroon corded silk; comprising fitted jacket (.1) and straight skirt (.2). Jacket fastens with one large black faceted glass button. Jacket lined with pink satin; skirt unlined. vija vetra, migration, brighton, refugee, dancer, 1940s

Dior-inspired suit jacket. Unlined. Six cloth buttons with bound button holes. Inside hip pads. Label, woven brown on cream acetate, centre back neck: "Ponce De Leon". Handwritten on label in black pen: "43 LANDELS".jacket, 1940s, rosalind landells

Louris Holly Larsen-Disney married Percy James White at Melbourne Grammar Chapel on 17 June 1948. In later years the dress was given to an opportunity shop and purchased by Mrs Landells of the Brighton Historical Society. Louris subsequently visited the Society and recognised her dress, and was able to provide BHS with information on it. Also in the Society's collection is a 1950s pink strapless silk chiffon dress worn by Louris, and a wedding photo of Louris taken at her mother and stepfather's home at 53 South Road, Brighton. The couple moved into a house just a few doors down, at 49 South Road.Wedding dress made from silver metallic thread crepe. Fastens down front with small self-covered buttons and loops. Long fitted sleeves fastened with 10 covered buttons and loops. Full bias cut skirt with train.wedding dress, 1940s fashion, louris holly white, percy james white, brighton

Wedding dress worn by May Dunne who was married on 11 April 1942 at the Newtown Methodist Church in Aberdeen Street, Geelong. The lace was purchased with wartime coupons. The couple lived in Brighton and May was a member of the Brighton Historical Society when she donated the dress.Wedding dress of white lace. V-neckline, long fitted sleeves and train. Large bow at back.wedding dress, wwii, lace, wartime bride, 1940s

Brighton local Margaret Cooke (nee Parish) had this dress made for the Miss Summer Festival competition fundraiser. The idea for the dress came from a photograph in the Womens' Weekly. A professional dressmaker cut and made the dress. It has an 18" waist. There is a black and white photocopy on file of the dress being worn at the time.Floral cotton dress with matching belt and shoes. Sleeveless polished cotton cream dress with large red, pink and brown rose print. Heavily ruched front. The skirt has an in-built crinoline structure made with thick Vielene lining and corded hoops. Separate belt with bow at centre front. Shoes made to match by 'Suzette' in their original box. .1- dress .2 - belt .3 a-b - pair of shoes .4 a-b - shoe box and lidShoes - Label, printed in gold on white leather in sock: Suzette / Styled in / NEW YORK-PARIS-ST. LOUISprinted fabric, miss summer festival, 1950s, margaret cooke

Black silk satin cape with corded design. Black fur trim on collar, centrefront openings and hem. Lined with quilted black silk. Watch pocket on left proper interior. Wool interlining.cape, 1890s

Sheer black silk chiffon dress with black beaded front detail and pin tucked front skirt. Long pointed beaded collar. Long sleeves with nine rows of horizontal pin tucking on lower edge.

Blue cotton circular skirt with white cord design of men and women dancing around the hem. Fastens with a metal sip in left proper side seam.Label, printed red on cream cotton, centre back: Milton Harding / MELBOURNE / GUARANTEED TAILORED / & HAND FINISHED (image of skirt)skirt, 1950s, milton harding

Silver, blue and green knitted lurex evening outfit comprising maxi dress (.1) and short blue lurex jacket (.2) with short sleeves. Sleeveless high-necked dress with bold seaweed design. Fastens centre back with long metal zip. Jacket and dress fully lined with dark blue lining.Label, woven black on white acetate centre back jacket: Tricó / ROMAevening outfit, 1970s, lurex

Printed cotton maxi dress with long sleeves. Print of red, navy, white and green spots. Shirtmaker front which fastens with three covered buttons. Label, woven maroon on cream acetate, centre back: Imported / from Italy / BY GEORGES / OF COLLINS STREETgeorges, georges of collins street, 1970s

This dress belonged to Christina Barclay 'Ina' Strahan (nee Guinn, 1889-1974), the mother of donor Sheila Alston (1911-2008). Ina married medical practitioner Dr Septimus Strahan in 1909 and the family lived in a stately home in Moonee Ponds from 1912 until Septimus' untimely death at 56 in 1933. Ina later moved to Sandringham, where her daughter Sheila also settled after her marriage to Peter Alston.Black chiffon and lace dress with long sleeves, scooped neckline. Lozenge shaped lace pattern; machine top-stiched chiffon panels.Label, woven, blue on cream cotton, centre back: MADE IN FRANCElace, christina barclay strahan, 1920s

Established by local designer Ralph Samuel, Hartnell of Melbourne was one of the leading high-end Flinders Lane fashion houses of the 1950s and 1960s. This dress still has its original store tag attached, which tells us that it cost 39 pounds, 19 shillings and sixpence - a large amount of money to spend on a dress in 1952. Adjusted for inflation, this price tag equates to approximately $1,480 in today's money.Mauve tucked and folded cocktail dress with twin shoulder straps, ruched bodice and gathered skirt. Rose detail on each hip. Tulle underskirt. Swing tag still attached to back zip.Label, white with blue text: "Exclusively yours, / Hartnell / REGD / MELBOURNE" Swing tag: "THIS GARMENT is made from finest material and designed for the fashion conscious woman / NO. 3633/332 / SIZE SSW / PRICE 39"19"6 / Hartnell of Melbourne Pty. Ltd. / Almond Pink"hartnell of melbourne, 1950s, ralph samuel, melbourne designers, flinders lane

Knitted by the donor's grandmother, Elsie Hone. Knitted using bicycle spokes as knitting needles. Elsie Hone (nee Stone) was born in 1890 and died in 1987. She had six children and she apparently knitted this vest for her second son (fifth child), Albert George Hone (b.1914) for his 18th birthday. Albert and his wife Grace had four daughters between 1942 and 1951. The donor's mother, Ina Harriet Nilsson, was born in 1925 (fourth daughter, sixth child of Elsie) and as she had a son, the donor's uncle George (Albert?) passed it on to her. Both the donor's elder brothers wore and out-grew the vest and eventually it was passed on to the donor, Ray Nilsson. The vest was worn for many years while the donor worked at VACC Insurance Co Ltd in St Kilda Road, Melbourne and in the North Sydney, Canberra and Dandenong offices and it was a talking point as he recalled the story. (Information provided by the donor)Fair Isle patterned hand-knitted vest in beige, brown, yellow, green and red.vest, hand-knit, fairisle, elsie hone, great depression, albert george hone, ray nilsson

Worn by three brides in 1941, 1944 and 1948. The dress was made for Eva Elizabeth (Bid) Harvey for her marriage to Morris Langlo West on 2 October 1941 at St James Catholic Church, North Road, Gardenvale. They had two children, Julian (1942-2005) and Sr. Elizabeth West (born 1942). Bid was born in 1906 to Michael and Kitty Harvey. They lived at 51 Cole Street, Elwood. The bridesmaid was Bid's niece Jocelyn Hickey. The dress was also worn by Jocelyne Dorothy Taylor when she married John Carlisle (Carl) Harvey (Bid's brother) at James Catholic Church, Gardenvale on 30 June 1944. Jocelyne's bridesmaid was Jocelyn Hickey and the best man was Basil Robinson. The reception was held at 'Birdwood', Birdwood Avenue, Brighton. Jocelyne was born in Rangoon, Burma in 1921 and was the eldest daughter of Stanley and Dorothy Taylor. Carl was the only son of Michael and Kitty Harvey. Jocelyne and Carl lived at 15 Harwood Street, Elwood and later at 54 North Road, Brighton. They had five children, Michael, David, Jennifer, Robert and Eric. The third bride to wear the dress was Jocelyn Mary Hickey, who was bridesmaid to Bid and Jocelyne. Jocelyn Hickey was born in 1929 to Daniel and Doreen Hickey (Bid's sister and Jocelyne's sister-in-law). Jocelyn married Gerard Leslie O'Donnell at St James Catholic Church, Gardenvale in 1948. The bride's attendants were Adita Smith, Maureen Bow and Jacqueline Connell. The groom's attendants were Jack Fallon and Con O'Donnell. The reception was held at 51 Cole Street, Elwood. Jocelyn and Gerard had three daughters, Maree, Carlene and Janine. They lived in Bunyip, Victoria. (Information provided by the donor).Cream crepe wedding dress with short sleeves and dropped waist. Sweetheart neckline, bodice and sleeves decorated with floral design in bugle beads. Fastens with metal zip in left side seam.wedding dress, wartime bride, 1940s, eva elizabeth harvey, jocelyne dorothy taylor, jocelyn mary hickey

Two piece ivory satin evening dress. Bodice (.1) is decorated with central panel of finely pleated chiffon and embellished with ready-made strips of beading and artificial pearls. Short puffed sleeves. Russet coloured velvet band applied to waist of bodice and finished with a metal rosette. Plain gored satin skirt (.2) with cream velvet binding around hem. Label, printed grey on cream cotton, centre back bodice waist: Bussell, Robson & Bussell / MELBOURNE.evening dress, bussell robson & bussell, 1890s

Dust coat worn by Mr Frederick Alister Jennings when he managed a family grocery store circa 1948 at 510 Point Nepean Road, East Brighton. Frederick was born at Nagambie, Victoria in 1909 and died in Brighton in 1979. He was the son of Hugh Edwin Jennings and Alice Constance Warren. He married Margaret Jean Hughes in 1934 and served in the Second World War. He lived at 1 Valda Grove Brighton. Frederick was a commercial traveller as well as his time spent managing the store in Point Nepean Road. It is believed this coat dates from his time at the store c1948 - 1955. The store was owned for many years by his father-in-law W. G. Hughes and was one of a group of shops near the corner of Centre Road. In 1944-45 the group of shops included Fletcher’s fuel merchants, a haberdasher, butcher, fruiterer, grocer, Brighton East post office, a ladies’ hairdresser and Hughes’ grocer. In 1950 Hughes’ grocery store was between a service station and the Commercial Bank on what had been renamed Nepean Highway. The business was sold to G. S. Maynard, grocer, sometime before 1960.Unlined dustcoat of beige cotton. Fastens centre front with three brown plastic buttons. Two large patch pockets. Separate cloth belt with metal buckle. Signs of wear and mending. .1 - coat .2 -beltGarment label reads: APEX (RLG.) Dust Coat DEPT. MYER STORE for MEN. MELBOURNE & ADELAIDEdustcoat, occupational dress, grocer, hughes grocery store, brighton, frederick alister jennings

This gown was the winning entry in the Mannequins and Models Guild's Gown of the Year competition, held at the Chevron Hilton Hotel, Melbourne in November 1963 in aid of the Torch Bearers for Legacy. Designed by Lorna White for Hartnell of Melbourne and modelled by Marien Brindley, the dress’s construction is reputed to have consumed 300 hours, with the finished dress weighing 6 kilograms and costing around 3000 pounds. Evening gown made of cream ribbon lace and a rich latte-colured satin; applied beading. Cut with a high waist, short sleeves and deep V at centre back. Boned interior bodice. Centre back zip and train. gown of the year, hartnell of melbourne, lace, beading, ralph samuel, lorna white, marien brindley

Cream silk princess line wedding dress with scalloped neck edge, ruched front bodice panel and ruched and gathered panels on skirt. Three-quarter length sleeves with slashed sleeve details. Centre back opening fastened with silk thread covered buttons.wedding dress, 1870s

Silk blouse made by Toula Mavrokefalos, the mother of long-time Brighton resident Olga Black. Olga Maria Black was born in Melbourne in 1930, the daughter of Ithacan migrants Constantine and Toula Mavrokefalos. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Cream silk short-sleeved blouse. Hand embroidered around inside of stand collar, centre front panel and sleeve edge in red, blue, black and green floral and geometric design.migration, ithaca, romania, olga black, toula mavrokefalos, toula black

A pair of shoes worn by a Presentation nun at Star of the Sea Convent, Gardenvale. The history of the shoes is unknown; nuns working in the convent's archive found them stored among convent records, and subsequently donated them to Brighton Historical Society. The Presentation Sisters, a Catholic order originating from Ireland, founded the Star of the Sea Convent in Gardenvale in 1883. Led by Mother Paul Fay and Mother John Byrne, they established a convent and school in a house called Turret Lodge, on the site of the present Star of the Sea College in Martin Street. The order and the school remain active in Brighton today. Foy & Gibson was one of Australia's earliest department store chains. Based in Collingwood, from 1883 until the mid-twentieth century they manufactured and sold a large range of goods, including clothing, manchester, leather goods, soft furnishings, furniture, hardware and food.Pair of black leather women's lace-up shoes with a low heel.Interior label: "COMFORT / FOY & GIBSON PTY LTD / COLLINGWOOD"shoes, nuns, foy & gibson, presentation sisters, star of the sea convent

These gloves belonged to Maria Frisch who had survived a number of concentration camps during the war and emigrated with her daughter Anne to Australia in 1948. Maria and her daughter Anne were Polish Jews. As a small child Anne had been smuggled out of the Krakow ghetto in 1942 and was taken in by a Polish woman. At the end of the war Anne was reunited with her mother in Krakow. In 1945 they travelled to Italy to be with Maria's sister Ida who had lived in Florence since the 1930s. When Maria and Anne emigrated to Melbourne, they lived in Martin Street, Brighton. Maria's husband, and Anne's father, perished in Mauthausen concentration camp. Maria Entenberg married Jack Frisch in Melbourne in 1952.Pair of black suede gloves with original paper bag from Florence. The gloves are embroidered with small pink rosebuds and green leaves. They are unused and are still tacked together. T0098.1 - left glove T0098.2 - right glove T0098.3 - paper bagPaper bag, printed in blue and red: "Vasto assortimento GUANTI in pelle / A LARGE STOCK OF KID GLOVES / BEFORE YOU BUY, VISIT US / ELEGANCE AT LOW PRICES / MARIA PIA NICCOLINI / P.za S. Lorenzo Stand N. 21 / FIRENZEgloves, florence, emigration, holocaust, maria frisch, anne gouttman