Queen of the Carnival lace dress

This dress was worn by the winner of the Queens Carnival in Timaru in 1915. The dress was full-length in 1915 – it has since been shortened to reflect changing fashions in hem length. Queens Carnivals were held throughout New Zealand to raise funds for war related causes, such as support for wounded soldiers who were returning home. In addition to talent shows, fancy dress and sporting fixtures, women competed to be Queen. The winner was coronated at the end of the carnival.

Details

Credit: Garment loan courtesy of Kathryn Wycherly
Copyright: Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 Licence
Credit: Photo courtesy of Kathryn Wycherly
Copyright: All rights reserved, image © Kathryn Wycherly
Designer: Unknown
Garment type: Evening gown
Material: Lace
Colour: White
Purchase location: Unknown
Exhibition: Decades of Fashion, Palmerston North, 2014
Label: Unlabelled
Date: 1915