HUGHES & STARNES Wedding Dress, ca. 1915

Extraordinary wedding dress with an eventful history, dated November 1915. On November 9, 1915, Dorothy Helen Hodges and Captain E. G. Gidley-Kitchen, Royal Civil Engineer, married in Peshawar (Pakistan).The captain was stationed there with an English army corps.Dorothy Helen's father was an engineer himself, chief engineer at the Indian State Railways to be precise.Perhaps father and son-in-law knew each other through their careers, so that the young people got to know each other in this context.The dress was made by Hughes & Starnes, 63 South Molton St W., London.The antique one-piece dress is made of silk satin.The bodice is decorated with all-round rhinestone appliqués.Large, decorative flower in the chest area.

Belt buckle in the cross area, also adorned with rhinestones. Two lace scarves hang down from the shoulders. Original veil. Pointed chest neckline lined with lace. Short sleeves. The bride wore a sheer tulle blouse under the dress. Beautiful silk bows on the sleeves and bust. This blouse is also still in its original condition. The dress is in very good condition. Light stains on the skirt. Included in the bundle are photocopies of the bride and groom, the wedding guests, the wedding speech, newspaper articles from Pakistan, photocopies of the silver wedding and private photographs. Unfortunately none of them are originals.

Bust: ~ 80 cm 
Waist: ~ 52 cm
Length: ~ 130 cm