Dress, wedding dress

Mrs S G Edmonds wore this rayon crepe dress at her wedding at Tottenham Registry Office on 8 November 1944. It was made by Lo Roco and bought from John Lewis in April 1944 for £6 19s 6d (6 pounds, 19 shillings and sixpence).

The dress was shortened and the waist taken in when she bought it. Mrs Edmonds wore it with a crown of pastel-coloured felt flowers trimmed with a white veil set on a plaited crêpe bandeau, which cost £1 10s (1 pound and 10 shillings).

The dress, which was expensive because it was not made under the Utility scheme, would have been subject to wartime rationing restrictions, but Mrs Edmonds did not say how many coupons it cost her. Hats were coupon-free.

Many wartime brides wore coloured day dresses for their weddings; unlike formal white gowns, these could be worn again.