This week a pattern has been donated to the collection: Number 817 from the Vogue Couturier series, dating to 1954.

With that era’s instantly recognisable style and flair, this pattern came from Milne & Choyce in Auckland, the purveyors of fashion to the cognoscenti. It is stamped with the legend “This pattern cannot be exchanged. Milne & Choyce Ltd”, although the ink has faded somewhat. The packet that housed the pattern has disintegrated too while the paper pattern pieces are discoloured and fragile but still retain a light blue colouring.

The pattern was issued in 1954 and in the Winter/ Spring season the dress was featured in the Vogue collection of 1956. The image at the top of this page shows the cover of that issue.

Items like these are an important link with the past and this pattern will be accessioned into the collection where it will be a testament to, perhaps, a well-dressed lady who lived in Hokitika on the West Coast.