Summary

This dress was designed and manufactured in Melbourne by Prue Acton P/L in 1982. It was the retail version of the dress made for Prue Acton to wear to a fancy dress ball the previous year.

In 2005, it was loaned to a fashion parade at the Sydney Convention Centre, on January 21st, to lauch the Australia Post Legends series that year, featuring six Australian fashion designers, including Prue Acton.

In 2011, it was loaned to the `Fashion Full Stop' show, held at The Plenary, Melbourne Exhibition and Covention Centre, on March 14th, to launch the 2011 Melbourne Fashion Festival. It was worn by model Ivana during the opening segment entitled `Australiana', which featured performer Guy Sebastian singing the INXS song `New Sensation'.

A verison of the dress in white was a very popular export to the U.S.

Physical Description

Ankle length tafetta and organza evening dress consisting of gum leaf shaped pieces of fabric in green, brown, and burgundy. Boned bodice is strapless with machine embroidery suggesting vertical leaves, the ends of which are handpainted in grey. Tafetta skirt of overlapping 'leaves', with green organza underskirt of same construction. Tafetta panels decorated with machine embroidery, organza inserts and 3-dimensional cocoon to suggest real leaves. Fastened at the back with a zip. Fabric labels sewn into back of bodice.

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