Summary

Crimson georgette dress with sequins and silver metallic rings, worn by Greek migrant Lili Sigalas in Melbourne in the 1920s. This 'flapper' dress is representative of this affluent social life and the taste for French couture which could be obtained in select Melbourne stores.

Lili (Eleni) Sigalas (nee Vrahamis), born in 1904, was the daughter of Callirrhoe Dressler and Stavros Vrahamis, both from the Greek Island of Sikinos, who also lived for some time in Istanbul. In 1920 Lili was engaged to a cousin Letho (Eleutherios) Sigalas, and in 1922 migrated to Melbourne on the 'Largs Bay' with her father-in-law to be, James (Iakovos) Sigalas, and her elder married sister Alex. Letho and Lili were married at the Greek Orthodox Church on Victoria Parade, on 18 July 1923, just eight days before Lili's 19th birthday. They had two daughters - Dan'e in 1924 and Magarita Babette in 1931.

Letho worked in his father's cafés and the young couple moved in a very sociable set that included their own young Greek cousins, going to numerous dances, the races, and nightclubs. The family lived at the St Kilda Road house until 1948 when they moved to Kew.

Physical Description

Sleeveless, v-neck, knee length dress in crimson and brown georgette fabric and decorated with silver sequins and purple beads. Extra piece of crimson fabric attached to each side of dress.

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