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Womens sundress by Cole of California
MadeSummary
Object No.
2006/85/1Object Statement
Sundress, womens, cotton / textile / metal, by Cole of California, United States of America, c. 1952Physical Description
Dress, qipao or cheongsam style, women's, cotton, made by Cole of California, United States of America, c. 1952Women's hybrid outfit of sundress and capri pants, styled on the Chinese cheongsam (qipao) by Cole of California in the 1950s. Halterneck design with tight fitting mandarin collar and button fastening with red piping around the neckline. Tight fitting at waistline with shirred sides to the waist and two deep side splits to the waistline. Boning and stiffening in bodice. Fabric is printed with an oriental print in gold, red and cream with a short zip to the waist at the back of the dress. Attached to the dress at the waist is a pair of gold capri pants with side zip. Maker's mark on label.
Marks
Label on inside waist, embroidered'Cole / OF CALIFORNIA / ORIGINAL M / MADE IN U.S.A'Short URL
https://ma.as/360719Dimensions
Width
745 mmProduction
Made
Notes
The donor related anecdotally that she had a friend who was employed in the early 1950s to work at the Cole of California factory in Bathurst sewing on buttons.More research needed to verify Australian connection with Cole of California.
History
Used
Notes
The donor purchased the garment in the early 1950s while employed at Snow's retail store, corner of Pitt and Liverpool Streets, Sydney. She was employed at Snow's from 1947 to 1957. The donor recalls that Mr John Snow, the son of Sir Sydney Snow, was instrumental in bringing the Cole range of swimwear and sundresses to Australia. The donor relates anecdotally that her friend worked for a short time in the early 1950s at Cole of California in Bathurst, sewing shoulder straps on swimwear, but that she parted company from Cole's very quickly as she couldn't sew the straps on straight.More research needed for information related to Cole of California operating a factory in Bathurst.
Source
Credit Line
Gift of Ms Xeny C Hearne, 2006Acquisition Date
3 July 2006Cite this Object
Harvard
Womens sundress by Cole of California 2023, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 8 June 2023, <https://ma.as/360719>Wikipedia
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