The impressive men’s garments in the exhibition constitute a gala outfit worn by Mr L. de Groot (1874-1963). He was a member of the Tweede Kamer (Dutch Parliament) from 1918-1922 and from 1924-1925. It was later worn by Frederick (Frits) Portheine (1923-1990) from Leiden, who was a member of the Tweede Kamer between 1963 and 1981.
Black jacket with long tails and shiny lapels. France, 1920s. TRC 2018.2133a.The costume comes complete with a bicorn, gloves, sword, sword sheath and sword cover. A separate blog about this donation and about Laurens de Groot can be downloaded here.
This outfit is made of black broadcloth (laken) and decorated with beautiful gold thread embroidery in a style of ceremonial outfit that is still used by some politicians for special occasions.
Wedding dress
There is also a wedding dress (TRC 2020.3882) that was worn on 26 September 1926 by Giuseppina Mondelli (1900-1980), born in Sannicandro, a small village close to Bari in southern Italy. It is made of silk, cream coloured, and decorated down the front with similarly coloured lace with a stylised floral motif.
Cream coloured wedding dress decorated down the front with similarly coloured lace with a stylised floral motif. Italy, 1926. TRC 2020.3882a.A 'belt' of applied glass 'pearls' around the waist area shows that despite the poverty of the 1920s, it is a very rich piece, further adorned with a long veil and several small features.
Although not much money was available to that region and family, being richly dressed on the day of your wedding was an absolute priority, and this dress answers the demand of fashion of the mid-1920s.
The dress follows the style of the decade with its loose, square lines and a relatively short hemline.
Wedding photograph of Giuseppina Mondelli, 26 September 1926. The bride's dress is now in the TRC Collection (TRC 2020.3882a)The veil in a turban style was a particularly popular form of the 1920s and the diadem (TRC 2020.3882b) that adorns it is made of wax and paper decorations, materials that often were used for such wedding hairpieces.
A special TRC blog about the wedding outfit worn by Giuseppina Mondelli, written by her great-grandson, Francesco Montuori and published on 3 October 2020, can be downloaded here.