Stylish fashion
buyer for major New
Zealand department stores,
Rendell and George Court , Gwen Stacey , wearing a snappy, upswept chapeau which could have been inspired by the military hats of the day , carrying a flat handbag and gloves , in
the garden of
her home in Fairfax Avenue, Northcote , Auckland , circa 1940s. The fancy white collar on her dress was detachable . A milliner by trade, she had
her own shop in the city
centre at an earlier stage and made many hats for
society women .
In the above l930s newspaper clipping showing hats for Spring, Gwen is top, centre . Inset : A hatless photograph showing her, about 20, with bobbed hairstyle, a corsage on her coat.
Later she worked for the Betty Mourya Hat Shop , run by Betty Sharman and Mourya Goldwater , in Vulcan Lane , some customers members of the Jewish community. While employed as a buyer at George Court's, in Karangahape Road , she served Queen Salote of Tonga .
Later she worked for the Betty Mourya Hat Shop , run by Betty Sharman and Mourya Goldwater , in Vulcan Lane , some customers members of the Jewish community. While employed as a buyer at George Court's, in Karangahape Road , she served Queen Salote of Tonga .
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In this wartime shot by a street photographer , with her always well dressed daughter , she stands out from others in her attire , wearing another distinctive hat , holding the child's basket .
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During the war years she made sales trips to Wellington . Her daughter, Judith , took part in a fashion parade circa 1950 holding the hand of a younger child and appeared in the New Zealand Herald and Auckland Star modelling clothing for the young New Zealand miss. Apparently two fashion parades a year were held by Court's at the time. The Court's building was converted into apartments , one a penthouse .
