KIWI FASHIONISTA

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 .

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 .

 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 .