c1911 Eleanor

Eleanor wore this black lace and cream embroidered tulle gown.

The high-necked bodice is made from black lace and cream tulle.  The black lace continues down the three-quarter sleeves as well as down the torso in a crossover design, past the waist to form a pseudo peplum.  The high collar is cream guipure lace on a black background.

The skirt is cream embroidered tulle in a floral motif and has lace triangular insertions from mid-thigh to just above the black net hem. The waist is defined with a black velvet ribbon belt which is also used on the sleeve cuffs.

Eleanor was born in 1872, the daughter of Helen and John Flemming and grand-daughter of Rev Thomas Hastie, a prominent Presbyterian Minister of Victoria around the time of the gold rush. Eleanor married Louis Leake in 1894. They had five children, two daughters and three sons. Eleanor was a very outgoing person which is exemplified in a telegram sent by her husband to Eleanor’s parents after she had just returned from a visit. It read “Talking machine arrived home safely. Many new records!”