Fashion comeback for Ma’s old frock

Gill Simpkins turned to acclaimed Durban designer Karen Monk-Klijnstra to transform her moms wedding dress for the big race. The tweaked design, which was 90% finished for the shoot, is photographed at Summerveld. Picture: Mode Photography

Gold Circle’s Gill Simpkins will probably be wearing the oldest outfit at the Vodacom Durban July on Saturday when she slips on her mother’s 60-year-old wedding dress.

Of course, the traditional long gown her mom Joan (now 80) wore when she walked down the aisle at St Joseph’s Church in Durban to marry George Beetar (now 82) on October 11, 1952, has been transformed.

A year after her wedding, her mother redesigned the French lace dress, cutting it down, removing the sleeves and altering the neckline – and then dying it pale pink. (The train was made into a christening outfit for the four children who followed.)

And when Simpkins – public relations manager at Gold Circle, who deals with national and international media on the big race day – was debating what to wear for this year’s theme, “It’s a Material World”, she knew her mom’s wedding dress would be perfect.

“The theme is repurposing and I knew I could do something with the dress,” she said.

Simpkins asked Durban designer Karen Monk-Klijnstra, to work her magic.

“It took Karen’s seamstresses almost a week to unpick the delicate lace. My mom is a lot smaller than I am, so Karen put in panels. The dress has been dyed cerise and the tulle underskirt is three different shades.”

Simpkins feels honoured to wear her mom’s wedding dress.

“It will be very exciting and also sentimental. And I think my mom will be very emotional when she sees it. Karen has done a great job,” she said.

The very pink outfit was not something Simpkins would normally wear, she said, so she was leaving her comfort zone of browns and oranges.

As she would have to do a lot of walking on race day, she would wear pumps on her feet.

l Media would be arriving from all over the world, Simpkins said.

She reminds racegoers that a park-and-ride will operate from the Old Drive-In site from 8am to midnight. R30 tickets are available on the day.