Casgliadau Arlein

Welsh costume bedgown worn by Miss Gwenda Davies in the summer of 1960 as the Welsh Tourist and Holidays Board's 'Hostess for Wales'. The red and black check woollen cloth was supposedly woven in Swansea.

In 1960, as a 20 year old studying at a teacher training college in Liverpool, Gwenda Davies's mother spotted an advert for the role of 'Hostess for Wales' and encouraged her daughter to apply as a summer job. She was interviewed by a panel at a Cardiff hotel, and the announcement that she had won the competition was made on television. Typical duties of the role included meeting dignitaries and attending public events - such eisteddfodau.

Bedgown made from fine check flannel in red and black. 4 hook fastenings at the front, masked by 3 self-fabric covered buttons that have been stitched to the proper right side. Fabric below front fastening is folded outwards to reveal the petticoat which is worn underneath: it is stitched in place and has a decorative self-fabric covered button to cover the stitching. The bedgown has a large, wide circular collar (width: 20-24cm) made of white cotton fabric trimmed with white machine-made lace. The collar is stitched to the inside and then turned outwards. It's stitched on with large hand-stitched tacking stitches using white sewing thread. The collar itself is made up of two layers of fabric, each of which is constructed of three sections. The pleated lace is sandwiched between the two layers; the inner edge of the collar (which is attached to the garment) is finished with a strip of bias cut white cotton fabric. Cuffs are also trimmed with white fabric and lace: this is attached to the outside of the cuffs with large tacking stitches as above. The inner edge of the bedgown has a 4.5cm wide self-fabric facing, which runs all along neck, front opening and lower hem. There are four vertical darts around the waist and seams at sides and centre back. Seam allowances at the side seams are finished with a turned-back seam on either side, whereas the seam allowances at the CB seam are left raw.