60 Objects The Heights
Louis XIV style fancy dress costumes worn by father and son
Louis Australia Whyte and his son Louis Melville Whyte had much in common – both were avid sportsmen. Louis senior was a champion golfer and tennis player, and his son a surfer, swimmer and car enthusiast.
Louis Melville also had a penchant for ice skating and he is noted as attending fancy dress ice carnivals held at Melbourne’s Glaciarium as a young man. Uniting sport with fancy dress was very common in Melbourne; football and cricket games were often played in fancy dress.
This pair of Louis the XIV style purple velvet costumes were made for an adult and child – and it is believed for father and son. The quality of the velvet is the same on both costumes, as are many of the trims.
