Madam Chua Liang in a Charles David evening dress

This photograph features Madam Chua Liang wearing the Charles David evening dress (2009-01788) that she donated to the National Museum of Singapore. It was taken at her retirement/farewell dinner.Madam Chua Liang was the principal of Nanyang Girls’ High School from 1977 to 1995. She is also the daughter of Chua Boon Suan, who held a senior position at Shaw Brothers Studio and the younger sister of Chua Lam, a well-known columnist, food critic and movie producer of the Hong Kong movie studio, Golden Harvest. Madam Chua bought the dress in 1989 at a shop in Orchard Road at $380 for her eldest son’s wedding, which was held at the Hilton Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. She wore the dress again in 1990 when she received the Public Administration Medal and again at her retirement/farewell dinner in 1995. The dress is embroidered with coloured sequins and beads. It has a sweetheart collar and shoulder pads.