Grandmother Yvonne Dite, 73, wears her 1967 Carla Zampatti dress to the legendary designer's funeral


Yvonne Dite will never forget the moment she first locked eyes with her husband Bruce across a crowded pub in her Carla Zampatti mini dress.

And 53 years on, the grandmother looked just as dazzling in the timeless number she slipped on to honour the legendary designer at her state funeral. 

Hundreds gathered at Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral on Thursday to farewell the industry legend who dressed generations of Australian women in her ageless classic style. 

Zampatti died at St Vincent’s Hospital on Saturday morning – a week after she fell down stairs at an outdoor opening performance of Opera Australia’s Traviata on Sydney Harbour. 

Yvonne Dite, from Templestowe Lower in Melbourne's east, at Carla Zampatti's state funeral wearing the blue and purple zig zag shift dress she purchased from the designer in 1967

Yvonne Dite, from Templestowe Lower in Melbourne’s east, at Carla Zampatti’s state funeral wearing the blue and purple zig zag shift dress she purchased from the designer in 1967

Born in Italy in 1942, Zampatti (pictured) migrated to Australia in 1950 and set up her now famous fashion famous label at 24

Born in Italy in 1942, Zampatti (pictured) migrated to Australia in 1950 and set up her now famous fashion famous label at 24

Mrs Dite, 73, and her husband made a last-minute decision to fly up from Melbourne for the service. 

The grandmother-of-four was wearing the sentimental blue and purple zig zag Zampatti shift dress she bought in 1967, which she intends to keep forever.

‘We decided to come as a final tribute to Carla and what a wonderful woman she was,’ Mrs Dite said.

Two years ago Mrs Dite had contacted Zampatti to say she still wore her treasured dress and sent a picture of her in it on her honeymoon in 1970.

‘Three weeks later she rang up out of the blue to say, ‘Hello, it’s Carla’.

‘For her to make time to call me just to say she remembered this material as one of her first designs… ‘.

‘Her words were, ‘It’s customers like you that make my life worthwhile’.’

The dress was still in remarkably good condition and looked timeless on the 73-year-old.

Mourners queue up to enter St Mary's Cathedral ahead of the Thursday morning funeral

Mourners queue up to enter St Mary’s Cathedral ahead of the Thursday morning funeral 

Poll bearers were pictured carrying a black coffin up the steps of St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney's CBD on Thursday morning

Poll bearers were pictured carrying a black coffin up the steps of St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney’s CBD on Thursday morning

‘I’ve never been able to afford one since,’ Mrs Dite said.

Ms Dite, from Templestowe Lower in Melbourne’s east, wore the dress she bought in 1967 to the Southside Six Hotel in Moorabbin on January 24, 1968.

The pair spent the night dancing together, and Mr Dite fondly remembers the then-19-year-old being a ‘standout’.

Mr Dite said he called his future wife at her job a few days later and they started dating soon after. 

‘And that was a start of a long, lovely romance,’ Mrs Dite told The Age. 

About 20 years later, in the early 1990s, Mrs Dite was spring cleaning and nearly threw out the dress, but her husband insisted she hold onto it.

She even surprised Mr Dite on their 40th wedding anniversary in Thailand in 2010 by wearing the dress to breakfast.

But it wasn’t until two years ago that Mrs Dite properly looked at the tag for the first time and realised the designer behind the dress was Carla Zampatti. 

‘She was obviously a very talented, clever person. I wanted to say how much happiness she’s given to so many people with her lovely outfits over the years,’ Mrs Dite said.

The grandmother-of-four said the dress holds great sentimental value as it was the first outfit her now husband Bruce ever saw her in. Pictured far right with her mother Edie and sister Lesley

The grandmother-of-four said the dress holds great sentimental value as it was the first outfit her now husband Bruce ever saw her in. Pictured far right with her mother Edie and sister Lesley

About 20 years later, in the early 1990s, Mrs Dite was spring cleaning and nearly threw out the dress, but her husband insisted she hold onto it. Pictured: Mrs Dite in the dress on her honeymoon in 1970

About 20 years later, in the early 1990s, Mrs Dite was spring cleaning and nearly threw out the dress, but her husband insisted she hold onto it. Pictured: Mrs Dite in the dress on her honeymoon in 1970

In 2019, Mrs Dite sent Zampatti a letter telling the designer how much she loved wearing the timeless dress. 

A month later the grandmother received an unexpected phone call from Zampatti herself.

‘She said she was so pleased to see one of her early designs still around, and what was lovely is she said: ‘You know, Yvonne, it’s clients like you that make my job worthwhile’. 

Mourners piled into College Street in Sydney’s central business district on Thursday to pay their respects to the fashion icon. 

Three former prime ministers, John Howard, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull attended with their wives, Janette, Margie and Lucy.  

Fashion designer Carla Zampatti has been farewelled at a state funeral held at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney's central business district. The 78-year-old, who died after a fall at the opera, had worked in the industry for 56 years

Fashion designer Carla Zampatti has been farewelled at a state funeral held at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney’s central business district. The 78-year-old, who died after a fall at the opera, had worked in the industry for 56 years

It wasn't until two years ago that Mrs Dite properly looked at the tag for the first time and realised the iconic designer behind the dress was Carla Zampatti

It wasn’t until two years ago that Mrs Dite properly looked at the tag for the first time and realised the iconic designer behind the dress was Carla Zampatti

Prime Minister Scott Morrison was represented by his wife Jenny.

Among other dignitaries to pay their respects were Premier Galdys Berejiklian, former governor-general Dame Quentin Bryce, NSW Governor Margaret Beazley and her predecessor Dame Marie Bashir.

Mourners included immaculately dressed figures from the worlds of fashion, entertainment and politics as well as members of the public who donned whatever cherished Zampatti pieces they owned.

ABC chair Ita Buttrose was joined by designers Colette Dinnigan, Camilla Franks, Nicky Zimmerman, Peter Morrissey and Marc Freeman and Camilla Freeman-Topper from Camilla and Marc.

Television presenters Melissa Doyle, Natalie Barr and Sam Armytage, jeweller Nic Cerrone, forrmer foreign minister Julie Bishop and former federal politician Bronwyn Bishop were spotted in the crowd.

Guests arrive for the state funeral for Carla Zampatti at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney's CBD on Thursday morning

Guests arrive for the state funeral for Carla Zampatti at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney’s CBD on Thursday morning

Hundreds gathered at St Mary's Cathedral to farewell the industry legend who dressed generations of Australian women in her ageless classic style

Hundreds gathered at St Mary’s Cathedral to farewell the industry legend who dressed generations of Australian women in her ageless classic style

Loyal staff who had worked for Zampatti over the decades also came to pay tribute to their late boss.

Zampatti suffered a catastrophic injury when she fell down steps while attending the opening night of the opera La Traviata at Mrs Macquaries Point on Sydney Harbour on March 26.

The 78-year-old was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital and died eight days later without ever regaining consciousness.

Zampatti has been credited with making Australian women feel more confident about their appearance by understanding what they wanted – elegant design and exceptional tailoring.

Her design ethos had always concentrated on what she called ‘elevated simplicity’ and was characterised by bold, clean lines with an Italian sensibility.

Politicians, business leaders, royalty and international celebrities favoured her pieces for being timeless yet on trend.

Pictured: Miranda Kerr in her favourite Zampatti dress in 2015

Pictured: Shanina Shaik wearing Carla Zampatti at her 50th anniversary show at the Opera House in 2015

Former Victoria’s Secret angels Miranda Kerr (left) and Shanina Shaik (right) are both fans of the late iconic Australian fashion designer

Armytage farewelled Zampatti and shared several pictures of herself wearing other Carla Zampatti designs

 Armytage farewelled Zampatti and shared several pictures of herself wearing other Carla Zampatti designs

Zampatti dressed actors Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Ruby Rose and Elizabeth Debicki, and cooking queen Nigella Lawson.

Singers Delta Goodrem and Tina Arena were Zampatti followers as were models Miranda Kerr, Erin Holland and Megan Gale. P.E Nation founder Pip Edwards was a fan.

Zampatti has been a mainstay in the wardrobes of television presenters including Sonia Kruger, Liz Hayes, Georgie Gardner, Deborah Knight and Lisa Wilkinson.

Regal and vice regal clients included former governor-general Dame Quentin Bryce, Princess Mary of Denmark and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York.

But Zampatti was just as popular with ordinary Australian women as she was with her famous clothes horses and the public was warmly invited to attend the service.

As women like Ms Dite vow to hold their staple Zampatti pieces close and pass them down in the family, others rushed to stores and online to snap up what they can of her latest collections. 

Carla Maria Zampatti was born in Lovero, about 100km from the Italian fashion capital Milan, on May 19, 1942.

Julie Bishop dazzled in this Carla Zampatti dress during fashion week in 2019

Julie Bishop dazzled in this Carla Zampatti dress during fashion week in 2019

Her family moved to Western Australia in 1950 and Carla crossed the country to settle in Sydney in her 20s.

She produced her first small fashion collection in 1965 and two years later launched Carla Zampatti Pty Limited. She opened a boutique at Surry Hills in 1972.

Zampatti became a multicultural business success story and champion of Australian women, thriving as a designer through decades of radical social change.

She produced pieces credited with empowering women – both professionally in the workplace, and privately when they dressed up for major life events.

‘For more than 56 years, Carla made women feel amazing in her creations, so they had the confidence to take on the world,’ a biography produced for her funeral said.

Zampatti was named Australian Businesswoman of the Year in 1980 and made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1987 for service to the fashion industry as a designer and manufacturer.

David Jones first began stocking Carla Zampatti in 1990 and Grace Brothers (now Myer) followed suit two years later.

Zampatti, 78, tragically died a week after falling down stairs while attending the opening night of Verdi's La Traviata opera on Sydney Harbour. She is pictured at the event

Zampatti, 78, tragically died a week after falling down stairs while attending the opening night of Verdi’s La Traviata opera on Sydney Harbour. She is pictured at the event 

In 2004 Zampatti was appointed a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic and four hears later was awarded the Australian Fashion Laureate Award, the highest honour in the local fashion industry.

A year later she featured on a 50c stamp as part of an Australian Legends collection.

Zampatti served as the chair of SBS from 1999 to 2009 and while in that position sent every staff member an email on their birthday.

Her AM was upgraded to a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2009 for her service through leadership and management roles in the fashion and retail property sectors, multicultural broadcasting, and as a role model and mentor to women.

Zampatti is survived by son Alexander Schuman and daughters Bianca Spender and Allegra Spender from her marriages to businessman Leo Schuman and former politician and diplomat John Spender.

Her family had requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Sydney’s Women’s Fund which funds grassroots charities supporting women and girls.

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