This early to mid 1960s dress is by collectable British designer Susan Small whose head designer, Maureen Baker, designed Princess Anne's wedding dress for her marriage to Captain Mark Phillips. The dress is tailored from an intricately detailed fabric woven with lilac and white stripes and further detailed with the pattern of lace. It has a corseted top which is boned the whole way around and demonstrates the incredible workmanship of this British label. The bustier top is accordion pleated to stunning effect, fanning out above the bust. The sides are detailed with purple velvet ribbon, edged with grosgrain, which continues around and meets at the back with a large floppy bow. The top is held up by spaghetti straps in the same lilac gingham fabric. The waist is cinched and gives way to a full skirt that is knife pleated where it meets the waistband. The skirt is lined with white linen, as is the front of the bustier top. The dress fastens at the back with a hidden white zip and hook-and-eye clasp.

The original label reads “Susan Small - Model”. It also has a Peter Robinson label, an up-market 1960s department store that existed on Oxford Circus and Leicester Square. In truly excellent vintage condition with no issues and suitable for a US size 4 or UK 8 with plenty of give in the hip. Photographed without a petticoat; however, for a fuller flare, it would certainly look sensational with one.

MEASUREMENTS

BUST - 32 in. (81 cm)

WAIST - 27 in. (69 cm)

HIP - 44 in. (112 cm)

LENGTH - 43 in. (109 cm)