Circa Vintage Clothing

This 1970s dress is a phenomenal design piece from Ted Lapidus and from his flagship boutique line in Paris. It would have almost certainly been made by the same team as the haute couture collections and is in a wonderful cream checked muslin that features large embroidered Swiss dots. The dress is a v neck shirtwaister design with fabric covered buttons down to the upper-waist. The gathered skirt reaches to the floor. The dress features romantic, poet style, three-quarter length sleeves. To give greater volume to the piece, there is a cream muslin petticoat retained and original to this ensemble. This is not attached to the dress; therefore, the dress could be worn with or without to suit the wearer's taste. A ribbon belt which matches the V neck and arm trims is also included. In really excellent vintage condition, there are just a couple of very small, scattered marks in the muslin, but these are very faded and not at all obvious or noticeable when wearing. The dress would certainly benefit from future cleans as required. There is no size label but we estimate it a best fit for UK size 6-8, US 2-4 on account of the waist size. Ted Lapidus began his long fashion career at the house of Christian Dior before branching out on his own in 1951. He is known for his unisex style of dressing and was worn by leading French stars...

Original 1950s dress from quality British label, Melbray, in a wonderful deep cerise polished cotton. The floral print looks like forget me nots in a brilliant turquoise and white wh...

This is a really good example of 1950s knitted formal wear with an elaborate applique floral spray pattern that features on the bodice and the lower hem of...

An original vintage cold rayon 1940s dress in a striking floral and leaf print. The colour combination is a sublime contrast of pastel blue, pink a...

This alluring very early 1970s silver disco top is by celebrated London boutique Quorum, and designed by Marie France, who designed alongside label founder A...

This stylish and elegant knee length dress was designed by British couture designer Victor Edelstein. Edelstein founded his own haute couture fashion ...

1970s cotton maxi dress from good quality high street label Richard Shops. The dress has a vertical banded floral pattern interspersed with lace frill tr...

A very interesting knitted suit from renowned British designer Mary Farrin in a wonderful combination of mauve and lilac purples and copper and beige tones...

This charming 1940s cold rayon pebble print dress in pale blue, navy and white is captivating in its simplicity and is in beautiful vintage condition. A tidy shift cut, this dress fe...

Phenomenal and original rayon crepe wedding dress, couture made in France around 1937 - 1940. Made from fine woven medium weight rayon crepe in iv...

This is such a great print and the condition of this 1970s original angel sleeve dress is pristine. Made from a lightweight gauze cotton, the dress has a painterly multi-coloured fl...

This late 1980s to early 1990s Yves Saint Laurent jacket is a great example of the relaxed 'boyfriend' cut that presided over fashion during this adjoining era. The fabric’s striking...

We love the colour combination on this 1960s Jean Allen maxi dress. The print mixes warm golden highlights together with navy blue accents on cream in a pa...

This magnificent Halston black label top is from one of his mainline collections circa 1980 - 1984. This period was amongst the most opulent for the designer and many of his designs...

This is a very quirky and interesting premier boutique dress purchased by our client for a boho themed wedding in 2000. The main material is silk crepe in a pink - purple shade which...

We really love these types of blouses and although this one is unlabelled, it was most likely made in the Far East in the 1960s or 1970s. It feels like a silky man-made blend. The en...

This late 1960s to early 1970s rose print maxi dress is by the renowned British designer John Bates who traded under the Jean Varon label. The striking print combines colours of navy...

This is a really fun and original two-piece resort-wear or "riviera wear' skirt set. It probably dates from the late 60s or early 70s and is couture made. It would certainly hold its...

A 1970s French couture halterneck sundress. This beautiful and floor sweeping dress has the label Para Couture, Modele Depose and Made in Paris, France. It is a lightweight poly jers...

This is one of the most interesting and unusual antique dresses we have ever had at Circa and of extraordinary construction. It is modelled on an earlier 18th century Polynesian style dress and is made from a very fine cotton in a sweet floral design of pinks and blues representing the flowers of the French nobility. It has a high sweetheart neckline and a princess seamed bodice with an inverted waistband following the lines of what would have been a traditional corset. The sleeve is an elaborate and shortened version of a leg of mutton style whilst the skirt element is a lavish affair of folded and pinned fabric leading to an arrangement of fabric swags on the lower third of the dress. The bottom rear portion is attached to the inverted waistband. The hemline of the dress is asymmetric as a result of the swags. Unlabelled but made by a professional hand, whoever made it had a fabulous appreciation of historical costume and it's quite possible this dress was made for a Hollywood film - it was purchased in LA. The fabric may be much earlier than when the dress was made - we believe in the 1930s. The zip at the back has been added either at the point the dress was made, or a bit later. We have completely restored and cleaned this dress taking great care to address any cotton breaks and she is now in superb condition with no flaws of any note. She will fit size UK 6-8 or US 2 and could be worn as a statement dress for an event or displayed. Design Notes: The robe à la polonaise...

The 1976 haute couture Yves Saint Laurent Operas Ballets Russes catwalk is considered to be one of the most triumphant collections of the 20th century and influenced fashion design f...

An absolutely superb and collectable Halston black label couture 1970s goddess dress. Halston clearly took inspiration from an earlier era and this...

A superb 1960s black linen shift dress with hand-painted butterfly motifs in green, orange, red & yellow. The hand-painted butterflies comprise of 3 large butterfly outlines to the f...

A stunning 1960s couture made pleated silk chiffon ballerina style cocktail dress by Sarmi of New York. This utterly magical dress is set off beautifully with an empire line bust in ...

This is the most charming floral printed skirt by British designer Marion Donaldson - a timeless wardrobe staple in a flattering silhouette. The main...

We love the designer Sybil Zelker and under the brand name Polly Peck, made great quality fashionable clothes. This is a really wearable example from the la...

A very wearable late 1960s to early 1970s cotton tunic print dress by high end British label Jean Varon, synonymous with the designer John Bates. The condition of this dress is exemp...

This is such a great fitted example of Thierry Mugler’s genius with superb and complex construction details from the cap sleeves through to the V panelled and shaped bodice. The skir...

This is an original 1950s or early 1960s cotton dress with a very desirable novelty painterly scenic print showcasing a Japanese couple in tradition...

This is a fabulous 1960s crepe and lace ruffle evening dress that reminds us so much of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys! The shift design just has such timeless appeal and th...

This original 1950s silk skirt suit is by royal couturier Hardy Amies, one of the best known names in British society fashion during the 50s and...

Timeless 1960s occasion wear dress by high quality vintage British brand - Roter. This is their ready to wear label although its as good as their couture garments and the quality is exceptional. This is made from a silk/linen/manmade blend which has the appearance of raw silk. The bodice is a crisscross design with a beautifully constructed wide empire waistband that has a painted wooden oval belt...

A striking and original 1970s kaftan or trapeze style dress. It has a brightly coloured floral Paisley pattern in red, orange, green and white tones against a black background. The ...

This is a beautiful quality 1950s or early 1960s French couture dress and sleeveless jacket combination entirely made by hand. It features a striking turquoise and white polka dot an...

A 1970s wool and metallic yarn knit jumper by Yves Saint Laurent in a khaki brown tone with accents of black. It almost looks a bit camouflage until you note the fine pastel hued met...

This is a super sexy 1980s Casadei black stretch chiffon dress with front ruching and a turquoise sequinned attached capelet. Typical of its era, this dress has such great design fea...

This is a really superb example of early 1940s trousseau nightwear in a wonderful soft peach satin fabric. This dress has elasticated sleeves and a smocked elasticated waistline. The...

This is the most darling original vintage 1950s floral cotton box pleated skirt. In a vivid turquoise blue base colour which is set off with a striking flora...

This is a classic example of 1960s Mod fashion in a very desirable trapeze shape. The dog tooth cheque pattern is in a French blue and white colour c...

1960s Norman Hartnell couture shocking pink velvet coat previously owned by Dame Barbara Cartland. This is an incredible example of couture British fa...

This is a terrific original 1960s three-piece swimsuit set comprising a sheer coverup, bikini top and bottom all in a matching orange and pink floral design. The coverup is made of a...

This is such a great piece of 1970s original vintage. A candy stripe cotton is embellished with black velvet bands to give this fun skirt extra oomph. The stripes alternate from horizontal to vertical from the waistband to the hem. A well positioned horizontal striped panel sits across the hips with a slimming vertical band leading down to below the knee point. Here the skirt has a band of horizontal stripes that lend the dress a super flattering silhouette. The knee seam then feeds into a puckered vertical long hem with a lovely deep flounce. The stripes are in all shades from red to pink, blue to green, yellow to white. The label reads Jupe International - jupe is French for skirt! There is no other label information but this is a quality made piece in cotton fabric with velvet embossing...

An original vintage 1950s evening dress from renowned British occasion wear designer Frank Usher. This dress dates from the early part of the decade and is made from a fabulous quali...

This magnificent late 1960s silk chiffon beaded gown exudes haute couture quality and is in excellent vintage condition. The burnt orange silk chiffon overlay showcases some fabulous...

This is an absolutely super original 1950s dress with the label Teena Paige Fashions. The print really is a delight and features a pink floral garden scene...

This is a rare and complete 5-piece ensemble by the legendary Bill Gibb in collaboration with renowned knitwear designer Kaffe Fassett who worked extensively with Gibb and Missoni during the 70s and 80s. The knitted elements of the ensemble are made up of a complex 'piano key...

This early 1960s silk satin floral printed dress suit has an attractive floral print in bright shades of cerise pink, red and purple and reminiscent of an impressionist painting. The...

This is a fabulous and very lightweight original 1950s set comprised of two items - a classic sheath dress overlaid with a back fastening, cropped jacket. The fabric is a very fine q...

This is an absolutely beautiful and striking 1960s crocheted dress by British label Janet Cotton. We have had several pieces in the shop with this label o...

An elegant 1920s cream silk art deco dress that is very well-made and extremely well preserved with some archetypal details from the era including ...

This sensational Harrods late 1950s - early 1960s tangerine silk georgette dress is of superb quality and has absolutely beautiful construction. The sheer silk overlay is delicately ruched over the bodice as far as the hip before falling softly into a feminine calf length skirt. The dress is fully lined with corseted boning in the bodice and contoured seams behind the bust to elevate the natural line of the figure below the Bardot style...

A superb and magnificent magenta coloured floral print satin evening dress from the mid-1950s. Formal wear from this era is becoming increasingly difficult to source and this is a b...

This wool and black piped 1960s dress is by the New York designer Geoffrey Beene; celebrated for his craftsmanship, attention to detail and relaxed wearable designs. This timeless piece has striking black piped bands to accentuate the wide waistband, high neckline, arm cinches and hemline of this dress to give an almost pinafore style appearance; the overall look is very chic and modern. The stiffened hem finishes below the knee and the fabric is a fine quality felted wool in a mottled mid-grey tone. The dress is unlined with two concealed side pockets. There are two black ornamental buttons on the waistband. The dress has a slightly stiffened high neck collar which fastens with hook and eyes and a long central zip at the reverse. Of exceptional quality and in superb vintage condition with no faults of any note. The craftsmanship of this dress is couture standard with the 1960s Beene...

This beautiful 1960s black empire line mini dress is couture by French designer Simone Mirman and is of exceptional quality. The dress is comprised of bl...

1980s lightweight black wool cardigan that is fully lined in a fine acetate. It has a remarkable raised satin stitch applique grape design in two places - the top left hand side with...

A 1970s Mary Farrin knitted dress. This is a really versatile piece from renowned British knitwear designer Mary Farrin in a wonderful combination of deep ...

An original 1970s floral Indian paisley print dress in a vibrant pinky red and pale orange. The design boasts a high neck collar and a bibbed front yoke in a similar floral print. Th...

This American made high end 1960s cocktail dress has a sophisticated monochrome rose print and striped pattern bodice. It has been expertly and lavishly embellished with thousands o...

What a fabulous 1950s ensemble of dress and bolero! This set boasts crisp cotton and a great print which is as vibrant as the day the dress was made. In a classic sundress style with...

1950s crisp cotton Horrockses dress with various leaves featured in the print including several types of ivy. This style features a cross over bodice with wide collar and is fastens...