Circa Vintage Day Dresses

This absolutely stunning vintage couture Thierry Mugler cocktail dress from the early 90s in midnight blue silk is beautifully made and in very g...

1970s Dew Styles angel-sleeve maxi Dress. This caftan style boho dress is an original London boutique piece in a cream unbleached muslin cotton. It has a fabulous hand crochet trim ...

1970s Yuki couture asymmetrical dress in cream silk/jersey. Draped in a Grecian style, this dress is really special and would be perfect for any occasion. This is a piece from his ma...

This dress is unusual on two fronts. While researching another dress in our collection we were stricken by how much this dress emulates the Ra Ra designs that walked the catwalk for ...

Amazing vintage 1980s Zandra Rhodes couture pale green chiffon dress. The dress is decorated with a beautiful hand painted white and grey floral de...

This desirable 1960s off-white mini dress by Louis Feraud for Rembrandt is in pristine vintage condition and superbly adaptable with a smart contempor...

1990s Galanos Couture dress which looks very inspired by the French couturier Madame Gres. The dress has an unusual combination of colours; for the bodice, a deep lime green satin an...

This 1980s French demi couture column dress is composed of swathes of blue chiffon silk, brought together with numerous haute couture stitching. It was purchased as a Dior and certai...

This original 1950s dress has a super feminine silhouette and nicely executed details such as the small, square neckline that features a modesty panel with a sailor collar and bow. T...

This is a beautiful 1960s design from quality British label Cresta Couture. It is a form fitting dress with an empire bust line. The floral composition ...

I really love the simplicity and cut of this 1960s Robert Dorland dress. The unusual sequin and beaded arrangement which runs along the neckline and ski...

This beautiful 1970s turquoise printed silk jersey dress with an attractive cross over bodice is a classic piece by Emilio Pucci, retailed at Saks Fifth avenue and is in lovely vinta...

1970s Yuki (Gnyuki Torimaru) for Rembrandt brown batwing sleeve dress. This is a particular favourite designer at Circa and we've sold a number of his design pieces over the years. ...

Superb quality Lee Jordan of New York all over floral sequinned three quarter length column dress. Lee Jordan made very high end department store occasion ...

This is a really striking dress from around the late 60s, early 70s and is labelled "Lurex Acrylic, Made in the British Colony of Hong Kong". It has a tight, black metallic ribbed b...

Superb quality Lee Jordan of New York all over floral sequinned three quarter length column dress. Lee Jordan made very high end department store occasion wear for the affluent American market from the 1960s through to the 1980s. This dress is most likely from the late 1960s to early 1970s. Rows of wavy iridescent sequins overlay an abstract design in georgette fabric in a striking neon rainbow...

1970s Marcel Fenez by Roland Klein accordion pleat dress. The fabric is a manmade georgette and has a pretty floral spray design of lilac and ...

1980s or early 1990s monochrome polka dot chiffon ruffle dress. This is a great example of playful formal wear from high-end American designer Victor Costa and has a beautiful, ruch...

This is one of the more unusual dresses from fashion superstar Ossie Clark for British retailer Radley circa 1973- 1975. Rather than it being made from a black moss crepe, this is 100% cotton muslin and made in India. It has the dagger collar, ubiquitous to the era and been hand embroidered in a floral design. Both the dagger collar, the yoke and the armholes are all edged in a contrasting pink piping. The dress has a high waistline and fastens to the front with a row of fabric covered buttons. The bishop sleeves are three-quarter length and are finished with three fabric buttons on the cuffs. The dress retains its original fabric tie belt. Labelled Ozzie Clark for Radley, Size UK 12 and fairly true to modern sizing save for the smaller bust measurement which is probably closer to a UK 10 or US 8. Condition is very good to verging on excellent. Ossie Clark dresses were often worn to death and altered but we see no evidence of that here and it has been well looked after with the fabric still fresh looking and no visible mends. Notes on Designer: Ossie Clark was a highly influential British fashion designer in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1965 he graduated from the Royal College of Art with a first class degree and immediately began selling his work in exclusive London boutiques including Alice Pollock’s Quorum. Here he created a collection with textile designer and soon to be wife Celia Birtwell, one of the most famous collaborations in fashion history. Quorum was bought by Radley in the late 1960s which led to the ‘Ossie Clark for Radley’ label. Today, his distinctive dresses are highly sought after and admired by celebrities such as Kate Moss and Emma Watson...

1960s French blue and white polka dot Louis Feraud for Rembrandt mod style dress. The fabric is probably a cotton or blend and of excellent quality. A classic shirtwaister design featuring a stiffened Peter Pan collar and the central button stand has a row of 6 white buttons to fasten. It has two deep, front patch pockets on the flared circular skirt...

This Selfridges late 1950s cocktail dress in midnight blue chiffon has an exotic flavour. The ornate beadwork embellishment on the overlay beautifully jux...

This is a really good 1920s cotton whitework slip dress. It is incredibly detailed and the execution of the eyelet work is exceptional. The dress may have been an underdress for a te...

1980s or early 1990s Guy Laroche cotton shirtwaister dress that features a crossover sweetheart neckline with gently puffed sleeves. I really love the print on the gathered skirt which features a rough outline drawing...

This dress really looks like something out of the 1950s but was almost certainly manufactured in the 1970s. I really love the medium weight voile-like fabric that is overlaid with bl...

Sophisticated occasion dress from Escada, dating to the late 1990s or early 2000s. The dress has an abstract floral print in navy, purple and pink silk and is an unusual shirt-waiste...

This 1990s or early 2000s Hawaiian dress is, in its most literal sense a 'Hawaiian dress' featuring a scenic print of lush vegetation, hula ladies, Hawaii...

This is a very floaty and ethereal, original 1930s cream silk crepe dress. It has the most outstanding, entirely hand stitched smocked detail that en...

Original 1950s or early 1960s blush satin & floral mauve / blue lace belted tea dress. The dress is a classic shirt-waister style with a shallow v-neck collar and a central fastenin...

This is exceptional 1970s haute couture and a Parisienne take on the Studio 54 vibe that heavily influenced evening wear styles of the period. This jersey dress and jacket set is wit...

This is a really unusual couture made dress from Traina-Norrell that is almost certainly from the mid to late 1950s. The fabric is a superb silk taffeta in a rose print whilst the co...

Another elaborate example of romanticism from Gina Fratini, who really perfected this look during the early 1970s as she rose to prominence in the British boutique scene. The mod dress style of the 60s was beginning to wane and full length Victoriana returned for its first fashion come back in a century. This is a superb example of her flamboyant work, probably mid 1970s, with a tiered mousseline cotton dress with a high neck collar and a lace ruffle trim paired with a sleeveless bolero jacket. The jacket is integral to the dress and is attached at the shoulder seams. The dress is split into two tiers, one tier with a floral print that finishes just around knee length. The floral spray print is shaped like a bouquet, tied with a double bow and actually has the designer's name attached as a kind of gift card. I've never seen Gina Fratini apply her name to print before. The bottom tier, which reaches to the floor, is an A-line panel of plain white mousseline that is also edged in lace. The sleeves are gently gathered and have a frill hem whilst it fastens to the rear with the longest tier having the original metal zip. The other two layers are simply fastened with a couple of hook and eyes at the neckline. The print on the capelet is quite abstract looking with a procession of circles in a teal green and pale navy. An elaborate dress suitable for special occasions; it would make a fantastic alternative wedding dress. Both pieces are is in really super vintage condition with no issues of any note. The muslin has been freshly laundered and it is ready to wear. It will fit sizes up to a UK 8-10 or US 4-6. NOTES ON DESIGNER: Gina Fratini was a British designer renowned during the 1970s and early 1980s for her romantic gowns...

I picked this wonderful original 1960s A-line dress up on my travels to the south of France. It’s certainly got the look of Courreges about it, with its graphic yellow and white floral daisy print...

Original early 1960s fit and flare dress by high quality British label, Rhona Roy. The dress features a repeat floral spray print in shades of red, orange, y...

Late 1950s or early 1960s sundress design from Sambo Fashions which was a quality British brand operating throughout the 40s to 60s. I really love the print on this dress; a pretty rose pattern band interspersed by what appears to be a tromp l'oeil design for a leather embossed strap...

A Gina Fratini 1970s boho luxe version of a prairie dress with two contrasting fabrics in a patch work design. The first is a harlequin or checkerboard print in muted blues, cream and mauve and the second is a pretty floral print in a summer garden palette. The high 'Victoriana' neckline is lace trimmed whilst the front bodice has a faux frilled bib with 5 shell buttons and puff half sleeves. The skirt flows into a frilled hem with a deep flounce. A separate long reversible fabric waist belt is designed to tie at the back. It has the original long metal back zip and hook and eye at the nape of the neck. This is a very early 1970s or late 1960s design and in our opinion, the fabrics are a silk, wool, cotton mix of very fine quality. This dress is in superb, worn once, condition. The original size label reads UK14 but this would equate to a UK 8-10 or US 4-6 in modern sizing. NOTES ON DESIGNER: Gina Fratini was a British designer who set up her business in 1964. She was renowned during the 1970s and early 1980s for her romantic gowns...

This is a superb example of an American made tea or lawn dress from the 1900s Edwardian era or possibly a tiny bit later. The dress is made from a lightwei...

This is a very fine example of late 1940s to early 1950s evening wear by British designer Norman Young who made high end occasion wear for department stor...

This 1960s original Berkertex dress is in a striking shade of emerald green and has an unusual decorative trompe-l'œil bodice that looks like a bolero jacket is being worn. This is ...

This is a really good example of late 60s to early 70s fashion when the hippie vibe was in full swing in America. This is most likely a European equivalent, on account of the dress l...

This 1970s emerald green jersey Mr Darren handkerchief hem maxi dress emulates the "Studio 54" vibe that informed evening wear throughout the decade. It has ...

This original late 1950’s to early 1960s cotton dress features a painterly composition of single abstract flowers with green halo backgrounds and a ...

This 1970s knitted wool maxi dress has clearly been made with love and attention by a very good home knitter. It has a tighter knitted empire line bodi...

Original 1950s lace wedding dress, very much in the sweeping style of Grace Kelly's when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956. This look is...

This exquisite Andrea Wilkin 1970s fantasy bridal gown in soft ivory exudes femininity and is in wonderful condition. Layers of silk fabric are beautifully arranged to create the cla...

This pretty 1940's rayon crepe dress features a whimsical patchwork/bunting novelty print in soft pastel shades of yellow, blue, pink, purple and green. ...

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...

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 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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...