Circa Vintage Day Dresses

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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 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...

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...

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...

This pretty 1950s silk green patterned dress features an unusual kaleidoscope design in a variety of attractive shades of green and pale blue. The dress is deeply feminine with a ful...

This original late 1950s or early 1960s dress has some really great design details and is in a delightful tangerine orange shade of cotton. We love the very fine accordion pleated sh...

We love the vibrancy of the colours in this original 1960s vintage dress. It appears to be an abstract rose print in warm tones of pinks, oranges and green. The stand out design elem...

Absolutely stunning vintage 1920s hand made Irish crochet lace dress with grapevine pattern around the top of the bodice. This beautiful dress feat...

This charming 1950s Edward Abbott corded lace and silk chiffon dress in dusky pink is in excellent vintage condition and has beautiful construction. It features a fitted lace bodice ...

This is one of the earliest designs we have seen by the husband-and-wife team David and Marion Donaldson. They founded their fashion label in Glasgow ...

We really love the simplicity of the design of this classic 1950s dress. The skirt is almost a full circle with a stiffed calico petticoat and the pattern reminds us of the space inv...

1970s Janice Wainwright Pink and Gold 1920s Style Flapper Dress. This is a wonderful example of Janice Wainwright's early work which is highly sort after by collectors and museums a...

This is a good example of 1960s summer wear by quality British label Blanes. It has a very attractive abstract and painterly floral print in pastel hues of pink, green and sky blue. ...

This is a magnificent example of Christian Lacroix’s exalted evening wear; an archival and extravagant piece from his Ready to Wear (RTW) 2006 spring/summer collection, look 25. It i...

Beautiful original vintage 1950s American made dress in antique rose gold satin with all over embroidery. This lovely piece features three quarter length sleeves, a sweetheart neckl...

This cool and original 1970s maxi dress combines two types of polka dot fabric in a bold format. The colour palette is a grassy green, teal, purple and white. The fabric is a starche...

This is a great example of early unisex fashion from the revered French designer Ted Lapidus. He popularised sports utility wear and the safari suit look along with Yves Saint Laurent in the 60s and 70s. This dress is made from a richly woven linen fabric and has several notable design details including a wide lapel collar and double breasted rows of buttons with two very large front pockets. The concealed access for these pockets is in fact on the sides of the dress. The jacket has beautiful tailoring and is fully lined in a olive coloured acetate. The coat dress is in excellent vintage condition with only very minor signs of wear. There is a model number hidden within the left hand pocket. There are belt loops however the original belt is missing. We have styled it here with an original Gucci logo...

This is a really vibrant and desirable rose print dress from the late 1950s or early 1960s in a bold colour combination of red, orange, yellow, grey and black on a white background. ...

This is a magnificent example of a 1930s cut-out work, organza dress in really pristine vintage condition. It is an archetypal 1930s shirt-waister design that reaches ankle length an...

This is a great 1960s dress from upmarket British label Clevaline. We have often seen this label together with a Harrods retail label who only sold the very best fashion lines during the 50s and 60s. This is a delightful textured cotton dress in what can only be described as a giant print...

This dress is a particularly vibrant and fresh example of late 1950s or early 1960s summer fashion. It is comprised of an unusual textured cotton fabric with a bold purple and green ...

A notable dress from a design icon, Yves Saint Laurent, when he was still at the helm of his eponymous fashion house. This dress has its origins in the autumn/winter 94 - 95 ready to wear collection where this black and red carnation print...

This is a colourful and extremely well made 1980s bustier dress by Tiktiner - a high-end Cote D'Azur fashion house which retailed at Berdorf Goodman and Harrods outside of France. Th...

This is a really beautiful example of 1980s formal day wear by French designer Louis Feraud. The light weight cotton fabric is in a beautiful feminine floral print in shades of blue,...

This is a very unusual and original 1930s tulle dress and reminds me of the work of the great American designer Elizabeth Hawes. This dress is unlabel...

This well constructed dress is from department store Rackhams which was owned by Harrods in the 1960s. It has classic Princess cut seams falling into a beautiful A-line shape. It is ...

Superb and rare, early Hanae Mori haute couture burgundy chiffon dress. This dress is late 1970s or early 1980s vintage and was formally owne...

A late 1960s Geoffrey Beene red jersey shift dress. It has an absolutely timeless quality about it - so much so that we are struggling to date it. We are leaning more towards 1960s ...

This is a couture made French dress from the 1970s. The label reads La Femme Chic Place de la Basilique, St Quentin. The dress is beautifully made by hand in a classic floral print m...

A classic example of good quality American day wear. We love this label - Carlye pieces just ooze refinment. This creamy beige cotton knife pleat dress has an elegent scoop neck augmented with 2 pearlescent buttons. These fasten on the shoulders and are purely decorative. There is an additional ochre coloured over-stitched ziz-zag pattern on the neckline. The dress has an interesting and continuous arrangement of knife pleats both on the bodice and the skirt. The knife pleats on the bodice are formed on an additional panel which you can pass your hand through. The panel is attached at the waist and the neckline and this feature was to ensure that the pleats align closely with that of the skirt when wearing. The bodice is lined in the same fine cotton fabric whilst the skirt is unlined. There is a side pocket just below the original metal zip at the side. The condition is excellent - we have noticed one small brown faded mark very close to the waistband; barely noticeable and we inspected a few times before seeing this. This would also be covered by any belt. Best fit for UK size 8-10, US size 4-6 and of smaller stature as Carlye was a petite range brand. The Carlye Dress Corporation was formed in 1938 in St. Louis, Missouri. Owned by Corinne Fuller Glaser, Carlye went on to become one of the great dress houses in St. Louis, a city renowned for its 'junior wear' or in more modern terms - petite sizes fashion. Clothing manufacturing giant Leslie Fay...

A fabulous lightweight cotton 1960s dress by Jean Lang. The Jean Lang Dress Company was an American fashion house founded by the designer John Lang in 1916 i...

A 1960s silk bee print dress by none other than Lachasse, one of the oldest British couture houses having opened in 1926, it sadly closed its doors in 2006. The dress is entirely han...

This Ted Lapidus dress is circa 1977 and is made entirely by hand; this label is probably the haute couture label. The beautiful flame red, raw silk georgette fabric is both striking...

This striking 1970s dress in navy, orange, red, green and white boasts a classic Leonard style abstract floral print in poly jersey fabric. The dress is knee length with elbow length...

This elegant vintage 1960s metallic evening dress is of high-end, British manufactured quality although unlabelled. The opulent and textured brocade fabric has an iris design in alte...

A stylish 1970s daywear piece by revered designer Ted Lapidus who began his long fashion career at the house of 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...

This is a really beautiful and original late 1950s or early 1960s organza floral print shirtwaister dress. The floral print, which we identify as tulips but could also be rose, is in...

Super stylish 1970s silk daywear from Louis Feraud with a high open collar, front fastening buttons and elasticated waist. There is a wide box pleat at the front of the dress for eas...

This charming original 1920s silk chiffon floral print dress is delicate, feminine and in excellent antique condition. The pale yellow chiffon hosts a s...

A highly desirable, original, 1950s cocktail dress which could easily be worn as an alternative wedding dress. The fabric is a beautiful gold coloured silk satin and the dress featur...

1970s Rembrandt designer geometric print monochrome dress. This classic design has beautiful details such as the pleated poet style cuffs and a dainty...

Original vintage 1960s trapeze style mod dress with applique by French boutique label Anik Robelin. This piece showcases superb workmanship in a simple but beautifully cut dress des...

This lovely 1950s white cotton rose print dress is skilfully made and in pristine vintage condition. The fine printed cotton is soft to touch and of notable quality, featuring a pret...