Gowns Collection

Flower in her Hair by David Wright
Lovely pin-up by David Wright depicting a slender woman in a strapless black evening dress at her dressing table fixing a flower into her swept up hair. c.1950

Fashions for 1954
On the left, a caramel coloured restaurant suit in heavy silk shantung, its melting shoulder line, vertically seamed jacket, slanting pockets " are all allies for your pleasant evening"

Belinda Bellville wedding gown
Model wears a stunning Belinda Bellville wedding dress, in Bianchinis pure silk satin. Ballooning panniers flowing into a train are attached to a narrow belt which encircles the narrow sheath dress

The Tatler Autumn Fashion Number 1955
A stunning, bold front cover design featuring a tall and elegant woman wearing a simple black strapless evening dress and a sumptuous lime green wrap with matching choker necklace

Christian Dior sketching a fashion design, 1948
In 1947 Christian Dior (1905-1957) created a sensational collection labelled the New Look. His designs centred around gowns with an 18 inch waist, which focused attention on the bust and hips

Wedding dress of Aphra Farquhar by Worth
A regal wedding dress of white pure silk and antique lace designed by Owen Hyde-Clarke of Worth for the wedding of Aphra Farquhar Fetherstonhaugh to the Earl of Dundonald in 1960

The Dolly Sisters wearing Lucile gowns in the I Love Thou Lovest number, League of Notions, London, 1921 1921

Evening Wear 1939
Evening gowns by Lavin and Molyneux

Entrance, Christs Hospital School
Pupils stand outside the entrance to Christs Hospital School

Autumn fashions, Evening Dress
Evening wear fashions for 1916 showing two elegant ladies modelling sleeveless, plunge back gowns with high waists and full skirts typical of the World War One period

Princess Sophie of Greece on her wedding day
Princess Sophie of Greece (1914-2001), elder sister of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on her wedding day when she married Prince Christoph of Hesse-Cassel, 15th December 1930

Oxford University robes: Proctor (full dress)
A Proctor at Oxford University sporting a mortarboard and long, black gown, with a white fur hood. Date: 1920s

Gaby Deslys and her gowns by Drian 1913
Gaby Deslys (1881-1920), French actress, dancer and singer, pictured in a variety of lavish outfits designed by Drian and realised by Landolff for her latest revue at the Palace Theatre, London

Hazel Lavery in a Lucile gown for Petticoat Lane Tombola WWI
Hazel, Lady Lavery, wife of painter Sir John Lavery pictured as the artist in a tableau staged for a charity event during the First World War called Petticoat Lane

In Her Wedding Gown - Princess Marina of Greece

Royal Wedding 1947 - bride and bridesmaid dresses
A fairytale wedding gown by Norman Hartnell for Princess Elizabeth, in itself a tribute to British skill in design and workmanship

Royal Wedding 1934 - brides dress and Trent Park
Page from the Illustrated London News showing the wedding dress of Princess Marina of Greece on display alongside the wedding presents at St. Jamess Palace

Christian Dior dress, 1953
A woman enjoys a glass of champagne while wearing a Christian Dior evening dress of blue silk organza worn over a number of full net underskirts and embroidered with swags of silver bugle beads

Eton College courtyard
Scene with teachers and pupils in the courtyard of Eton College

High-waisted houppelandes (gowns) with turned-down collars, V -necks, funnel sleeves & trains, sideless surcoat, mantle, girdle & headdresses, templers & veils Date: 15th century

Printed Fortnum & Mason dresses for the Riviera casinos
Elegant evening dresses in print crepe-de-chine, among the styles seen in the casinos of Southern France according to The Sketch magazine in which this photograph was featured

Reville court dress advertisement, 1927
Advertisement for Reville Ltd, dressmakers of Hanover Square, who specialised in particular in gowns for court presentations, approved by Their Majesties for Ladies attending. Date: 1927

The Dolly Sisters in Paris-New York
The Dolly Sisters in a scene from Paris-New York, Paris, 1927 1927

Court gowns by Reville
Court gowns approved by King George V and Queen Mary for presentation at court in the year 1926. Designed by Reville of Hanover Square. Date: 1926

Rosie Dolly and the Begum Aga Khan
Two personalities at the Super Elegance de Cote d Azur held in Nice on the French Riviera wearing costumes elegant enough to win

Harrods ballgown of nylon net, 1958
Advertisement for a Harrods ballgown of nylon net and lace with a billowing skirt on a fitted swathed top. Perfect for a debutante, though inadvisable to stand near open fires while wearing it

Advertisement for Reville, 1920s fashion
Advertisement for Reville of Hanover Square, one of the leading fashion houses of the 1920s favoured by smart society, offering original gowns for all seasons, all climates, every occasion. Date: 1920

Madame Peacock by Gilbert Rumbold
Lovely illustration showing a lady in a dress with a peacock feather skirt and matching fan. Date: 1927

A court dress to curtsey in from Harvey Nichols, 1935
Advertisement for the department store, Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge, London, advertising a gown of classic simplicity to wear to a court presentation

1960s fashion, eloping in Victor Stiebel
A couple elope in the most elegant way possible; she wearing a long evening dress in apple green taffeta by Victor Stiebel, with bows added for extra charm

The Tatler front cover, 9 May 1962
Front cover of The Tatler for May 1962 celebrating London Fashion Week and featuring three models (Jean Shrimpton at the back)

The Bath Parade by Muriel Dawson
Three children dressedin pyjamas, dressing gowns and slippers march in a procession towards the bathroom armed with towels and soap

Gowns That Express Poetic Ideas
Purple and blue wigs to complete the colour-schemes of dresses: gowns that express poetic ideas

English Court Dress C16
Nobleman & Knight of the Order of the Garter at the court of Queen Elizabeth I. N.B trunk- hose, canions, peascod-bellied doublets, ruffs, cloaks, copotain hat, gowns, flat cap

Satin gown by Reville
Photograph of a rose-pink satin gown with pink and grey beads by Reville, Hanover Square. Date: 1921

Fashion design by Eva Lutyens. 1936

Evening clothing with pearls and lace 1912
Fashionable evening clothing using detailed embroidered lace and decorative pearls. 1912

Womens fashion in velvet and fur, 1913
On the left a blue velvet gown bordered with fur with a vest of soft muslin and a corsage finished with Oriental embroidery and small buttons by Bourniche

English Dresses Oct 1838
3 gowns all with bishop sleeves, 2 with reverse cuffs, V necklines and pointed waists. Hemlines are trimmed with flounces, embroidery, rouleaux and puffing

Harrods advertisement for a Maggy Rouff flower-garden printed chintz evening gown with an off-the-shoulder neckline and full sweeping skirt, modelled here by Mamaine Paget. Date: 1937

Late Victorian Fashion
Illustration of gowns of Spring woolen material. Artist: John Dinsdale Date: 1892

Late Victorian Fashion
Illustration of fashionable gowns and mantles modelled at Shanklin, Isle of Wight. Artist: John Dinsdale Date: 1892

University in Germany - a student receives his doctorate. Date: 16th century

A student at a university in France receives his doctorate. Date: 16th century

Lily Langtry in A Society Butterfly - gowns by Worth
Lily Langtry in Act II and Act III of A Society Butterfly by Robert Buchanan and Henry Murray at Opera Comique, London - gowns by Worth

Lady Sarah Spencer-Churchill (1922 -2000) was the daughter of the 10th Duke of Marlborough and cousin to Winston Churchill. She emigrated to the USA in 1945, and was reknowned for her charity work

Advert for a new tea gown from Harvey Nichols, London, 1925 Date: 1925

Four costumes representing Maytime Modes. Suggestions for dancers both on and off the stage, 1928, Top left: sophisticated simplicity - a gown of black satin crepe

Dress and cape by Molyneux, 1932
An evening dress of green and white crepe romaine with ruching around the hips, worn with a cape of black velvet, trimmed with ermine. Designed by Edward Molyneux of 60, Grosvenor Street. Date: 1932

Latest summer fashion from Paris, dress or undress? Decollete and slit up, but not clinging. Date: 1913

Debutantes court gowns of 1905
A page of Debutantes wearing traditional white court gowns. Date: 1905

Summer Fashions of 1928 - Two charming Ascot Gowns designed by Norman Hartnell. On left, a chiffon dress combining new sorts of printed patterns with box pleated skirt and broad black leather belt

Wedding of Oswald Mosley and Cynthia Curzon
Wedding of Lady Cynthia Curzon and Oswald Mosley in 11 May 1920, as reported in The Sphere magazine

Evening Gowns - Good Housekeeping July 1933 Date: 1933

The fair Danseuse showing three London fashion outfits
Advance designs for the fair Danseuse showing three London fashion outfits, December 1923: two gowns from Reville and a Mason Lewis hat worn by Heather Thatcher Date: 1923

Pendulum of Fashion showing three London fashion outfits
The Pendulum of Fashion showing three London fashion outfits, December 1923; two gowns by Phelps-Paquin (Elspeth Phelps and Paquin) and a Maison Lewis hat worn by Heather Thatcher Date: 1923

Costumes of the Members of the University of Oxford
The Costumes of the Members of the University of Oxford Date: circa 1840

An Embroidered Jumper for Coronation Year
Knitting pattern, An Embroidered Jumper for Coronation Year, with a lion design Date: 1953

Barri Advertisement
An illustrated advertisement for Barri Maternity Gowns, London based dress makers. The image is showcasing a smart evening gown of fine black net, over pale pink satin and dull gold lace

Derry and Toms Advertisement
An advertisement poster for Derry & Toms, specialists in economical dainty gowns and hats in London

Hark, Hark! The Dogs Do Bark
This illustration depicts the scene of an old English nursery rhyme, Hark hark, the dogs do bark, Beggars are coming to town, Some in jags, some in rags, And some in velvet gowns. Date: circa 1914

Betty Stockfeld
Australian actress Betty Stockfeld (1905-1966), mostly known for her film work, but here appearing in a theatrical production of A Cold June at the Duchess Theatre. Date: 1932

Peggy Cartwright
Canadian actress Peggy Cartwright (1912-2001) was mostly known for her work in silent movies. Here she is scene promoting a stage appearance, in For The Love Of Mike at the Saville Theatre in London

Gladys Cooper
Actress Gladys Cooper (1888-1971), later Dame Gladys, showing off some of her gowns. Date: 1931

Laura Cowie in Yoicks!
Laura Cowie (1892-1969) was a Scottish stage and silent film actress. Here she is portraying Lucrezia Borgia in the revue show Yoicks! at the Kingsway Theatre. Date: circa 1925

Renee Houston advertising Ovaltine
Scottish actress and performer Renee Houston (1902-1980) in an advert promoting the re-vitalising effects of Ovaltine. Date: 1939

Bridal dress from Fenwick's
A bridal dress from Fenwick's, New Bond Street, in fancy satin damask with simulated paysanne corselet. Date: circa 1939

Portrait of a Miss Gebhard
Miss Gebhard, an American whose family appear to have taken residence at Corsham Court in Wiltshire. Date: 1910

Alma Goetz, composer
Alma Goetz was a composer of songs, including Melisande in the Wood and At Parting'. Date: circa 1910

Nina Mae McKinney, actress (1912-1967), studio portraits in elegant gowns. Captioned, That Harlem Rhythm: Miss Nina Mae McKinney makes Her London Break'

Advertisement for Peter Robinson, clothing. Captioned, Everything for Everybody's Wear'. Showing models wearing four styles of gowns, with elegant hats, shoes and umbrellas

Parisian-inspired female fashion: a horseshoe-collared silk coat from Balmain and an evening dress from Desses. Date: 1954

A selection of fashionable outfits for women. Date: 1954

Advert for Courtaulds, makers of rayon fabric. The gown depicted is made by Liberty's. In the background is a scene from Ranelagh Gardens in the 18th century. Date: 1954

A sketch showing the current fashion in women's eveningwear, including gloves, jewellery, evening bag and shoes. Date: circa 1932

Latest frocks and smart hats by Robert Heath available at Knightsbridge, London. Date: 1930

Advert for the London couture house of Isobel, 1927 at 223 Regent Street, London Date: 1927

Star-Shine and Sun-Shine on the Riviera, well known actresses (Mlle Arlette Dorgere, The Guy Sisters, Evelyn Laye, Mlle Falconetti and Betty Balfour) sketched at Monte Carlo, 1927 by A

Riviera Rivalry as Tennis and Fashion hold their courts at Cannes, 1927. Fashion sketches by A. Fried of Miss L. Dibble, Lady Dudley, Lady Dunedin and Miss Greville Soames Date: 1927

Revelations from the Riviera -What the smartest
Revelations from the Riviera (1927) - What the smartest women wear at Monte Carlo is prophetic of what will be worn in London and Paris in the subsequent seasons

Advert for the London couture house of Ninette featuring a spring dress, London, 1925 with sketch by G. Peres Date: 1925

Advert for London couturier Barri Maternity Gowns, London, 1925 Date: 1925

Margaret Bannerman in The Grand Duchess at the Globe Theatre, London, 1925 Date: 1925

New fashions for the stage version of the Smart set in Frederick Lonsdales comedy Spring Cleaning, London, 1925 with a range of gowns worn by Edna Best, Nancie Parsons

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