1990s Bellville Sassoon Ruched Navy and White Sequin Dress
British couture house Bellville Sassoon was founded in 1953 by Belinda Bellville and provided Parisian style fashion in the heart of London for aristocrats and debutantes. Designer David Sassoon joined the company in 1958 and in 1970 the company was renamed Bellville Sassoon. Lorcan Mullany joined in 1987 having worked for Bill Gibb and Hardy Amies as an occasion wear designer. The roster of famous names wearing the House's designs is particularly illustrious: The Princess of Wales, Princess Margaret, Princess Michael of Kent, the Duchess of York, Jackie Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Jerry Hall, Ivana Trump, Shakira Caine, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Melanie Griffith, Helen Mirren and Madonna to name but a few.
Made in England, this 1990s monochrome dress is tailored from polyester navy jersey cannily draped to flatter the feminine figure. With a ruched waistline and an ankle-length skirt with curved hem that parts to reveal the legs on movement. The navy jersey has the illusion of being tied at the left hip where two bow ears fall down the skirt. The top of the dress is cut to a sleeveless silhouette with a keyhole cut out at the back secured with a pearl button behind the neck. It is crafted from ivory satin and is heavily embellished with eye-catching spirals of white sequins and dotted with pearls and iridescent bugle beads. There is a hidden tonal navy zip at the rear of the dress. This dress is fully lined throughout in 100% acetate.
In excellent vintage condition with no flaws of any note. It is labelled a vintage size 14 but this is small by modern standards. Our model (5ft 4in / 163cm) is a UK 6-8 and this fit her well with plenty of room to spare. We estimate this would work on sizes up to a UK 10-12 or US 6-8 as the fabric has no stretch.
MEASUREMENTS
BUST - 36 in. (91 cm)
WAIST - 30 in. (76 cm)
HIP - 37 in. (94 cm)
LENGTH - 58 in. (147 cm)
Pickup available at CIRCA VINTAGE
Usually ready in 24 hours
F.A.Q.
Will you set anything aside for me before I come?
We are happy to find anything you may be interested in from our website - please let us know a week in advance.
We also have an extensive offline collection. If you let us know your size, style, favourite colour to wear and perhaps your budget, we can browse through our archive in advance of your appointment.
Do I need to bring anything with me?
Clients may wish to bring modern shapewear when trying on garments from certain eras, especially the 1950s. Vintage clothing was often worn with undergarments that shaped the waist and as such is tailored for them.
We have a huge variety of slip dresses and petticoats to complete your look; many of which are also for sale.
You may also wish to bring your favourite footwear. We often find a classic pair of nude shoes work well when trying on, or a pair in gold or silver.
Do you have a price range?
Many of our lower-priced pieces (under £150) are not available to buy online. Our prices range from £80 - £600 for separates. Dresses start at around £150 and go up to £2,500 for the very best antique pieces and designer vintage. Our bridalwear ranges from £300 - £3,000.
Can I bring anyone with me?
Yes but please do let us know the size of your party in advance.
Where can I get alterations?
We offer some alterations in house. Should you need alterations we cannot provide, we can refer you to one of our tried and trusted tailors.
Do you have an after-care service?
We will advise you on the best way to clean and preserve your vintage pieces and can also recommend trusted local dry cleaners.
Can I cancel my appointment?
You are free to cancel but please do give us as much notice as possible. If you cancel less than 24 hours before your appointment, you will be invoiced a late cancellation fee of £25.
Where's the showroom?
Our address is Circa Vintage, 87A Lansdowne Way London SW8 2PB
Upon arrival, buzz the 87A button on the gate or call us 020 7736 5038 to let you in.
Do you have parking?
We offer free, secure, off-street parking but it is a tight squeeze – so do let us know in advance if you will be needing this and we can make sure that there is space available.
How do I get there by public transport?
Underground:
Stockwell (7 min walk) - Northern and Victoria Lines
Nine Elms (9 min walk) – Northern Line
Overground:
Wandsworth Road (13 min walk) – Westbound to Clapham Junction / Eastbound to Dalston Junction
What payment methods do you accept?
Cash, credit/debit card, bank transfer, contactless, Paypal