Not currently on display at the V&A

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ca. 1955 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Horrockses’ cotton dresses, with their brightly coloured prints and full gathered skirts, were a fashion success story for the post-war period. Horrockses was a large cotton manufacturing firm, founded in Preston in 1791, known for weaving high quality household cottons. In 1946 they launched Horrockses Fashions Limited, a subsidary company making ready-to-wear dresses, housecoats and beachwear, with a headquarters in London's Hanover Square. The success of the firm was due to the quality of the design of the vibrant printed cottons, often commissioned from artists, combined with advanced production methods, which maintained the crisp cotton despite frequent washes.

Dresses from Horrockses Fashions appealed to women of different ages and social backgrounds as the perfect summer dress. They were relatively expensive and were popular with members of the Royal Family - but working women would save up to buy one, often as a honeymoon outfit. This example was worn by Elizabeth Payze as a teenager.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Dress
  • Belt
  • Jacket
Materials and techniques
Printed cotton
Brief description
Print cotton dress with a matching jacket and belt, Horrockses Fashions, Great Britain, ca. 1955
Physical description
Red floral print cotton dress with a matching jacket and belt.
Credit line
Worn and given by Mrs Elizabeth Payze
Subject depicted
Summary
Horrockses’ cotton dresses, with their brightly coloured prints and full gathered skirts, were a fashion success story for the post-war period. Horrockses was a large cotton manufacturing firm, founded in Preston in 1791, known for weaving high quality household cottons. In 1946 they launched Horrockses Fashions Limited, a subsidary company making ready-to-wear dresses, housecoats and beachwear, with a headquarters in London's Hanover Square. The success of the firm was due to the quality of the design of the vibrant printed cottons, often commissioned from artists, combined with advanced production methods, which maintained the crisp cotton despite frequent washes.

Dresses from Horrockses Fashions appealed to women of different ages and social backgrounds as the perfect summer dress. They were relatively expensive and were popular with members of the Royal Family - but working women would save up to buy one, often as a honeymoon outfit. This example was worn by Elizabeth Payze as a teenager.
Collection
Accession number
T.639:1 to 3-1996

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Record createdMarch 15, 2006
Record URL
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