Black leather 'binocular' bag, designed by Christopher Trill, London, England, 1980s, part of an ensemble designed by Wendy Dagworthy, London, England, 1987

Black leather bag, lined with purple suede. The bag is fitted with a removable, black silk-covered divider, that separates it into two compartments.

Given by the Wendy Dagworthy

This ensemble, consisting of a dress, jacket, trousers and straw hat (with a leather ‘binocular bag’ designed by Christopher Trill) formed part of Wendy Dagworthy’s Spring/Summer 1987 collection. The collection was inspired by a trip to India. The ensemble highlights the collection’s use of printed cottons in combination with different layered elements (both tailored and loose-fitting).

Wendy Dagworthy was one of London’s leading 1980s fashion designers. A prominent member of the growing local fashion scene of the late 1970s and 1980s, Dagworthy showed in early fashion exhibitions by the New Wave and London Designer Collections groups and also in early London Fashion Weeks. She was Director of London Designer Collections from 1982-1990.

As well as exhibiting in London (England), Dagworthy showed her collections in Milan (Italy), New York (the United States) and Paris (France). She was one of a number of young British designers to be picked up by large American retailers in the 1980s – and was flown to New York in 1985 for the launch of her collection at Saks Fifth Avenue (together with collections by Betty Jackson and Reubeen Tariq). Dagworthy began her company in the late 1970s, initially sewing the clothes herself in her flat. After quick expansion through the 1980s, the impact of the financial recession forced her to close in 1988.

Wendy Dagworthy was one of London’s leading 1980s fashion designers. Dagworthy began her company in the late 1970s, initially sewing the clothes herself in her flat. This ensemble, consisting of a dress, jacket, trousers and straw hat (with leather 'binocular' bag designed by Christopher Trill) was part of her 1987 Spring/Summer collection. Dagworthy said of the collection, which was inspired by a trip to India: 'It was a mixture of Nehru jackets, trousers and Gypsy skirts in stripes and Liberty flower prints. We used Indian anklets and jewellery and diverse fabrics that wouldn’t normally go together. It was quite eclectic.’ (Direct quote from Wendy Dagworthy. These terms might be considered offensive. They have been left in to give further information on the history of the design, from the designer).

1610:5-2017