Not currently on display at the V&A

Skirt Suit

late 1950s (made)
Artist/Maker
Paterson, Ronald (designer)
Place of origin
London (made)

Ronald Paterson (b.1917) was known for his skillful handling of heavyweight fabrics such as tweeds. At the age of 18, he won first prize for a tailoring design in a competition judged by the Parisian couturier Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973). He worked in Paris before opening in 1947 in London's Albemarle Street.

Here, Paterson gives a modern dimension to the tweed suit. Designed towards the end of the 1950s it anticipates the boxy suits of the 1960s. The side-fastening jacket has a deep collar that can be worn in a number of ways. The simple, straight-cut skirt permits the boldly styled jacket to become the dominant feature.


Object details

Categories
Fashion
Womenswear
Scotland
Europeana Fashion Project
Object type
Skirt suit
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Jacket
  • Skirt
Materials and techniques
Wool tweed lined with silk
Tweed
Silk (Textile)
Lined
Sewing
Brief description
Wool tweed suit comprising a jacket and skirt, designed by Ronald Paterson, London, late 1950s
Physical description
Beige and brown checked wool tweed suit comprising of a jacket and skirt.
Production typeHaute couture
Gallery label
  • Ronald Paterson gave a modern dimension to the tweed suit. The side-fastening boxy jacket has a deep collar which can be worn in a number of ways. The simple, straight-cut skirt permits the boldly styled jacket to become the dominant feature. The heavyweight woollen twill has a powerful check.(1997)
  • Suit Ronald Paterson (1917-) London Late 1950s Paterson was known for his light handling of bulky materials. At the age of 18, he won first prize for a tailoring design in a competition judged by the Parisian couturier Elsa Schiaparelli. He later worked in Paris and in 1947 opened in London's Albemarle Street. The jacket here has a deep collar that can be worn in various ways. Tweed Worn by Mrs C. Nattey and given to the V&A by her mother V&A: T.312&A-1987(22/09/2007)
Credit line
Given by Mrs C. Nattey
Object history
Registered File number 1987/1974.
Summary
Ronald Paterson (b.1917) was known for his skillful handling of heavyweight fabrics such as tweeds. At the age of 18, he won first prize for a tailoring design in a competition judged by the Parisian couturier Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973). He worked in Paris before opening in 1947 in London's Albemarle Street.

Here, Paterson gives a modern dimension to the tweed suit. Designed towards the end of the 1950s it anticipates the boxy suits of the 1960s. The side-fastening jacket has a deep collar that can be worn in a number of ways. The simple, straight-cut skirt permits the boldly styled jacket to become the dominant feature.
Bibliographic reference
De La Haye, Amy, ed. The Cutting Edge: 50 Years of British Fashion 1947-1997. London: V&A Publications, 1997, Pl. 14, p.43.
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.312&A-1987

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Record createdAugust 26, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O83747/skirt-suit-paterson-ronald/
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