White moire silk wedding dress, designed by Victor Stiebel, England, Summer 1963

White moiré silk wedding dress designed by Victor Stiebel and made by J. Abraham, Switzerland. It has a medium-to-low neckline and plain bodice with straight elbow-length sleeves with self-fabric bow on a high-waisted half-belt. The dress is cut with a slightly high waist and the fabric of the skirt forms part of the Watteau back of the dress, which recalls 18th-century sack-back styles.

The dress is mounted on a boned silk foundation to which is attached an inner straight silk half petticoat on which is a tulle underskirt with additional frill and an organdie petticoat with its flounce backed with net. This fastens at the centre back with hooks, eyes and a zip fastener. There is a waist band, but no signature.

Given by Mr Victor Stiebel

Registered fille number 1963/2254. This dress featured in Victor Stiebel's final collection.

Historical significance: The dress was from Victor Stiebel's last collection, Summer 1963 after which he closed the business due to ill-health. It was the only dress that remained unsold, and was donated to the V&A by the designer. We also have the very first wedding dress that Stiebel designed in 1932, forty years earlier, (see T.71-1966), so it is fitting that his last wedding dress should be in the collection alongside it.

The stark simplicity of this streamlined wedding dress is unusual. A discreet decorative touch is provided by the self-fabric bow, which is placed centrally on the high-waisted half belt. The back of the dress, which falls from the shoulders, recalls 18th century sack-back styles. This dress featured in Victor Stiebel's final collection.

T.169-1963