Horrockses fashions had the advantage of the horrocks name which had a strong reputation with the fabric industry. All written while wearing gorgeous vintage dresses. Horrockses fashion this lavisly illustrated book tells the history of horrockses fashions, one the most famous postwar british readytowear labels. The scottish national museum of costume is in galloway, at shambellie house near the village of new abbey. Vintage outfits, vintage clothing, jacket pattern, historical costume, queen. Most of their garments were made from their cotton, but they also used other fibers that were bought from other makers.
The yellow factory in preston, horrocks, built in 1791, taken before 1887 ddhs753. As it happens, my sister gave me a book on horrockses fashions a while ago by christine boydell, who subsequently curated the exhibition so for once i had the book before. In the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, horrockses created designs with a fresh, distinctive look, and were celebrated. Drawing on the current popularity of both postwar style and floral prints, the book provides a plethora of sumptuous fullpage colour illustrations that have a mass appeal and, on first inspection, one might categorize this as a coffee table book. Fashion history uncategorized vintage the queens summer wardrobe 1954 april 28, 2015. In their heyday, these giants of the cotton industry employed thousands, and were responsible in large part for the towns prosperity and incredible growth during the nineteenth century, and, indeed, for putting it on the world map. See more ideas about vintage fashion, vintage outfits, vintage dresses. See more ideas about vintage fashion, vintage outfits and 1950s fashion. All of these books below are excellent books to start learning about 1950s fashion history and more. Iconic fashion label horrockses is making a timely. Based in california you might expect a difference between the uk hull yorkshire but i was struck by how similar they were. Mar 01, 2012 yet this is exactly what the reader encounters with christine boydells horrockses fashions. Catalogue horrockses friends of lancashire archives. Aug 30, 2011 horrockses was a household name in the 1940s and 50s, producing offthepeg summer dresses for the then not inconsiderable price of.
In 1946 the company started horrockses fashions limited and the horrockses label was born. A horrockses fashions dress was the musthave purchase for the postwar fashionable woman. Horrockses preston retro fashion fashion lancashire life. Horrockses fashions was soon so popular and well respected that the queen packed cotton dresses from specialist wholesaler horrockses for her sixmonth tour of the commonwealth in 19534. Im standing in front of a red dress by lanz of california, 1955. Travel through time and learn about the most popular fashion trends in history, from the garb of early humans in pre history, to the short skirts of flappers and the bellbottoms of disco. One of the most popular dress lines in britain and in america in the late 40s and 50s, horrockses fashions was known for its cotton prints manufactured in their own mill in preston, lancashire. Every book about 1950s fashion has something new to offer.
A little fashion history and some beautiful vintage dresses. See more ideas about fashion, vintage outfits and vintage fashion. Offthepeg styles in the 40s and 50s details the extraordinary history of a famed womens readytowear label that made its name in postwar britain by providng uptotheminute dresses at a reasonable price. Esquires encyclopedia of 20th century mens fashions hardcover by o. Before topshop, there was horrockses fashions, a british. Travel through time and learn about the most popular fashion trends in history, from the garb of early humans in prehistory, to the short skirts of flappers and the bellbottoms of disco. Vintage fashion history books for research 1920s to 1970s. Creative haven fabulous fashions of the 1950s coloring book. Many of the prints in the exhibition were designed by pat albeck, who was employed by horrockses. Vintage cotton dress by horrockses fashions a mini history.
Iconic fashion label horrockses is making a timely comeback. Horrockses made printed cotton, and made it up into a range of upmarket fashionable clothes for women. The donor of this dress, daphne razzell, nee platten, worked for horrockses as a fashion design assistant until her marriage in 1950. In the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, horrockses created designs with a fresh, distinctive look, and were celebrated for their lively floral prints and fullskirted summer dresses, which were popular with women of every background. This is why the original designs are still much coveted today. This lavisly illustrated book tells the history of horrockses fa. Dress was made for the wedding of daphne patten to arthur razzell in 1950. Weight 140g measures over 6 12 in length at widest point 1.
Hi im catherine, vintage frills is a blog about my life, books, fashion, beauty, sewing and baking and lots more. The company began using their own cottons to produce off the peg dresses which proved to be very fashionable. The queen would famously wear horrockses dresses on her first commonwealth tour. The exhibition follows the story of the horrockses dress from initial fabric and fashion design, to production, promotion and consumption. Horrockses fashions i was beyond excited when this book landed on my desk courtesy of the allen and unwin fairy thanks jess. Although my mother never had a horrockses dress as far as i know they would be too expensive the dresses in the exhibition did remind me of the ones she wore in the 1950s. Mar 07, 2017 horrockses fashions were best known for their day dresses though they also produced housecoats, beachwear, and evening dresses. Aug 03, 2011 fashion historian dr christine boydell played a pivotal role in the resurgence of the brand, after she collaborated on a major fashion exhibition on horrockses fashions, and also penned a book on. This title tells the story of this iconic label and its role in the history of the british high street, while also.
The clothing was designed by designers in london, using the cotton that was designed and produced by the horrockses mill in preston. Featuring nippedin bodice, square neckline, halflength sleeves, gathered midlength skirt and a dainty white lace trim, it has an approachable soundofmusic quality. Horrockses fashions label launched in the late 1940s. Sep 18, 2012 explore wearhistorys board favorite designers. Horrockses fashions is a stunning book revealing the history and popular fashions behind british company, horrockses, in the 40s and 50s.
An important book for all prestonians and anyone interested in the cotton industry. Offthepeg style in the 40s and 50s 01 by christine boydell isbn. At the beginning of the month lancashire archives in preston held a celebration of all things horrockses. As these examples show, there came to be a distinctive horrockses silhouette for the dresses consisting of full skirts, tailored bodices, and defined waists which shows the influence of christian diors new look that debuted in 1947. Horrockses fashions tells the story of this iconic label and its role in the history of british fashion while also exploring the connections between couture and readytowear fashions in the postwwii decades. The company are best known for their fullskirted dresses which were sought after by women everywhere and were even worn by queen elizabeth ii.
In the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, horrockses created designs with a fresh, distinctive look, and were celebrated for their lively floral prints and fullskirted summer dresses, which were popular with women of every background, including the royal family. Horrockses postwar ready to wear as spring is upon us, fancy turns to a new frock and nostalgically to horrockses fresh, flamboyant, fashions of the 40s and 50s. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Founded in 1946 the company concentrated on the production of quality womenswear, beach clothes, housecoats and childrens attire. To read more about the rich history of this pioneering 20th century business, and to see a. Sleeveless day dress of printed cotton, horrockses fashions, great britain, 1953. May 28, 2012 the scottish national museum of costume is in galloway, at shambellie house near the village of new abbey. Explore world history and culture through the lens of fashion with the complete book of fashion history. Schoeffler frustrated that i wasnt able to find enough history on mens fashion, i consulted another blog for other books i should own. The company concentrated on the production of quality womens day and evening wear. I use this book often for both my personal costuming needs as well as history materials on the blog. We went there to see the current exhibition, of womens clothes from the 1940s and 1950s by horrockses fashions.
Limited launched the horrockses fashions readytowear line in 1946. In the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s, horrockses created designs with a fresh, distinctive look, and were celebrated for their lively floral prints and fullskirted summer dresses, which were popular with. Many are full of pictures, some have a great history, and others are just for fun like paper dolls. Recently weve been chatting to the person behind the fantastic blog witness2fashion about all things treadle sewing machine.
Horrockses had the goal of increasing desirability for their fabrics and then satisfying the demand with their own products. Horrockses fashion was one of the most respected readytowear labels of the 1940s and 50s. Fashion historian dr christine boydell played a pivotal role in the resurgence of the brand, after she collaborated on a major fashion exhibition on horrockses fashions, and also penned a book on. Horrockses, crewdson and co, cotton manufacturers, preston. A history of the hugely influential british readytowear label horrockses, i must confess that as an aussie i knew little of this brand until this lavishly illustrated hardback crossed my path. This dress has the full skirt typical of the 1950s, and is a good example of how the readytowear market utilised couture silhouettes for the mass market. Glancing back at summer a horrockses fashion vintage dress. From animal furs of prehistory to golden crowns of ancient egypt, the complete book of fashion history explores history and culture through the lens of fashion.
The strategy called for top class designers to create upmarket exclusive off the peg clothing that would be largely based on london and paris couture styling. Horrockses was founded in 1791 in preston, uk as a cotton manufacturer. Founded in 1946, the company concentrated on the production of quality womenswear, beach clothes, housecoats and childrens attire. This book tells the story of the iconic label, illustrating its role in the history of the british high street, while exploring the connections between couture and readytowear fashions in the postwar decades. Travel through time and learn about the most popular fashion trends in history, from the garb of early humans in prehistory, to the short skirts of. John horrocks a textile pioneer the friends want to raise. Horrockses fashions was one of most respected readytowear labels of the late 40s and 50s. It followed the story of the horrockses dress from initial fabric and fashion design, to production, promotion, and. Nov 23, 2010 horrockses fashions you could win this fabulous book. This lavisly illustrated book tells the history of horrockses fashions, one the most famous postwar british readytowear labels. Some of the prints were designed by wellknown artists such as graham sutherland. Horrockses was one of most respected readytowear labels of the late 40s and 50s. Horrockses fashions limited was the manufacturer of one of the most wellrespected readytowear labels of the 1940s and 1950s. Yet this is exactly what the reader encounters with christine boydells horrockses fashions.
Treadles have the same charm wherever you were in the world when you sat and. In 2010, dmu design historian dr christine boydell brought the story of this very british brand to a whole new audience, leading to a resurgence in popularity and inspiring designers as they put together fresh collections. Mar 31, 2016 boydells talk presented horrockses fashions as a case study in the business history of textiles, drawing on business records, design archives, interviews with employees and customers, a study of the clothes themselves located in museum and private collections as well as extensive research into branding, retailing, marketing and advertising. This title tells the story of this iconic label and its role in the history of the british high street, while also read more. Laverys book sketched in the details in a work of such imagination and feeling, history came alive in my hands. Horrockses fashion tells the story of this iconic british fashion label and its role in the history of ready to wear fashion in the postwar decades.
The mill dated back to 1791 and by the early 20 th century was established as a trusted manufacturer of cotton goods, mostly household linens. As described on their gorgeous website, horrockses fashions was one of the most well respected readytowear labels of the late 1940s and 1950s. The book is filled with beautiful photos, as well as a wealth of archival information regarding this vintage design style, including period magazine spreads, interviews with former employees and consumers, design images that explore the growth in popularity, and information that investigates why horrockses made a lasting impression on the fashion industry. This is a fantastic account of the scandalous history behind loreal, the worlds largest beauty company controlled by the. In 1946, the first collection from horrockses fashions became available in retailers.
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