Victor Stiebel: The Architect of Romantic Elegance

Victor Stiebel (1907–1976) was a prominent South African-born British fashion designer who became a leading figure in London’s “Big Ten” group of couturiers.

Best known for his romantic and feminine aesthetic, Stiebel rose to fame in the 1930s, captivating the British aristocracy and Hollywood elite with his masterfully draped evening gowns and sophisticated daywear. His designs were characterized by a perfect balance of traditional English charm and modern flair, often featuring intricate pleating, stripes, and a superb sense of movement. During World War II, his reputation grew as he contributed to the Utility Clothing Scheme, proving that elegance could exist even under strict rationing.

As a favorite designer of the British Royal Family, particularly Princess Margaret, Stiebel’s work defined the polished “New Look” era in Britain. Today, he is remembered as a master of construction whose timeless designs embodied the grace and resilience of mid-20th-century high society.

Model in romantic sweet-pea chiffon dress girdled and embroidered in black by Victor Stiebel, Kodachrome by Jay in the gallery of Sybil Colefax and John Fowler's shop, Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1947

Barbara Goalen in slipper-satin dress, tulip-topped with great panniered skirt and a swagged train held in a bow on the hip by Victor Stiebel, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1949

Model in beautiful ball dress of stiff French brocade patterned in a design of lillies by Victor Stiebel, diamond necklace and earrings from William Ogden, photo by Maurice Tabard, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1949

Pat O'Reilly in an occasion dress of turquoise paper taffeta that swirls from a high waist and cascaded behind by Victor Stiebel, photo by Richard Dormer at the Royal Opera House, London, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1958

Barbara Goalen in romantic vast-skirted gown of soft brown-pink net with 18th-century style décolleté garnished with a cluster of flowers by Victor Stiebel, photo by Maurice Tabard, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1949

Pat O'Reilly in gray-and-white check coat with a great cape collar circular at the back and leather belt that spans the waist by Victor Stiebel, photo by Henry Clarke, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1949

Barbara Goalen in black poult jacket, bloused, belted and high-collared, over mauve-and-white checked shirt and wine-red boater, by Victor Stiebel, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1950

Pat O'Reilly in gray-and-white check tweed suit with green velveteen collar and cuffs by Victor Stiebel, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1950

Shelagh Wilson in lovely pure white dress of embroidered organdie, blue sash ties behind with posy of pink flowers by Victor Stiebel, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1950

Anne Gunning being fitted in a black grosgrain suit with a pencil slim skirt and jacket flaring into fullness over the hips by Victor Stiebel, hat by Edell, photo henry Clarke, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1951

Anne Gunning in beautiful tiered crinolined ball dress of drifting organdie festooned with dark blue laurel, the enormous skirt is belted with patent leather by Victor Stiebel, photo by Henry Clarke, Harper's bazaar UK, March 1951

Anne Gunning in charcoal gray flannel suit with deeply notched revers and curved-away waistcoat front to the jacket by Victor Stiebel, cravat from sprey, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1951

Anne Gunning in romantic Gainsborough dress in lilac net with huge circular skirt by Victor Stiebel, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, July 1951

Model in a swirling net skirt beneath an embroidered, pleated and ruffled muslin top by Victor Stiebel, photo by Maurice Tabard at the South Bank Festival Concert Hall, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1951

Model in ravishing dance dress with huge tiered skirt of embroidered organdie and taffeta halter top draped diagonally in front by Victor Stiebel, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, April 1951

Shelagh Wilson in billowing evening dress in uneven tiers of flame tulle and lace, the skirt uneven in front sweeps low behind, black belt marks the natural waist, by Victor Stiebel, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1951

Shelagh Wilson in dress like a full-blown rose, the bodice is black tulle over rose, crinolined skirt in layers of net and tulle blending rose and pink, by Victor Stiebel, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1951

Shelagh Wilson in sage-green velour top coat lined with beige-and-brown check which also makes the skirt, jacket is over-checked with green by Victor Stiebel, Edelle hat, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1951

Anne Gunning in double-breasted middy suit in diagonal black-and-white tweed cuffed and collared in Persian lamb by Victor Stiebel, hat by Edelle, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1952

Barbara Goalen in loose yellow-flecked Donegal tweed coat, it's reversible with a yellow velvet lining, and matching suit with short waistless jacket, by Victor Stiebel, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1952

Fiona Campbell-Walter in shimmering peacock-blue velvet dress with enormous lampshade ruffle by Victor Stiebel, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1952

June Duncan in black velvet close-sleeved bodice with a billowing skirt of black and cinnamon striped organza and white organza kerchief by Victor Stiebel, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1952

June Duncan in long-sleeved, square-necked evening dress in coffee-colored lace with a wide black taffeta sash draped low over the full skirt by Victor Stiebel, photo by Alan Boyd, Harper's Bazaar UK, April 1952

June Duncan in long, white satin ball dress with trailing ends of immense black satin sash falling from a bustle bow, the bodice is encrusted with gold and diamond embroidery by Victor Stiebel, photo by Richard Dormer, March 1952

Margaret Phillips in rose net dress by Victor Stiebel, photo by Alan Boyd, Harper's Bazaar UK, January 1952

Pat O'Reilly in one-shouldered ball gown of ash-gray papery taffeta embossed with lace-patterned velvet medallions, the skirt wraps over to one side, by Victor Stiebel, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1952

Della Oake in red brocade gown with a back-swept skirt and bodice that is outlined in black taffeta by Victor Stiebel, shoes by Delman, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1953

Margaret Phillips and Fiona Campbell-Walter in evening gowns by designer Victor Stiebel (seated), photo by Norman Parkinson, Vogue, 1953

Model in long-bodied evening gown of fern-green satin on top and white organdy sprinkled with marguerites for the skirt by Victor Steibel, photo by Norman Parkinson at the Mansion House, London, Vogue, March 15, 1955

Model in ball gown in a magnificent gleam of apricot lamé, woven with golden and silver medallions, the bow and stole in matching satin by Victor Stiebel, photo by Eugene Vernier, Vogue, October 15, 1956

Model in diamond-draped skirt of lilac corded silk that swings back into the draped bodice, the great pleated skirt is of brown dotted beige net over brown et petticoats by Victor Stiebel, photo by Donald Silverstein, Vogue, March 15, 1956

Simone d'Aillencourt in black paper taffeta domino over white gown with gold and black embroidered bodice by Victor Stiebel, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1956

Anne Gunning in a white cotton dress splashed with huge black patches by Victor Stiebel, photo by Richard Dormer, Jamaica, Harper's Bazaar UK, April 1957

Helen Connor in white silk organza skirt with blue coin dots, swathed with a layer of dusk blue organza over hips and bosom by Victor Stiebel, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1957

Evelyn Tripp in beautiful ball gown of white satin with rose pink by Victor Stiebel, photo by Wilhela Cushman, Ladies' Home journal, September 1958