Impressive Fashion Designs by Susan Small in the 1950s

Susan Small was a British ready-to-wear fashion label, best known for their party dresses and evening wear. Their colourful printed evening dresses often combined “contrasting elements of exotic prints on simple shapes or traditional fabrics”.

Fashion designs by Susan Small in the 1950s

Susan Small was founded by Leslie Carr Jones in the early 1940s. In 1943, Maureen Baker joined as head designer, and stayed in that role until the company closed and she started Maureen Baker Designs in 1978.

In 1947, Susan Small joined forces with other fashion design companies including Horrockses and Polly Peck to form the Model House Group, in order to be able to attract more buyers to larger shows. In 1950, their advertising featured the slogan, “To the smaller smart woman ... it’s a Susan Small world!” In 1953, Brian Duffy, later to find fame as a photographer and film producer, joined as an assistant designer, having studied dress design at Saint Martin’s School of Art.

In 1958, Model House Group became the Fashion House Group in 1958, headed by Carr Jones. In the 1970s, they were bought by Courtaulds. Here below is a set of amazing photos that show impressive fashion designs by Susan Small in the 1950s.

Barbara Goalen in beautiful tulle evening gown with glittering sequined bodice by Susan Small, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1950

Barbara Goalen in evening dress by Susan Small, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1950

Shelagh Wilson in navy wool dress with an overskirt faced with striped tie-silk by Susan Small, black felt hat by Clarida, photo by Henry Clarke, Harper's Bazaar UK, February, 1950

Anne Gunning in brilliant grosgrain evening coat overa white grosgrain dress by Susan Small, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1951

Anne Gunning in Grecian style dress of white lace flowers on mushroom-pink marquisette, a draped cross-over bodice, and full skirt gathered at the waist with narrow belt by Susan Small, photo by Keith Ewart, Harper's Bazaar UK, July 1951

Della Oake in black taffeta sheath dress overlaid with coffee-colored lace, apron skirt is full and gathered and edged with black taffeta, by Susan Small, photo by Keith Ewart, Harper's Bazaar UK, July 1951

Model in summer dress of dotted muslin with insertions of lilac-colored broderie Anglaise by Susan Small, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1951

Pat O'Reilly in brown-and-cream check, tie-silk dress that flares in the back and has pleats in front by Susan Small, hat by R.M. Hats, photo by Henry Clarke, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1951

Anne Gunning in flowing coat of sand-colored marquisette over dress to match, bodice and coat cuffs are overlaid with white guipure, by Susan Small, photo by Keith Ewart, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1952

Anne Gunning in grand evening dress; the top in black faille tied round with emerald ribbon, the skirt in yards of black-and-white check taffeta by Susan Small, photo by Richard Dormer at Le Drap d'Or restaurant, Cannes, June 1952

Anne Gunning in natural shantung dress, finely braided in an overall scroll design with flared skirt by Susan Small, black velvet hat with removable straw brim by Erik, photo by Richard Dormer, Cannes, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1952

Anne Gunning in three-layer dress of a cobweb of black lace over shell-pink organza over black taffeta by Susan Small, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1952

Anne Gunning is wearing a black grosgrain shawl in two layers with slits for the hands over a square-necked white grosgrain dress by Susan Small after Fath, black straw hat by R.M. Hats, photo by Maurice Tabard, May 1952

Gigi Terwalgne in middy top of soft jersey velour in crimson red worn with black jersey skirt by Susan Small, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1952

Shelagh Wilson in Marchington cotton blouse and printed skirt by Susan Small, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1952

Susan Hook in a button-through cocktail coat-dress in embossed satin by Susan Small, ten-gallon gondola hat by Otto Lucas, antique silver bracelets by Halcyon Days, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1952

Anne Gunning in black linen top and vermillion sail-cloth skirt etched in black by Susan Small, photo by Richard Dormer, Spain, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1953

Bettina Graziani is wearing a geranium-pink jersey velours self-lined stole by Susan Small, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, January 1953

Della Oake in a town dress of gray and white flecked tweed with an important top width, belted in plain leather by Susan Small, silk jersey beret by R.M.Hats, photo by Keith Ewart, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1953

Della Oake in black velvet princess dress with buttons and braid by Susan Small, black velvet hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1953

Pat O'Reilly in a button-through dress, beautifully cut in a natural angora and wool jersey by Susan Small, Ascher cotton square, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, July 1953

Shelagh Wilson in armagnac-colored silk jersey dress, classically draped, the top strpaless under a brief bolero, by Susan Small, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1953

Susan Abraham in off-white tweed dress, the empire line marked with black satin ribbon by Susan Small, black braided hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1953

Anne Gunning in dazzle-striped black and white cotton dress banded and bowed in black satin by Susan Small. photo by Richard Dormer on the Sacred Way to the Temple of Apollo, Delphi, Harper's Bazaar UK, January 1955

Marla Landi in camel-colored light-weight narrow wool dress belted in pigskin by Susan Small, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, January 1955

Anne Gunning is wearing a rose-red silk chiffon evening dress by Susan Small, photo by Norman Parkinson, India, Vogue, 1956

Pat O'Reilly in glowing tangerine sheath with a Y-line skirt, buttoned low in Moygashel Irish linen by Susan Small, straw cartwheel by Erik, photo by Tom Kublin, Vienna, Harper's Bazaar UK, January 1956

Pat O'Reilly in lovely cotton dress screen-printed with red roses on white, the flaring short skirt is cleft into a deep inverted pleat in front by Susan Small, photo by Tom Kublin, Vienna, Harper's Bazaar UK, January 1956

Simone d'Aillencourt in grey dress and short cropped bolero by Susan Small, photo by Eugene Vernier, Vogue, 1956

Anne Gunning in short evening dress of printed nylon chiffon by Susan Small, photo by Richard Dormer, Montego Bay, Jamaica, Harper's Bazaar UK, April 1957

Anne St. Marie in fine navy blue wool dress, the skirt billowing over stiff petticoats and a short jacket with dotted bow tie by Susan Small, hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, NYC, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1957

Brenda Harper in sailor-top jumper suit in palest honey serge by Susan Small, pale straw sou'wester by Simone Mirman, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1957

Enid Boulting in white satin gown with bell skirt by Susan Small, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1957

Model in floral print evening dress by Susan Small clutches an alert Tibetan spaniel puppy, photo by Helmut Newton, August 1957

Model in tangerine tweed dress and cape by Susan Small, hat with hailstorm veil by Otto Lucas, Susan handbag, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1957

Tania Mallet in strapless evening dress by Susan Small, photo by Norman Parkinson, Vogue, 1957

Model in narrow little black dress with slotted black satin belt high under the bosom by Susan Small, black mink stole by Deanfield, ostrich tipped hat by Jenny Fischer, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1958

Anne Gunning in beautiful ball gown of white lace sparked with Lurex by Susan Small, photo by Richard Dormer at the home of François Duhay de Berenx, interior decorator, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1959

Anne Gunning in charming hyacinth blue dress and double-breasted jacket of Courtelle double jersey by Susan Small, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1959

Anne Gunning in white wool knitted coat over an orange sleeveless dress by Susan Small, photo by Richard Dormer at The Ashoka Hotel, New Dehli, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1959