Roecliff & Chapman Model: Elegant British Postwar Ready-to-Wear

Roecliff & Chapman Model was a British ready-to-wear fashion house active in the late 1940s and ’50s, specializing in high-end womenswear.

Based at a prestigious address on Grosvenor Street in Mayfair, London, the company produced elegant, well-crafted garments that reflected the refined style of postwar British fashion. Their designs offered sophisticated ready-to-wear alternatives at a time when quality and understated elegance were highly valued.

Though the label appears to have ceased operations by the late 1950s, surviving pieces remain appreciated as examples of mid-century British fashion craftsmanship. These elegant designs showcase the refined style and quality craftsmanship of Roecliff & Chapman Model, a sophisticated British ready-to-wear label of the postwar era.

Actress Hazel Court in watered silk dress in purple, white and gray, with a shirt top and gathered skirt by Roecliff & Chapman, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, July 1949

Anne Gunning in elegant silk jersey dress with soft folds on one side by Roecliff & Chapman, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1950

Susan Hook in black velvet dress with mermaid-tight skirt flaring into a fish-tail from the knee by Roecliff & Chapman, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1950

Actress Kay Kendall in cyclamen silk jersey draped evening dress leaving one shoulder bare by Roecliff & Chapman, photo by Richard Dormer, Madeira, Harper's Bazaar UK, January 1951

Fiona Campbell-Walter in beautiful halter gown in navy taffeta with white embroidery by Roecliff & Chapman at Bon Marché, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1951

June Duncan in pastel-colored wool evening dress with cross-over bodice and softly draped skirt, waist emphasized by silver belt, by Roecliff & Chapman, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1951

Model in evening gown by Roecliff & Chapman, Harper's Bazaar UK, July 1951

Pat O' Reilly in beautiful, floating dress of white net, white cotton fringe embroiders the bodice and swirls into flowers on the huge skirt by Roecliff & Chapman, photo by Richard Dormer, Malta, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1951

Shelagh Wilson in lovely evening gown of lemon nylon taffeta skirt with black silk jersey bodice by Roecliff and Chapman, Vogue, 1951

Anne Gunning in cool, crisp white piqué dress covered with a tiny battledress jacket in cerise grosgrain, articulated with a cerise belt by Roecliff & Chapman, raffia hat by Eaton Bag Co., photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1952

Anne Gunning in white silk chiffon gown draped in flowing lines with length of chiffon off of one shoulder, almond-green faille waistband by Roecliff & Chapman, photo by Richard Dormer at Le Drap d'Or restaurant, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1952

June Duncan in beautiful gown of sea-green net of deep water blue over emerald with sparkling top by Roecliff & Chapman, branched mask of red and gold oakleaves by Hugh Skillen, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1952

Model in brocade and velvet halter-necked evening dress by Roecliff & Chapman, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1952

Myrtle Crawford in white lace "Ascot" dress by Roecliff & Chapman, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1952

Pat O'Reilly in lovely sprigged organdie dress by Roecliff & Chapman, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1952

Shelagh Wilson in loose white jacket with enormous navy spots worn over wide-legged jeans and a dupion sun-top by Roecliff & Chapman, photo by Richard Dormer at the Greek temple at Agrigento, Sicily, Harper's Bazaar UK, January 1952 

Susan Abraham in elaborately pailletted evening gown from Roecliff and Chapman, Vogue UK, December 1952

Susan Abraham in quilted shantung dress from Roecliff & Chapman, Harper's Bazaar UK, April 1952

Barbara Goalen in magnificent duo of coat and dress in champagne and chartreuse green brocade by Roecliff & Chapman, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, October 1953

Barbara Goalen in pale turquoise grosgrain dress and jacket embroidered with braid by Roecliff & Chapman, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1953

Model in beautiful draped jersey evening gown by Roecliff & Chapman, Vogue UK, May 1953

Model in cotton organdy evening gown by Roecliff and Chapman, Vogue UK, March 1953

Model in print Celanese organza dress by Roecliff & Chapman, Harper's Bazaar UK, April 1953

Shelagh Wilson in black organza dress tufted with wool with full skirt and fichu neckline by Roecliff & Chapman, white straw hat by Jenny Fischer, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1953

Shirley Worthington in beautiful slipper satin gown with beaded embroidery by Roecliff & Chapman, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1953

Shirley Worthington in coronation gown with bejeweled and embroidered bodice trimmed with ostrich, and matching ostrich-edged cape, by Roecliff & Chapman, Harper's Bazaar UK, June 1953

Shirley Worthington in evening gown from Roecliff & Chapman, Vogue UK, June 1953

Shirley Worthington in Roecliff & Chapman's paper-taffeta ball gown as seen in Vogue UK, September 1953

Shirley Worthington in pure silk organza ensemble embroidered with small florets by Roecliff & Chapman, Vogue UK, April 1954

Anne Gunning in a cloud of white organdy appliquéd with pink flowers and matching stole, by Roecliff & Chapman, photo by Richard Dormer at Delphi, Harper's Bazaar UK, January 1955

Myrtle Crawford in ruby red chiffon dress that winds round the torso, drapery is thrown over one shoulder into an emerald, ruby and sapphire stole by Roecliff & Chapman, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1956

Pat O'Reilly in close-carved, clear woven navy-blue and white cotton redingote by Roecliff & Chapman, hat by Erik, photo by Tom Kublin at Demel's, Vienna, Harper's Bazaar UK, January 1956

Pat O'Reilly in heavy white guipure lace gown breaking into a fishtail train by Roecliff & Chapman, photo by Tom Kublin, Opera House, Vienna, Harper's Bazaar UK, January 1956

Anne Gunning in classic white draped jersey sheath with the back that falls in draped folds by Roecliff & Chapman, mink stole by Maxwell Croft, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, December 1958

Helen Bunney in gorgeous drifting cloud of nylon organza by Roecliff & Chapman, Helen's wig from Steiner, photo by Richard Dormer, Scotland, Harper's Bazaar UK, August 1958