Susan Small

Susan Small was a British ready-to-wear firm, founded in the early 1940s by Leslie Carr Jones. In 1947 Susan Small joined with other design firms such as Horrockses and Polly Peck to form the Model House Group. The purpose of this organization was to pool their resources to attract new buyers to combined shows. This became the Fashion House Group in 1958, with Leslie Carr Jones as its head.

Susan Small was best known for their party dresses and evening attire. The label continued through the 1960s and 1970s , when they were bought by Courtaulds, the textile giant.

Maureen Baker, chief designer for many years, joined the firm in 1943 and was responsible for Princess Anne’s wedding dress in 1973. With the demise of Susan Small, Baker started her own company ‘Maureen Baker Designs’ in 1978, continuing to enjoy the Princess’s patronage, among others.

Written by vintage-voyager.com

See also Maureen Baker

from a mid 1940s evening dress

Courtesy of Jo Gamester

from a late 1940s dress

Courtesy of tastyvintage.com

from a late 1950s dress

Courtesy of rosine

from a 1960s dress & jacket suit

Courtesy of vintage-voyager.com

from a mid 1960s dress

Courtesy of awaywiffairies

from a late 1960s/early1970s hostess dress

Courtesy of cat123creative

from a mid 1970s hostess dress

Courtesy of emmapeelpants