1970s Ossie Clark for Quorum Black Angel Sleeve Maxi Dress

This floaty black maxi-dress is by celebrated London boutique Quorum and I'm almost certain that this is an Ossie Clark boutique piece. Quorum was a legendary fashion boutique in the 1960s; founded by Alice Pollock in 1964 and joined a year later by husband and wife team Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell. The designs by Pollock and Clark were often made from fabrics designed by Birtwell and were extolled for their sensual, bohemian aesthetic. They often mixed their designer labels up as well and its fairly common for Ossie designs to have a Quorum label!

This maxi length gown is tailored from a high quality man-made crepe and echoes the classic tea-dress shapes of the 1940s, updated for a swinging sixties audience. The neckline is a low V-shape and there are pretty smocked areas over the bust and at the shoulders. The A-line skirt is designed to swirl around the wearer as they walk or dance. Below the bust, at the sides of the dress, are two long ties which allow the wearer to cinch the empire-waist to the fit of their liking. The dress is unlined and fastens under the left arm with a hidden tonal black zip.

A gorgeous, highly adaptable piece in superb vintage condition with no issues. It is labelled a size UK 10 but vintage Ossies run small so please check the measurements below carefully. The fabric is 50% Viscose, 50% Acetate and has no stretch. We estimate a best fit for up to a size UK 8 or US 4 on account of the small bust.

MEASUREMENTS

BUST - 32 in. (81 cm)

WAIST - 30 in. (76 cm)

HIP - 44 in. (112 cm)

LENGTH - 57 in. (145 cm)