Design for a (day) dress

Design for a pale pink day dress made of floral fabric. The bodice is fitted to the waist and has a low, heart shaped neckline. Twisted gathers at the centre front provide shaping for the bust. The left top facing band over the bust threads through gathers to the right side and finishes with an applied bow below the bust. The short raglan sleeves give a bolero effect. The skirt has a hip yoke with a stand up band at hip level, decorated with a bow on the left side. It reaches to below the knee. The dress is worn with long white gloves.
Fashion designer Victor Stiebel (1907-1976) was born in Durban in South Africa and came to Cambridge in 1924 to read architecture. After designing sets and costumes for the Footlights review, he decided to go into fashion design. Steibel started working for court dressmakers Reville in 1929. In 1932 he set up his own business at 21 Bruton Street in Mayfair. During World War II Stiebel enlisted in the Camouflage Division and also designed Utility clothing.
After the war, Stiebel worked for the Jacqmar fashion house in Grosvenor Street as Director of Couture, then in 1958 he re-opened his own establishment at 17 Cavendish Square. He retired in 1963 suffering from muscular sclerosis.
Stiebel produced romantic, understated clothes, specialising in evening wear and dressing high society figures and celebrities like Princess Margaret and Vivien Leigh.