1970s Stirling Cooper Aubergine Wool Zip Up Dress
This very early 1970s or even late 1960s mini-dress was made by Stirling Cooper - a cult British fashion boutique label founded in London in 1967 by two London cab drivers Ronnie Stirling and Jeff Cooper. The brand became a pioneer of the 'Swinging London' movement, known for its bold, youthful approach to ready-to-wear. The showroom on up-market Wigmore Street launched the career of Antony Price, especially when Mick Jagger worn his designs on the 'Gimme Shelter' tour in 1969.
The dress is crafted from deep aubergine wool and features a fitted, structured cut with a sharp dagger collar and short sleeves. The front fastens with a chunky silver zip running the full length of the dress, echoed in the two chest patch pockets, each designed with distinctive L-shaped seams and finished with matching silver zip details. This dress is unlined. The label reads “Stirling Cooper London”, and is labelled size 1 which refers to an in-house sizing system. There is an accompanying 100% wool content label.
Please disregard the colour of the fabric in the label and close-up shots as it was taken on an iPhone and is not an accurate representation of the garment. The dress, a rare survivor from the period, is in good to very good vintage condition with some small repaired holes on the sleeve which are hard to spot when the dress is being worn. The fabric has no stretch. Our model's sizes are: Bust: 34" (87cm), Waist: 24" (61cm), Hips: 34" (86cm) and Height: 5' 4" (164cm). She's a size UK 6, US 0-2 and this fit her well.
MEASUREMENTS
BUST - 32 in. (81 cm)
WAIST - 29 in. (74 cm)
HIP - 36 in. (91 cm)
LENGTH - 34 in. (86 cm)
Pickup available at CIRCA VINTAGE
Usually ready in 24 hours
F.A.Q.
Will you set anything aside for me before I come?
We are happy to find anything you may be interested in from our website. We have an extensive offline collection. It is helpful if you can let us know your size, style, favourite colour to wear and perhaps your budget in advance of your appointment.
Do I need to bring anything with me?
Clients may wish to bring modern shapewear. You may also wish to bring favourite footwear. We often find a classic pair of nude shoes work well when trying-on, or gold and silver. We have a huge variety of slip dresses and petticoats to complete your look. Many of which are also for sale.
Do you have a price range?
Many of our lower priced pieces, under £250, are not available to buy online. Dresses usually start at £150 and go up to £30,000 for the very best archival couture. Our bridalwear price points range from £1,000 to £20,000.
Can I bring anyone with me?
Yes but please do let us know the size of your party in advance.
Where can I get alterations?
We offer some alterations in house. Should you need alterations we cannot provide, we can refer you to one of our tried and trusted tailors.
Do you have an after-care service?
We will advise you on the best way to clean and preserve your vintage purchases and can also recommend trusted local dry cleaners.
Can I cancel my appointment?
You are free to cancel but please do give us as much notice as possible.
Where's the showroom?
Our address is Circa Vintage, 87A Lansdowne Way London SW8 2PB
Upon arrival, buzz the 87A button on the gate or call us 020 7736 5038 to let you in.
Do you have parking?
We offer free, secure, off-street parking but it is a tight squeeze – so do let us know in advance if you will be needing this and we can make sure that there is space available.
How do I get there by public transport?
Underground:
Stockwell (7 min walk) - Northern and Victoria Lines
Nine Elms (9 min walk) – Northern Line
Overground:
Wandsworth Road (13 min walk) – Westbound to Clapham Junction / Eastbound to Dalston Junction
What payment methods do you accept?
Cash, credit/debit card, bank transfer, contactless, Paypal
What is archival fashion?
Archival fashion refers to historically significant designer garments preserved for their cultural, aesthetic, or technical importance. At Circa, archival fashion includes couture archive pieces, runway garments, early designer work, and museum-quality vintage that document the evolution of fashion history.
How is archival fashion different from vintage?
While vintage typically describes clothing over 20 years old, archival vintage is selected for its rarity, provenance, and relevance to a designer’s archive or fashion history. Circa specialises in archival pieces rather than general vintage.