ARCHIVE - 1960s Bruce Arnold Red Sequin and Beaded Gown

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This early 1960s red crepe fully beaded gown is truly exquisite, and has a lovely weight to it. It features a scoop neckline to both front and back, with capped sleeves, and an original 'USA' central zip closure. The inside of the dress is lined with soft pink silk, making it gentle on the skin and comfortable to wear. The exterior silk fabric is heavily embellished with pale red, almost pink looking coated sequins and fine red beads arranged in a repeat floral pattern. Of note, the dress is more red in real life as the sequins have reflected the studio flash light which shows off the floral pattern beautifully. Its a full length sheath dress falling to around ankle length, depending on height, and also has a kick split to the centre rear, giving freedom of movement and making it the perfect party piece!

The dress is unlabelled but is almost certainly by Bruce Arnold of Hong Kong and made for a very high end department store or retailer. These evening dresses are comparable with Gene Shelley in terms of quality and design.

The dress is in very good to excellent vintage condition with no marks or stains, and has retained all its original beadwork. Some sequin loss is evident on the shoulders but plenty can be taken from elsewhere to fill in the gaps; however, it is minor. As it is beaded it does not have a great amount of stretch, so please refer to our measurements below to ensure a great fit. We feel it would best fit up to a 10 UK, or 6 US.

MEASUREMENTS:

BUST: 34 in. ( 86.36 cm )
SHOULDER: 17 ( 43.18 cm )
WAIST: 28 in. ( 71.12 cm )
HIP: 37 in. ( 93.98 cm )
LENGTH: 54 in. ( 137.16 cm )

Pickup currently unavailable at CIRCA VINTAGE

F.A.Q.

Where can I find more information about this item?

We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about any item on our site. Please get in touch at shop@circavintage.com or on +44 (0)20 7365053.

Will you set anything aside for me for my appointment?

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 to my appointment?

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 at the showroom?

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 to my appointment?

Yes but please do let us know the size of your party in advance.

Where can I have my circa garment altered?

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.

Does Circa 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 Circa 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 at the Circa showroom?

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 to the Circa showroom 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 does Circa 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.