1980s Handmade Liberty Tana Lawn Floral Cotton Dress
This pretty dress was handmade in the 1980s from Liberty Tana Lawn cotton, very much in keeping with the renewed appetite for romantic floral dresses during the period. The print may be Sky Lune, a Liberty archival floral that was revived for dress fabrics during the 1980s and 1990s.
The off-white Tana Lawn is scattered with delicate pastel flowers and foliage. It has softly puffed sleeves, a boat neckline and discreet pockets set into the side seams. The skirt is gently pleated into the waist and falls to the lower calf, while the back fastens with a row of fabric-covered buttons. The quality of the construction is particularly good; a lot of love and care was put into the making which has a considerable amount of hand stitching and finishing throughout and all very neat. The bodice alone is lined in plain white Liberty Tana Lawn, leaving the full skirt light and fluid.
The dress is in excellent vintage condition with no issues of any note. There are no labels with it being handmade, so please refer to the sizing information below. The fit is meant to be loose so the style will accommodate around a UK 12 or US 8 but can be worn oversized by smaller sizes.
Notes on Fabric: Liberty's celebrated Tana Lawn cotton was developed in the 1930s to combine the lightness and fluid handle of silk with the practicality of cotton, and became particularly associated with the house’s finely detailed floral prints. Today, Liberty Tana Lawn retails at around £32 per metre with approximately four metres used in the construction of this dress.
MEASUREMENTS
BUST - 36 in. (91 cm)
WAIST - 33 in. (84 cm)
HIP - 54 in. (137 cm)
LENGTH - 48 in. (122 cm)
Pickup available at CIRCA VINTAGE
Usually ready in 24 hours
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.
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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.
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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.
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Underground:
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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.