This sculpting skirt suit was designed for Griffin & Spalding in the early 1950s. Griffin & Spalding was a Nottingham department store founded in 1846 which continued to trade under that name until 1973. Tailored from grey wool, it is detailed with tiny squares in black and white which look like polka-dots from a distance. It is further embroidered with black triangles around the hips, that echo the sharp shapes formed by the tailoring. The jacket is tailored to a classic, angular silhouette with a super-cinched waist emphasising an hour-glass figure. It closes at the front with a single black button on a zip-zag hemline, as well as a hidden snap closure and hook through a thread loop. The cuffs are turned up and detailed with three black buttons. The jacket is lined with matte tonal grey silk.

The skirt is tailored to a pencil style with a small pleat at the rear for ease of movement. The waistband is lined with a thick grosgrain band in black which reads “silhouette de luxe” in yellow. The front of the waistband has a small amount of boning to further cinch the silhouette; it fastens at the right hip with a tonal zip and two hook-and-eye clasps.

This jacket and skirt ensemble is in truly excellent vintage condition with no issues of any note. There are no composition or size labels, and the fabric has no stretch. The suit will fit up to a UK 8 or US 4 max.

MEASUREMENTS JACKET

BUST - 35 in. (89 cm)

WAIST - 28 in. (71 cm)

HIP - 38 in. (97 cm)

LENGTH - 23.5 in. (60 cm)

SHOULDERS - 16 in. (41 cm)

MEASUREMENTS SKIRT

WAIST - 26 in. (66 cm)

HIP - 38 in. (97 cm)

LENGTH - 25.5 in. (65 cm)