Brahms and Liszt.

I went with my wife today to the hospital for her regular treatment. Being a man I get bored. I had a nose around the friends of mayday shop on site and found this for 15p. I don't like classical music,but this is probably the best lp sleeve I have seen in years. I had to have it. It will never be played but I think it deserves displaying. On the back cover it even tells you who the gown was by,Susan Small. I managed to find this info via the Vintage Fashion Guild website. Susan Small was a British ready-to-wear firm, founded in the early 1940s by Leslie Carr Jones. In 1947 Susan Small joined with other design firms such as Horrockses and Polly Peck to form the Model House Group. The purpose of this organization was to pool their resources to attract new buyers to combined shows. This became the Fashion House Group in 1958, with Leslie Carr Jones as its head.

Susan Small was best known for their party dresses and evening attire. The label continued through the 1960s and 1970s , when they were bought by Courtaulds, the textile giant.

Maureen Baker, chief designer for many years, joined the firm in 1943 and was responsible for Princess Anne's wedding dress in 1973. With the demise of Susan Small, Baker started her own company 'Maureen Baker Designs' in 1978, continuing to enjoy the Princess's patronage, among others.