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  2. Catherine Walker

France / United Kingdom

Catherine Walker

  • Couture tailoring
  • Dressmaking
  • Embroidery

Catherine Walker co-founded her London couture house with Said Cyrus in 1977. Their Chelsea atelier adopted the specialised organisation of Paris couture, with separate workrooms for tailoring and dressmaking and additional expertise in embroidery.

Portrait of Catherine Walker
The Independent; photographer not specified · Copyrighted; see source terms.

Five looks to know

Black dress with white side panel — leftmost look — Catherine Walker, Shown 2001; design date not stated

Collection selection

Black dress with white side panel — leftmost look

Shown 2001; design date not stated · Fashion in Motion, V&A, 2001

The leftmost black-and-white dress uses a pale side panel to lengthen the body’s line. The other three dresses in the composite are contextual.

© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Black velvet evening dress with jeweled yoke — Catherine Walker, 1994

Collection selection

Black velvet evening dress with jeweled yoke

1994 · Museum collection; season not stated

A pearl-and-diamanté yoke suspends the backless velvet sheath, recalling the elongated lines of 1930s evening wear.

© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
“Elvis Dress” and bolero — Catherine Walker, 1989

Collection selection

“Elvis Dress” and bolero

1989 · Museum collection; season not stated

Pearls and sequins cover the slender white ensemble Diana wore to the British Fashion Awards and on her visit to Hong Kong.

© Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Floral chiffon halter gown — Catherine Walker, 1989

Collection selection

Floral chiffon halter gown

1989 · Museum collection; season not stated

The pleated halter bodice and dropped waist lead into a flowing floral skirt, exemplifying Walker’s elongated line.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Strapless floral ball gown — left dress — Catherine Walker, Spring/Summer 1990

Collection selection

Strapless floral ball gown — left dress

Spring/Summer 1990

The strapless bodice and lowered waist shape a romantic floral gown. This record refers to the left dress in the museum photograph.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Collections & archive pieces

1 collections represented · 1 piece

Selected work

1 piece

About Catherine Walker

This structure placed skilled making at the centre of the business. After Walker's death in 2010, Cyrus continued the house's design work.

READ FURTHER

Catherine Walker & Co — House history
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