Gowns to Die For

In 1943 a new home was found for the workrooms which had previously created gowns for John Lewis and Peter Jones.  The John Lewis showroom had been tucked away just off Oxford Street in Phoenix Yard behind the John Lewis East House and a stones throw from the burnt out shell of the original John Lewis shop.  The Peter Jones workroom had been housed in Medway House but the two were moved to 20 – 22 Great Titchfield Street under the management of Taylor and Penton.

Creating original evening gowns and stunning blouses the garments were often modelled in the shops by young female Partners continuing a traditional started in the 1920s when the court dressmaker Elspeth Fox Pitt was employed by Spedan Lewis to bring a higher class of trade to the Peter Jones fashion business.