In 1944 Frank Usher was started up during wartime austerity and rationing.

It was at a time when all manufacturers needed textile trading coupons to operate. So, armed with both coupons and a ready made name, the company was formed.

A first collection of tailor-made dresses was produced and sold to a London department store. Success followed quickly as women loved the idea of buying a couture look at realistic prices — especially since Christian Dior had introduced his New Look.

Frank Usher opened their first West End showrooms in the mid fifties and started to create a solid UK and international business. The press, too, got the Frank Usher bug and Vogue featured many dresses modelled by such luminaries of the day, such as actress Kay Kendall and top model Barbara Goalen.

During the sixties and seventies when swinging London was at its peak, the label was going from one success to another. There is a late sixties film, called Blazes Away (starring Dame Maggie Smith) which is set in a couture boutique. The brilliant Frank Usher designed the wardrobe for the entire film, and there are some real beauties on show.

From glamorous sequinned tops to long flowing maxi dresses, there is bound to be a piece of vintage Frank Usher that is perfect for you.

At My Vintage, we stock lots of vintage Frank Usher from the late fifties to the early nineties. They are also one of the more reasonably-priced designer labels, making this fashion holy grail all the more accessible.

Shop for Frank Usher and other vintage designer labels 24/7 at www.myvintage.co.uk or in our vintage shop in the centre of Darwen.