The British couturier Hardy Amies combined the grand tradition of British tailoring with a Parisian flair for the latest style. But he never lost sight of a particularly British attitude to couture. Ian Garlant, today's Chief designer at Hardy Amies, explains how this relates to to cultural history.

The V&A has a great collection of dresses made by the French couturier Jacques Fath. They were the gift of one of his favourite clients, Lady Alexandra Dacre. Lady Alexandra's daughter, Xania Dennen, rembembers her mother's special arrangement with Fath, who was at the time one of the city's most celebrated designers.

For the well-dressed woman in the late 1940s and early 50s, the tailored suit was a staple of elegant day-wear. In Paris, none had a greater reputation for making tailored suits than the Spanish-born couturier, Cristobal Balenciaga. Percy Savage, the Australian born press-officer for the fashion house of Lanvin during the 50s, explains what it was that set Balenciaga apart.