According to a 1938 newspaper article, Handley-Seymour launched her business in 1908–09 with a staff of four. By 1912 Handley-Seymour was based on
Bond Street, and had received her first Court commissions. She was still located at Bond Street in 1938, with a staff of 200 making up her designs, while her husband handled the administrative side of the business. Poiret was at that time considered one of the most avant-garde and daring couturiers, meaning that Handley-Seymour was catering to a clientele who expected to be offered the smartest, most fashionable Paris modes. While it was reported that Handley-Seymour retired before the end of
World War II which broke out in September 1939, However Handley-Seymour Ltd. was not formally wound up until 1950, following the deaths of Madame Handley-Seymour in 1948 and her husband's death in Buckinghamshire on 12 August 1949.
Theatre design One of Handley-Seymour's first high-profile clients was the actress
Mrs. Patrick Campbell, who commissioned Handley-Seymour to create gowns for her role as
Eliza Doolittle in the 1914 premiere of
George Bernard Shaw's play
Pygmalion.
Royal designs In 1923 Handley-Seymour, at that time dressmaker to Queen Mary, was commissioned to make the bridal gown of
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon for her 26 April
wedding to the Duke of York. The ivory chiffon moire dress was embroidered with pearls and silver thread, with a train of
Flanders lace, and a girdle of silver leaves and green tulle fastened with silver roses and thistles. Handley-Seymour also made a number of outfits for the Duchess's trousseau, which were exhibited to the press on 20 April and were noted for their modestly neutral colours, such as a grey-beige going-away costume. For the next 12 years Handley-Seymour remained the Duchess of York's favourite dressmaker, although by 1937 the Duchess – now
queen consort following the
abdication of Edward VIII – was transferring her patronage to
Norman Hartnell. Despite this, Elizabeth commissioned Handley-Seymour to create her gown for the coronation (although Hartnell dressed the maids of honour). The transfer to Hartnell was not total, as he and Handley-Seymour both supplied clothes for Queen Elizabeth's wardrobe for the
1939 royal tour of Canada. ==Legacy==