Maureen Baker

Evelyn Maureen Baker (born Porter; 26 May 1920 – 5 December 2017) was a British fashion designer. She was the chief designer for the Susan Small label for many years, before working for her own label. She is perhaps best known as the designer of the first wedding dress of Princess Anne.

Early life She was born Evelyn Maureen Porter on 26 May 1920, one of six children of Stephen Porter, a bookmaker, and his wife, Ethel, grew up in Hammersmith, London, and was educated at a convent school.

Career Baker rose to prominence when she was appointed in 1943 as head designer at Susan Small, the British ready-to-wear label.

Baker, then the chief designer for the ready-to-wear label Susan Small, created the wedding dress worn by Princess Anne for her marriage to Mark Phillips on 14 November 1973, at Westminster Abbey. Baker had previously designed costumes for Anne.

The dress was an embroidered "Tudor-style" wedding dress with a high collar and "mediaeval sleeves". The train was embroidered by Lock's Embroiderers. Anne was said to have designed many aspects of the dress herself. Compared to previous royal wedding dresses, it was described as "simplistic" and was noted as being close to contemporary 1970s wedding fashions.

In 1978, Baker started her own company, Maureen Baker Designs, following the closure of Susan Small.