clive arrowsmith

Starlet Nights

antony price, british boutique movement, clive arrowsmith, Hamish Bowles, harpers and queen, Inspirational Images, maudie james, Monty Don, murray arbeid, sheridan barnett, Stephen Jones, Vintage Editorials
Upstaging madly in a flurry of feathers, flounces and faux jewels, our chorus line throws caution to the wings and takes centre stage for a thousand and one glamour-puss nights, directed by Hamish Bowles, 19.

Left to right: Black taffeta dress by Murray Arbeid. Black velvet and rose fascinator by Stephen Jones. Black wool crepe sheath dress with feathers by Sheridan Barnett. Black marabou and ostrich feathered opera coat by Sheridan Barnett, from Roxy 25 Kensington Church Street. Mauve taffeta and velvet stripe dress by Murray Arbeid. Rose hat by Stephen Jones. Crystal drop earrings by Monty Don. Black sun-ray pleated lame and chiffon evening dress by Antony Price, to order from Ebony. Earrings by Andrew Logan.

Upstaging madly in a flurry of feathers, flounces and faux jewels, our chorus line throws caution to the wings and takes centre stage for a thousand and one glamour-puss nights, directed by Hamish Bowles, 19.

A fascinating little spread here, directed by a 19-year-old Hamish Bowles and featuring pieces by established designers like Sheridan Barnett, Murray Arbeid and the Antony Price I’d give my first born to own… Plus up and coming designers like Stephen Jones and Monty Don (yes, that Monty Don…). Plus the make-up was by iconic Sixties model, Maudie James. I’m not such a huge fan of Harpers and Queen in this period, but this spread is such a perfect combination of what had been and what was to come – which makes it a definite cut above the rest.

Photographed by Clive Arrowsmith.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Harpers and Queen, August 1983

Inspirational Images: Full Fling

1970s, 1980s, clive arrowsmith, Emanuel, harpers and queen, zandra rhodes
Black silk taffeta dress with gold sequins hand embroidered with a matching gathered overskirt open at the front (The dress can be worn alone, the overskirt as a cape) £1150 from Emanuel

Black silk taffeta dress, hand embroidered with gold sequins with a matching gathered overskirt open at the front (The dress can be worn alone, the overskirt as a cape), £1,150 from Emanuel.

Photographed by Clive Arrowsmith.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Harpers and Queen, September 1980.

Black silk organza hand printed with black design with matching full wrap around skirt over a grey crinline petticoat to order from Zandra Rhodes

Black silk organza hand printed with black design with matching full wrap around skirt over a grey crinoline petticoat, to order from Zandra Rhodes

Inspirational Images: Fringes and feathers

1960s, british boutique movement, clive arrowsmith, fulham road clothes shop, Inspirational Images, janice wainwright, simon massey, Vogue
Fringed jumpsuit by Janice Wainwright for Simon Massey, 9½ gns. Silk scarf with fringes from Fulham Road Clothes Shop, £3.

Fringed jumpsuit by Janice Wainwright for Simon Massey, 9½ gns. Silk scarf with fringes from Fulham Road Clothes Shop, £3.

I must have flicked past this image so many times in the past, but the most recent time I stopped and stared because – somewhere in between then and now – I have acquired this jumpsuit in black. I’m still waiting to give it an outing, but I will be sure to show you when I do. Although I can’t promise the befeathered head, or companion…

Photographed by Clive Arrowsmith. Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Vogue, March 1969

Inspirational Editorials: Tight Fit

1970s, Ace, betsey johnson, Caovilla, clive arrowsmith, Dansez, Fiorucci, Howie, Inspirational Images, manolo blahnik, Maxfield Parris, Rayne, Ritzy, topshop, Walter Steiger
Coat by Andrea Daimond. Yellow bodysuit by Fiorucci. Purple leather shoes by Manolo Blahnik.

Coat by Andrea Diamond. Yellow bodysuit by Fiorucci. Purple leather shoes by Manolo Blahnik.

I’m choosing to ignore the realness of the fur and just see these images as stunning tableaux portraying strong women in dominant poses. I hope you will too…

Photographed by Clive Arrowsmith. Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Harpers and Queen, November 1979

Coat by Frank Cooney. Black long sleeve leotard and black footless tights by Dansez from Topshop. Black leather sandals by Manolo Blahnik

Coat by Frank Cooney. Black long sleeve leotard and black footless tights by Dansez from Topshop. Black leather sandals by Manolo Blahnik

Coat by Zwirn. Gold trousers and bustier by Ritzy. Red and gold leather shoes by Caovilla from Rayne.

Coat by Zwirn. Gold trousers and bustier by Ritzy. Red and gold leather shoes by Caovilla from Rayne.

Coat from Konrad. Skintight pink trousers and matching top by Betsey Johnson from Howie, 138 Long Acre. Metallic blue sandals by Walter Steiger.

Coat from Konrad. Skintight pink trousers and matching top by Betsey Johnson from Howie, 138 Long Acre. Metallic blue sandals by Walter Steiger.

Coat from National Fur Company. Strapless sequined top with skintight trousers from Ace. Black suede belt by Maxfield Parris. Black leather sandals by Manolo Blahnik,

Coat from National Fur Company. Strapless sequined top with skintight trousers from Ace. Black suede belt by Maxfield Parris. Black leather sandals by Manolo Blahnik,

Inspirational Images: Butterfly

1970s, clive arrowsmith, Inspirational Images, Rayne, Vogue

rayne butterfly arrowsmith

Shoes by Rayne (the butterfly is real). Photographed by Clive Arrowsmith.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Vogue, March 1971

Inspirational Images: Portrait of a Lady, by herself

clive arrowsmith, hats, Inspirational Images, seventies fashion, Vogue
This picture is so very beautiful, it makes me catch my breath….the colours are like a dreamscape.

Hat by Otto Lucas.

Photo by Clive Arrowsmith. Vogue, June 1970

Keeping Cool In Sticky Situations

cecil gee, clive arrowsmith, Foale and Tuffin, Inspirational Images, lee bender, marrian mcdonnell, observer magazine, ossie clark, Rosalind Yehuda, sixties
She wears top and trousers by Rosalind Yehuda (shoes by Sacha). He wears suit and shirt by Blades (shoes by Chelsea Cobbler).


Well we all need help with that. Sadly, this just means in terms of temperature. Although it is very much on my wavelength about such things. I just don’t see the need to instantly strip off as soon as there is a hint of sunlight.

Still wearing a moderate weight vintage coat, I was being blown along the seafront last weekend and frowning at people walking along in shorts. Do they just have a different inner thermostat to me? Or did they, as I suspect, look out of the window, see the sunshine and feel a steely determination to wear as few clothes as possible and get down to the beach? Chillblains or no chillblains…

Even when it genuinely is rather balmy, I still don’t see any great need to strip off…I like clothes too much.

Anyway, enough of my rambling and on with this superb spread from The Observer Magazine, 3 August 1969. Not only do I love the clothes (both his and hers), but I love the settings and overall feel of the photos by Clive Arrowsmith.

Hot days in sticky cities can be miserable. But there’s no need to take to a beach dress or wear your tie draped round your nabel. Keep morale up, temperature down with cover-up clothes in lightweight fabrics styled simply in cool, clear colours.

Dress by Foale and Tuffin. He wears Cerruti.

She wears Marrian McDonnell (shoes by Shoosissima). He wears suit by Cecil Gee, shirt and tie by Turnbull and Asser.

She wears ensemble by Foale and Tuffin (shoes by Biba). He wears suit by Fex Brothers, tie and shirt by Turnbull and Asser.

She wears dress by Lee Cecil for Jetsetters (shoes by Sacha). Silk scarf by Tony de Celis (the man in these pictures). He wears Gordon Deighton at Trend.

She wears Ossie Clark (boots by Chelsea Cobbler). He wears top and trousers from Feathers.