just looking

The Vamp’s Back

1970s, Anne Tyrrell, barbara hulanicki, biba, chelsea cobbler, Derber, Fortuna, gillian richard, just looking, Marcia Brackett, mary quant, mr freedom, nostalgia, petticoat magazine, Sacha, Spectrum, terry de havilland
There’s a party in the air—just getting in the mood? Green satin, long dress, Biba, Kensington High. Street, W8, £9.40. Lace gloves from a selection at Nostalgia, 29 Bedfordbury, New Row WC2, Bracelets from Emeline, SW3. Sparkle beads by Adrien Mann. Perspex shoes by Terry de Havilland, £15 from Derber Shops.

For much too long now, “dressing up” to go out has been looked upon as simply too uncool for words. Being chic meant arriving at a party in the clothes you got up in that morning and heaven help a girl who attempted anything more extravagant than a lurex halter top and trousers. This year the festive season takes its revenge – and with a vengeance! There is room for all the glamour you can muster and then some. It’s time for every girl to discover her own specially good assets, be it a neat pair of legs, smooth shoulders or an uplifting bust, and then show them off in shimmering satin, coolest crepe n’ dazzling decoration.

Pictures taken at Lindos, Rhodes, where Petticoat’s fashion and beauty team stayed by courtesy of Cosmopolitan Holidays Ltd., 296, Regent Street, W1.

Hair by Christine at Mane Line.

Fashion by Marcia Brackett.

Photographed by Fortuna.

Scanned from Petticoat Magazine, 1st December 1973.

A girl knows how to get things going…Long-sleeved, V-neck dress with ruched bodice, by Anne Tyrell for John Marks, £20.95, Wallis Shops. Feather boa, £8.95, at Just Looking, SW3. Bangles from Emeline, SW3. Sparkle beads at Way In, S W1, £1-85. Black sparkly shoes, Terry de Havilland, £15.

And how to cool it down . . Sleeveless dress with ruched front and diamante trim at Spectrum, 70 Gloucester Road,SW7, £29.50. Silver stud earrings, Paul Stephens. Silver poppet beads, Way In, SWI. Silver shoes, Chelsea Cobbler.

Even going home in the small hours can be romantic …Swirl skirt dress with gold lurex relief by Mary Quant, £28, at Bourne and Hollingsworth, W1. Feather boa from Mr. Freedom, SW3, £8-85. Chiffon scarf, “208”, SW10. Beaded purse from Nostalgia, 29 Bedfordbury, WC2. Gold snakeskin shoes by Terry de Havilland for Sacha, £9.99.

Two of the nicest escorts any girl could find . . Black and silver striped lurex vest dress with matching jacket, £12.90, by Gillian Richard at all branches of Miss Selfridge.

Brighten Up

19 magazine, 1970s, anello and davide, Anne Cossins, Dolcis, Feathers, Fenwick, Inspirational Images, John Stember, just looking, mr freedom, Pourelle, Rosie Nice, sally levison, stirling cooper, Vintage Editorials
Red hat in soft felt, from Feathers, 40s. Short crossover woollen top with navy trim has short sleeves, by Anne Cossins for Mr. Freedom, 6gns. Plain black jersey midi skirt, by Stirling Cooper, 90s. Blue and red choker, from Fenwicks, 10s.

Beautiful and gay knits are 19’s answer for post-summer blues; dazzling bright and eye-catching in an array of primary colours. The styles are the simplest possible—tiny tops with cross-over fronts and, for those who prefer the classic, pullovers in cleverly co-ordinated stripes. This style of knitwear is best worn with toning jersey skirts, preferably in a midi length, and trousers. To complete the kaleidoscope look, add brightly coloured shoes, stockings, a scarf or a choker.

Photographed by John Stember.

Scanned from 19 Magazine, October 1970.

Black crochet hat, by Sally Levison Originals, 65s. Short crossover pullover in bright colours has short black sleeves trimmed with red, by Anne Cossins for Mr. Freedom, 6gns. Black jersey skirt fastened up the side with metal buttons, by Stirling Cooper, £6. Black crochet choker, from Fenwicks, 15s.
Multi-coloured striped woollen pullover has long sleeves, 75s. Bright red jersey skirt, 90s. Both by Stirling Cooper. Black tights, by Mary Quant, 15s. Red leather bar shoes, by Anello and Davide, 58s.6d. Black woollen long-line pullover has red, blue and yellow stripes round the waist and elbow, 70s. Yellow jersey skirt, 90s. Both by Stirling Cooper. Bright red tights, by Mary Quant, 15s. Lime green bar shoes, by Anello and Davide, 58s.6d.
Bright blue and yellow vest-style woollen pullover has long sleeves and fastens with tiny buttons at neck, 70s. Bright red pants, 89s.6d. Both by Stirling Cooper. Buttercup yellow pullover with red trim has square neckline and short sleeves, 60s. Bright red jersey pants, £4 19s.6d. Both by Stirling Cooper.
Black, red and yellow short-sleeved pullover has a polo neckline, 75s. Black jersey, button-through skirt, £6. Both by Stirling Cooper. Red and blue woollen pullover has long sleeves which are trimmed with buttons, 75s. Plain black jersey midi skirt, 90s. Both by Stirling Cooper. Long blue silk scarf printed over with flowers, from a selection at Rosie Nice in Kensington Market.
Striped woollen pullover, by Anne Cossins for Mr. Freedom, 6gns. Vivid green skirt jersey, by Stirling Cooper, 90s. Tights, by Mary Quant, 18s.11d. Shoes, by Anello and Davide, 58s.6d.
Fine knit polo-neck pullover with long sleeves worn with matching knit trousers in tones of beige, with red and yellow stripes, by Pourelle, 14gns
Woollen long-sleeved pullover has stripes in yellow, green, blue, red and purple, by Anne Cossins for Mr. Freedom, 6gns. Navy blue jersey knickerbockers, from Just Looking, 5gns.
Light and dark grey pull-on woollen knit hat. Light grey pullover has polo neck and long sleeves. Sleeve-less pullover worn on top is in two-tone grey and has a rounded neckline. Matching midi skirt. 28gns. the set. All by Pourelle. Black leather boots with hooks and laces, by Dolcis, £10 19s. Black crochet hat, by Sally Levison Originals, 65s. Purple and lilac finely knit woollen pullover has matching midi skirt, by Pourelle, £18. Black tights, by Elbeo, 12s.11d.
Striped hat. ochre-coloured finely ribbed pullover and matching midi skirt with diagonal stripes in plum, purple, orange and ochre, 17gns. the set. All by Pourelle. Black leather boots with hooks and laces, by Dolcis, £10 19s.

Let Yourself Go

1970s, 2007, alistair cowin, corocraft, David Finch, gillian richard, Inspirational Images, just looking, Lena Stengard, petticoat magazine, Pinet, Pourelle, Sacha, Shelana, Sue Hone, Vintage Editorials, way in, Xanthe leathers
Voile skirt, Pourelle, (with matching blouse), £18.18s., from Sidney Smith, S.W.3., Spotlight, W.1. Peasant blouse, by Alistair Cowin, £5.15s., Peter Robinson, W.I., Fifth Avenue, S.W.3. Thonged sandals, £2.2s., Xanthe Leather, N.W.3.

If there’s one time in the year when a girl can really let herself go—it’s on a hot summer holiday evening, And what better clothes to let yourself go in than these? Be a bit flamboyant with your fabrics, now’s the time for chiffon and clinging velvet and the styles that only need a suntan for company!

Model is Lena Stengard.

Styled by Sue Hone.

Photographed by David Finch.

Scanned from Petticoat, 18th July 1970.


Printed midi dress with long fringing, Gillian Richard, £10 10s., from all branches of Irvine Sellars, Just In, and Marshall and Snelgrove, W.I. Roman sandals. £2.2s., from Xanthe Leather, and Pussy Cat, Cambridge. Beaded belt, Way In, S.W.1.
Cotton voile dress. Shelana, £4.19s.6d., from 2007, W1., and Manchester. Biba brooch, £4.5s., worn on a chain.
Pourelle voile jacket and pants, £16.16s.. from Just Looking, S.W.3. Miss Pinet sandals, £4.19s.11d. Corocraft watch, £14.10s.
Midi velvet halter-neck dress, Shelana, £10.19s.6d., from 2007, W.1. Corocraft silver and amethyst necklace, £1.5s., and ring, 7s.9d. Sacha sandals, £9.9s.
Midi cotton jersey dress with printed hem, with scarf, by Gillian Richard, £5.10s., from all branches of Irvine Sellars. Consortium belt, £2.10s. Booty silver bangle; £12.10s.

Inspirational Images: Cool-Cut Hot Raspberry

1960s, british boutique movement, clive arrowsmith, georgina linhart, Inspirational Images, just looking, Vogue

Cleverly-cut bra top, just tied in a knot in burning hot pink, with loose low trousers of the ame. By Georgina Linhart, 91/2 gns, at Just Looking.

Cleverly-cut bra top, just tied in a knot in burning hot pink, with loose low trousers of the ame. By Georgina Linhart, 9½ gns, at Just Looking.

Photographed by Clive Arrowsmith.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Vogue, April 1969

Inspirational Editorials: Maybe I was just born liberated

1970s, alice pollock, british boutique movement, Celestia Sporborg, Foale and Tuffin, Frank Horvat, Inspirational Images, just looking, kurt geiger, ossie clark, radley, ritva, stirling cooper, vanity fair

celestia sporborg by frank horvat vanity fair 1971 6

Stirling Cooper

This photoshoot, featuring the brilliantly named Celestia Sporborg, is another one of my all-time favourites, and one I have put off scanning for a long while because Vanity Fair is actually a rather painful magazine to scan. The gummed spine, with age, does not enjoy being flattened so it requires extra effort to maintain some kind of structural integrity. I couldn’t NOT scan though. I love these images. I love the blurriness, her natural facial expressions, the very domestic backdrop and, of course, the completely mind-blowingly fabulous clothes. I don’t know where to start. That Stirling Cooper above is just so modern. And the Radley playsuit, so very Glam. And the Ossie… Plus Alice Pollock, Foale and Tuffin and a Ritva sweater I sold on Vintage-a-Peel a few years back…

It also identifies the shots from Vanity Fair’s Guide to Modern Etiquette, ‘Nice Girls Do’, which I posted about before. To contextualise this shoot, the entire June issue is dedicated to feminism and liberation. Certainly one of the main reasons I love Vanity Fair almost above all other magazines of the period is the fact that they would theme all the contents of an issue, including the fashion spreads.

Celestia Sporborg is now a casting director herself, with over a hundred film credits on IMDB. She married theatre and film producer Robert Fox (brother of James and Edward) in 1975 and they had three children together.

Photographed by Frank Horvat.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Vanity Fair, June 1971

celestia sporborg by frank horvat vanity fair 1971 3

Foale & Tuffin

celestia sporborg by frank horvat vanity fair 1971 4

Radley

celestia sporborg by frank horvat vanity fair 1971 5

Ossie Clark

celestia sporborg by frank horvat vanity fair 1971 1

Ritva

celestia sporborg by frank horvat vanity fair 1971 2

Alice Pollock

Inspirational Editorials: Put them together and what have you got?

1970s, Adrian Mann, aquascutum, Dannimac, Herbert Johnson, Inspirational Images, just looking, Malyard, mary quant, Mulberry, oliver goldsmith, Over 21, Russell & Bromley, simon massey, Sujon, Vintage Editorials, Weathergay, Willie Christie

Put them together - Over 21 - September 1972 - Willie Christie 1

No excuse for looking a wash-out with these rainy-day separates. Showerproof three-quarter length Dannimac cotton jacket. Black Simon Massey shirt. Keep-the-worst-off cotton hat by Malyard. Bouncy beads by Adrien Mann. Bumper sunglasses by Oliver Goldsmith.

Photographed by Willie Christie.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Over 21, September 1972

Put them together - Over 21 - September 1972 - Willie Christie 2

Fabulous shaggy acrylic jacket by Weathergay – believe it or not it’s showerproof. With a pure silk crepe de chine Sujon shirt. Cream wool trousers by Mary Quant. Splash-happy PVC hat from Herbert Johnson. Wet=grass green leather clutch bag by Mulberry Company.

Put them together - Over 21 - September 1972 - Willie Christie 3

Casual-as-they-come trench coat in cotton and polyester from Aquascutum. Lined wool bags by Sujon from Just Looking. Silk shirt from Aquascutum again. Bringing-back-the-sun clutch bag by Mulberry Company. Shoes from Russell and Bromley. Antelope felt hat from Herbert Johnson.

Inspirational Editorials: Knockout Knits

1960s, Adrian Mann, alice pollock, biba, Bobby Cousins, british boutique movement, charlotte martin, Clarks, clobber, eric clapton, george harrison, Inspirational Images, Ivor Wahl, Jimmy Page, just looking, McCaul, petticoat magazine, quorum, ravel, Richard Shops, roger stowell, Rosalind Yehuda, Russell & Bromley, Sharcleod, Vanessa Frye, Vintage Editorials, way in
Knockout Knits Roger Stowell Petticoat March 29th 1969 Sweater and skirt by McCaul from Way In, SW1 Ribbed sweater and skirt by Bobby Cousins
Sweater and skirt by McCaul from Way In, SW1. Ribbed sweater with matching skirt by Bobby Cousins.

Featuring iconic model Charlotte Martin (who had romances with Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Jimmy Page). and some of the sweetest knits I’ve ever seen.

Photographed by Roger Stowell.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Petticoat, March 29th 1969

Blue-green knobbly suit by Clobber from Girl. Beige sling back shoes by John Smith. Dusty pink knitted dress with patterned from by Rosalind Yehuda from Vanessa Frye.
Blue-green knobbly suit by Clobber from Girl. Beige sling back shoes by John Smith. Dusty pink knitted dress with patterned from by Rosalind Yehuda from Vanessa Frye.
Knockout Knits Roger Stowell Petticoat March 29th 1969 Angora dress from Mary Farrin Boutique 67 South Molton Street Shoes from Russell and Bromley Two tone angora dress by Jandy Lesser Sandals Ravel
Angora dress from Mary Farrin Boutique, 67 South Molton Street. The 69 shoe from Russell and Bromley. Knee socks by Pex. Two-tone angora dress by Jandy Lesser. Sandals by Ravel.
Knockout Knits Roger Stowell Petticoat March 29th 1969 Cardigan by Things at Morley Skirt with matching waistcoat by John Craig
Cardigan by “Things” at Morley. Skirt from Richards Shops. Ravel sandals. Gored skirt with matching waistcoat by John Craig. Cream shirt from Ivor Wahl. Clarks shoes.
Both dresses by Clobber at Just Looking. Bracelet by Adrien Mann.
Both dresses by Clobber at Just Looking. Bracelet by Adrien Mann.
Apple green knitted waistcoat by Sharcleod, from Girl, Kings Road. Cream shirt and skirt by Ivor Wahl.
Apple green knitted waistcoat by Sharcleod, from Girl, Kings Road. Cream shirt and skirt by Ivor Wahl.
Cardigan with belt by Biba. Check wool skirt from Richard Shops.
Cardigan with belt by Biba. Check wool skirt from Richard Shops.
Caridgan by Alice Pollock at Quorum. Richard Shops skirt. Shirt by Sharcleod.
Cardigan by Alice Pollock at Quorum. Richard Shops skirt. Shirt by Sharcleod.

Inspirational Editorials: Winter Weathering

1970s, biba, chelsea cobbler, Elgee, Graham Hughes, Honey Magazine, Inspirational Images, just looking, Mary Graeme, Ronnie Stirling, Sheraton, Vintage Editorials, wallis

Coat by

Coat by Elgee, boots by Biba

It seemed appropriate, for some reason…

Photographed by Graham Hughes. Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Honey, December 1974

Coat, skirt, hat and boots by Biba / Coat by Wallis, hat by Biba, boots by Chelsea Cobbler

Coat, skirt, hat and boots by Biba / Coat by Wallis, hat by Biba, boots by Chelsea Cobbler

Coat by

Coat by Stephen Marks, hat by Biba, boots by Mary Graeme / Coat by Elgee, hat by Biba, boots by Chelsea Cobbler

Coat by

Coat by Sheraton from Ronnie Stirling, hat by Fenwicks, boots by Mary Graeme

Coat by

Cape by Elgee, boots by Mary Graeme

Coat by

Coat by Wallis, hat from Fenwick, boots by Chelsea Cobbler / Cape from Just Looking, hat and boots from Biba

Guide to Feminine London

1970s, biba, Boston-151, british boutique movement, carnaby street, countdown, crowthers, Emmerton and Lambert, Foale and Tuffin, Illustrations, Janet Ibbotson, just looking, laura ashley, marrian mcdonnell, Michael Farrell, mr freedom, rowley and oram, stirling cooper, stop the shop, Suliman, thea porter, universal witness, yves saint laurent

Illustrated by Michael Farrell. Click to enlarge.

Oh I do love a good map. Especially a fantastically illustrated map of all my favourite shops in London in 1971. It is the nearest I will ever come to being able to walk around them. Sadness ensues…

Scanned from Vanity Fair, July 1971.

Something To Cling To

1970s, biba, bus stop, david hurn, Foale and Tuffin, georgina linhart, just looking, petticoat magazine, Sacha, Vintage Editorials

Stretch towelling midi dress from Foale and Tuffin. Cotton velour tie-front dress from Phase One. Armband from Biba. Hats from The Shop.

It’s such a shame that towelling has been so roundly bastardised and rendered unwearable by the likes of Juicy ‘Pepto Bismol’ Couture and consequent high street replicas. Even Ossie was using it in the late Sixties!

“High summer towelling” feature scanned from Petticoat, August 1970. Photos by David Hurn. Scanned by Miss Peelpants.

Jacket with belt and long skirt by Bellino. Stretch dress with matching trousers from Foale and Tuffin. Sandals by Sacha. Crochet hat from The Shop.

‘I love you’ top by Clobber

Top, shorts and skirt by Just Looking. Hat from Bus Stop. Sunglasses from Biba. Shoes by Sacha.

Top by Mr Freedom. Shorts by Georgina Linhart.