Phyllis Collins

Wear it with flare

19 magazine, 1970s, anjelica huston, Bob Richardson, bus stop, C&A, Dolcis, gordon king, lee bender, McCaul, mr freedom, Phyllis Collins, R. P. Ellen, ravel, Sheraton, sheridan barnett, simon massey, stirling cooper, universal witness
Single-breasted blanket check coat, £21.50. Black corduroy peddle-pushers, £5.95. Both by Lee Bender at Bus Stop. Nylon socks, from Mr. Freedom, 60p. Black suede high-heeled peep-toes, by R. P. Ellen, £5.95. Net veil with poppies, from Fenwicks, £1.45.

Swagger around this autumn in one of the most dramatic coats ever. Gone are skimpy shapes, instead there’s a swirling full-cut look, strongly reminiscent of the ‘Fifties. Back comes the walking-out coat and the ‘jigger jacket’. Big checks —the bigger the better—are hot news. Striped ankle socks and tarty high heels complete this new look.

Model is Anjelica Huston.

Photographed by Bob Richardson.

Scanned from 19 Magazine, October 1971

Mainly blue all-wool plaid swagger coat with inverted back pleat and tabs on cuffs and shoulders, from C&A, £14.95. Plaid peddle-pushers, by Phyllis Collins at Stirling Cooper, £6. Striped socks, from Mr. Freedom, 60p. Black suede peep-toe, sling-back shoes with rust insets, from Dolcis, £4.99.

Yellow and black check coat in pure new wool, by Stirling Cooper/Sheraton*, £19.95. Black wool gaberdine peddle-pushers, by Gordon King, £7. Woolly socks, from Mr. Freedom, 90p. Black suede and patent heels, by Ravel, £5.50.

*Coat is an Antony Price design for Stirling Cooper. With thanks to Sheilagh Brown for the information.

Floppy red wool coat with red and white tartan patch pockets, collar and yoke, from Mr. Freedom, £20. Black wool gaberdine peddle-pushers, by Gordon King, £7. Green and white socks from Mr. Freedom, 60p. Black suede high heels, from R. P. Ellen, £5.95.

Striped sweater, by Phyllis Collins for Stirling Cooper, £4-50. Grey wool peddle-pushers with turn-ups, £5-25. Fur fabric swagger jacket, £14.95. Both by Lee Bender at Bus Stop. Stripey nylon socks, from Mr. Freedom, 60p. Brown suede high heels, by Ravel, £5-50.

Navy blue and pillar box red fur fabric three-quarter-length coat with patch pockets, by Sheridan Barnett for Simon Massey, £13.95. Black corduroy peddle-pushers, by Lee Bender at Bus Stop, £5.95. Socks, from Mr. Freedom, 60p. Black suede high-heeled shoes, from Ravel, £5.99.

Striped polo neck acrylic sweater, by McCauls, £2.60. Rust wool jigger coat, by Lee Bender at Bus Stop, £15.95. Tight wool plaid peddle-pushers, by Phyllis Collins at Stirling Cooper, £6. Yellow woollen socks, from Mr. Freedom, 90p. Rust suede sandals with black heel and platform, from R. P. Ellen, £6.95.

Brown and white checked coat with skirt flaring from a high-fitted waist, in Courtelle pile fabric, from Universal Witness, £15.75. Black corduroy peddle-pushers, by Lee Bender at Bus Stop, £5-95. Green and white striped socks, from Mr. Freedom, 60p. Black suede high-heeled shoes, from Ravel, £5-99. Netting from all large stores.

Nifty Fifties

19 magazine, 1970s, antony price, che guevara, Emmerton and Lambert, Gamages, Inspirational Images, Mick Milligan, mr freedom, Phyllis Collins, Roger Charity, stirling cooper, Titfers, universal witness, Vintage Editorials
Yellow crepe blouse by Antony Price at Che Guevara, £5. Sky blue floral patterned skirt with plain blue panels, from Universal Witness, £6. Black bead necklace from a selection at Emmerton and Lambert. Sunglasses are the model’s own.

Rock around the tops that look as though they’ve come straight from the era of the hand-jive and Radio Luxembourg. That’s because our bright young designers have revived such golden oldies as the off-the-shoulder sweater and the shirtwaister blouse. So just add dirndl skirts, popper bead bracelets, swing out in hoop earrings, and we’ll see you later, alligator…

I am sorry to say that I don’t know the name of the model in this spectacular editorial, but I’m pretty sure that she’s the same model as in the video for Stuck in the Middle With You by Stealer’s Wheel. She of the gratuitous eclair-eating – and the most incredible platform shoes I’ve ever seen. It’s safe to say that I was captivated by her look in that video when I was a teenager (with an unhealthy fixation on watching VH1 rather than MTV). So if anyone knows her name, do let me know!

Edited to add, thank you to those who identified her as Jenny Gaylor, I’m eternally grateful.

Photographed by Roger Charity.

Scanned from 19 Magazine, October 1971.

Off-the-shoulder red and white striped woollen sweater, £4.50. Red crepe pencil skirt fastens down the back with large white buttons, £6. Both by Phyllis Collins at Stirling Cooper. White vanity case by Antler, £7.25. Cotton scarves, from Gamages, 35p each.
Black and white striped voile shirt with batwing sleeves and pintucks at the waist, by Antony Price at Che Guevara, £5. Violet satin skirt, from Universal Witness, £7.50. Black and white spotted cotton hankie, from Herbert Johnson, 40p. Button brooch, designed for Zandra Rhodes by Mick Mulligan.
Emerald green and white striped woolen sweater with ties at shoulders, £4.50. Matching satin jersey pencil skirt with buttons down the back, £6. Both by Phyllis Collins at Stirling Cooper. Hoop earrings by Adrien Mann, £1.50. Necklace by Funny Bijou at Titfers, £1.50. Silver bow ring by Mick Milligan at Mr Freedom.