Manly beach, Australia. Rock pools, sea, magnificent scenery. If yours is going to be a clambering holiday, these T-shirts, shorts and fun tops are just the job.
Photographed by Nick Brokensha.
Scanned from 19 Magazine, July 1975.
Summer’s peasant clothes come in brightly frilled cotton or in soft layers of cheesecloth with a bazaar of sunny straws and beads.
Fashion by Sue Hone.
Photographed by Roger Charity.
Scanned from Petticoat, 6th June 1972.
If you can’t tango, simply steal into the spotlight in these flamboyant rumba dresses. The slipped shoulder strap, the bared midriff and the full-blown flouncy skirts all spell out the sexiest numbers for summer.
The main difference between the content of a magazine like Honey, as opposed to Vogue or Queen, is that the designers tend to be the more intriguing and less well-known of the period. If you want names like Miss Mouse, Granny Takes a Trip or Antony Price, these magazines should always be your first port of call. This shoot alone features one of my Holy Grail pieces by Granny Takes a Trip: the ruffled tie front top and skirt ensemble designed by Dinah Adams. Previously a designer for two other cult London boutiques, Mr Freedom and Paradise Garage, painfully little is known about Dinah Adams (misattributed as ‘Diana’ in the original credits). Which is why it’s always lovely to see her work represented anywhere.
Also shown here is a frothy, frilly delight of a frock by Miss Mouse, a.k.a Rae Spencer-Cullen. A personal favourite of mine, the Miss Mouse aesthetic is precisely why this early Seventies period is my favourite for fashion. Her work was heavily Fifties-inspired, quite ahead of the curve in the scheme of things, but always with a novel twist. Spencer-Cullen is yet another designer whose life remains something of a mystery, despite being a part of a hugely influential circle which included artists Duggie Fields and Andrew Logan. It seems that this anonymity was (at least initially) intentional, as an article from the Glasgow Herald in 1976 declared.
“At first, six years ago, when presenting her quirky designs on fashion, she seemed shy and utterly retiring. Miss Mouse could not be contacted easily by the press. She was elusive, hazed in shadows, a real mouse about publicity in fact. The only evidence of her entire existence was her clothes.”
In a world where we are so used to having information at our fingertips, there is something quite enchanting about this; tiny scraps must be stitched together to create a flimsy silhouette of a creative genius.
Photographed by Roy A Giles.
Scanned from Honey, July 1973.
(Please note – this blog originally appeared in 2016 on Shrimpton Couture’s ‘Curated’ blog project which has since been removed. It seemed a shame to let the posts disappear completely so I hope to eventually repost all my work here.)
Summer is the time for romance. It’s the time for walking in the woods or by the water’s edge, and for having those delicious picnics. It’s the time for looking soft and feminine in long, flowing dresses and picture hats. So we’ve chosen some of the prettiest dresses, skirt and hats we could find, to help you look your best when you while away those sunny days.
Photographed by John Bishop.
Scanned from 19 Magazine, June 1972.
This post is brought to you in two parts. The editorial was, unusually, photographed by two different photographers in two different locations. Tomorrow I will post the photos from Brighton Pier (very exciting for me, as you can guess!). Today’s were photographed in Meeny’s, which was a King’s Road boutique started by Gary Craze in 1972 – specialising in American brands for both adults and children. Clearly showing the same influences as Mr Freedom, this is the first I’ve seen of the interior. The clothes are the very creme de la creme of boutique ‘pop art’ joyfulness.
Photographed by Dick Polak.
Scanned from Honey, May 1973.
White dress with music and rose print by Miss Mouse. Snakeskin shoes from Bilbo. Red and white spotted dress with white trimming by Miss Mouse.
Photographed in Singapore by Harri Peccinotti.
Scanned from 19 Magazine, May 1975.
Black and green floral print halterneck dress from Biba. Black and gold shoes by Sex. Green floral halterneck dress by Biba. Black and gold brocade shoes by Biba.
Shocking pink pintucked cotton dress by Sheridan Barnett at Quorum. Black snakeskin shoes by Bilbo. Red cotton sack dress with hip pockets by Sheridan Barnett at Quorum. Red suede and snakeskin shoes by Terry de Havilland.
Dusty pink sun dress with black piping by Strawberry Studio. Grey suede shoes by Terry de Havilland.
Blue cotton dress with Dorchester motif. Coffee dress with Savoy motif, both by Jeff Banks.
White cotton culotte dress by Stirling Cooper. White shoes from Secondhand Rose, Chelsea Antique Market. White cotton sun dress by Stirling Cooper. White shoes from Secondhand Rose.
Navy cotton sundress with cross over straps by Gordon King.
Left to right: White dress with pink motifs and two huge trimmed pockets of hips, by Joyce Dixon for Gillian Richard, £8. Shoes by Lotus. Whit coton dress, with huge pink spots and wide circular skirt, trimmed with two pockets near hem, by Gillian Richard, £7. Shoes also by Lotus. Bracelet from City Lights Studio. Blue and white cotton sun top, buttons down back, £3.95, Straight cotton skirt with pink and blue motifs, fastens at back with a square of buttons, £5.95. Both by Miss Mouse. Shoes by Lotus. Blue and white spotted sun top and matching circular skirt with two large pockets on sides, £7.95. Both by Miss Mouse. Shoes from Lotus.
An age of frivolity and fantasy. Polka dots and bows. Shocking pinks and bobby socks. Flatties and flirties. Time for agod giggle; for screaming hysterically after all those movie idols in a great ‘Fifties revival
Photographed by Frank Murphy. Scanned by Miss Peelpants from 19 Magazine, June 1973
Dress by Miss Mouse. Shoes by Anello and Davide.
I think it’s fair to say that us Brits went a bit Snoopy-crazy in 1976, from what I’ve read and seen, and this adorable editorial is the perfect example of the post-modern appropriation of childhood cartoon figures by fashionable adults in the Seventies (see also Mr Freedom and Miss Mouse). Of course, there are clothes from Miss Mouse and Lee Bender’s Bus Stop – which is similar to the notorious ‘Andy Pandy’ dungaree outfit worn by Sarah Jane Smith in Doctor Who.
Photographed by John Greenaway. Scanned by Miss Peelpants from 19 Magazine, April 1976.
Hat from Elle. Shirt by Riva. Dungarees by Bus Stop. Corduroy and leather shoes by Miss Revolution.
T-shirt by Radley. Jumpsuit, tights and socks all by Mary Quant. Shoes by Miss Revolution.
Shirt by Emesse. Skirt by Miss Mouse. Sneakers by Miss Revolution.
Baseball cap, from Badges and Equipment. T-shirt by Radley. Bomber jacket by Emesse. Scarf by Herbert Johnson.
Nightdress by Night Owls
The boy’s stripey sweater and white Oxford bags are from Tramps. Price is £7.50 from Gary Elliott; Edwardia of Manchester; Paul Smith, Nottingham. the sweater cost £4 and also comes from Paul Smith, as well as the George Best shops, and Quincy of the Kings Road. The girl’s outfit is from a selection by Miss Mouse at Peter Robinson.
Not really Valentine themed (unless you’re planning to spend your day at the circus, which would actually be a pretty good way to spend it…) but scanned from teeny girl magazine Valentine which is largely filled with comic strip stories aimed at hormonal young ladies. I bought it mainly because I recognised the garment on the front cover as a Miss Mouse/Rae Spencer Cullen with distinctive bow print. I’m also a sucker for the circus theme, which seems to be a recurring favourite for late Sixties/early Seventies fashion stylists…
Photographer uncredited. Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Valentine, October 1972
Star studded satin blazer and trousers comes in a choice of navy or brown from main branches of Girl and Chelsea Girl.
Yellow satin blazer in various colours from the Separates Dept., Peter Robinson. Blue denim jeans with embroidered flowers sewn on them from the Top Shop at Peter Robinson.
Sterling Cooper yellow angora sweater at Peter Robinson. Silver satin mini skirt by Clobber. From branches of Snob boutique.
Snazzy red polka dot skirt is from a selection at branches of Girl. ‘Boob tube’ in red is also from Girl.
Paul Nicholas & Co
True to form, once I start listing I end up with songs running around my head. This time it’s been ‘Cinnamon Girl’ in honour of the Paul Nicholas & Co dress you see at the top there. I’ve also just listed a fabulous Antony Price, superb Ossie Clark, incredible Yuki, divine Miss Mouse and a stunning unlabelled piece in the most incredible psychedelic satin. Enjoy!
Miss Mouse
Yuki
Antony Price
Ossie Clark
