Inspirational Images: Flirty ‘Fifties

19 magazine, 1970s, british boutique movement, City Lights, Frank Murphy, gillian richard, Inspirational Images, Joyce Dixon, miss mouse, rae spencer cullen

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

Some promising designs were submitted by students of the Kingston Polytechnic Fashion Department, when Gillian Richard organised a competition this season with the Polytechnic. We’re featuring a dress by the Second Prize winner, Joyce Dixon, as we think the design is right up-to-date and very original. Joyce comes from Carlisle, is in her third year at the Poly and has won many prizes for her designs. She works with Gillian Richard in her vacations, and hopes to go to the Royal College of Art in London for a further course. We wish her the best of luck. You should be seeing more of her designs in 19 in the future.

Photographed by Frank Murphy. Scanned by Miss Peelpants from 19 Magazine, June 1973

Inspirational Editorials: Fun with Snoopy!

1970s, anello and davide, british boutique movement, bus stop, Elle, Emesse, Herbert Johnson, Inspirational Images, John Greenaway, lee bender, mary quant, miss mouse, Miss Revolution, Night Owls, radley, rae spencer cullen, Riva, Vintage Editorials
Dress by Miss Mouse. Shoes by Anello and Davide.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Baseball cap, from Badges and Equipment. T-shirt by Radley. Bomber jacket by Emesse. Scarf by Herbert Johnson.

Nightdress by Night Owls

Nightdress by Night Owls

snoopy4

Inspirational Editorials: Valentine – Show Stoppers!

1970s, chelsea girl, clobber, Inspirational Images, miss mouse, peter robinson, rae spencer cullen, Snob, topshop, Valentine, Vintage Editorials
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.

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.

Star studded satin blazer and trousers comes in a choice of navy or brown from main branches of Girl and Chelsea Girl.

missmouse3

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.

missmouse4

Sterling Cooper yellow angora sweater at Peter Robinson. Silver satin mini skirt by Clobber. From branches of Snob boutique.

missmouse5

Snazzy red polka dot skirt is from a selection at branches of Girl. ‘Boob tube’ in red is also from Girl.

How to Charm Prince Charming

alain vivier, barbara hulanicki, Barbara Hulanicki, biba, crowthers, gillian richard, Honey Magazine, miss mouse, platforms, rae spencer cullen, seventies fashion, simon massey, van der fransen

The intricacies of the make-up details and advice don’t particularly interest me in this article, but the photographs are simply incredible. Apologies for the creasing, sometimes things (and people) get a little crumpled over the years.

Honey, December 1972. Photos by Alain Vivier

Just an Old-Fashioned Girl

Old rose printed satin halter dress by Van der Fransen, £10. Shawl from Chelsea Antique Market. Shoes by Leicester, £10.99

Fifties Fan

Shimmering lurex ‘cigarette girl’ halter top with pussy bow and pencil slim taffeta skirt from Crowthers, £10.95. Shoes by Sacha, £12.99.

Instant Heiress

Jersey and candy stripe satin dress by Gillian Richard, £8.75 from Pinocchio. Shoes by Leicester shoes, £9.99.

Pretty Little Thing

Frothy net and taffeta skirt with tightly ruched stone-studded strapless top by Miss Mouse, £10.50 and £7.

The Lady is a Vamp

Tiger striped satin dress, £12.50 from Biba. Shoes by Sacha, £12.99.

Little Girl Lost

Short moire dress by Simon Massey, £12.75.Spotted bow fronted shoes by Samm, £7.95.

Miss Anna Mouse

anna friel, celebrities in vintage, miss mouse, rae spencer cullen, seventies fashion, website listings

I remember spotting this dress amongst Anna Friel’s stage door costume cavalcade over Christmas. At the time I wondered whether it was a Miss Mouse; I thought it looked a bit familiar.

Well I can confirm that it was, indeed, a vintage Miss Mouse (a.k.a Rae Spencer-Cullen) dress and you can now buy it from Vintage-a-Peel!!