Rayne

Clothes that come to the aid of the party

1970s, bill gibb, caroline charles, Chloe, christopher mcdonnell, Gina Fratini, graff, jean muir, Jeany, Leonard, Rayne, salvador, thea porter, Vintage Editorials, Woman's Journal
Left: Full-length black dress with long, cuffed sleeves and a deep V-neck. The collar and shoulders are embroidered with tiny black beads. £65. Christopher McDonnell. Gold and diamond pendant. Graff. Right: Full-length black silky jersey dress with a square neck. £76. Salvador at Match Club. Lapis and diamond pendant. Graff

Parties are part and parcel of the festive season and once the harrowing run-up to the 25th is over, you just have to throw caution to the winds and enjoy yourself ! Make Christmas a really special event this year and buy yourself a present—a dress that will make a room go quiet; a dress that will make heads turn . . . in other words, a real showstopper. And, because it’s anything but inexpensive, a showstopper that’s not just tied to this winter, but will go on and on in its dateless line. Party dresses are designed to make an impact—so be the centre of attraction, and while you’re enjoying yourself, don’t forget to propose a toast to Christmas.

Photographed by Jeany.

Scanned from Woman’s Journal, December 1975.

Left: Long black glitter dress covered in black and silver diamante, with a tie at neck, short flared sleeves and toggle back fastening. £196. Black sequinned pull-on hat. £56. Jean Muir. Pave diamond earrings. Pave diamond ring. Both by Graff. Black suede ankle-strap shoes. £33. Charles Jourdan. Right: Black georgette dress with a V-neck and gathered waistband covered in black and silver diamante, worn over a black silk underdress with shoe-string straps. £106. Salvador at Feathers. Elegant glitter shoes. £30.50. Rayne.

Left: White lace dress with bodice, waist and sleeves trimmed with peach, coffee and turquoise ribbons, matched by the silk chiffon flounces on the underskirt. £390. Bill Gibb at Feathers. White strappy satin shoes with a silver-coloured clasp. £29.50. Rayne. Right: White silk chiffon spangled coat with embroidered appliqués and attached tie-belt. £450. Wide white satin trousers. £92. Matching turban. £50. By Thea Porter. Gold and diamond bracelet. Pave diamond ring. Both by Graff

Centre: Peach silk dress with a tie at the neck, seamed shoulders and long, flared sleeves. The back is fastened with toggle-shaped buttons. £138. Jean Muir at Browns. Right: Peach silk chiffon dress with shoe-string straps and a pleated bandeau top which ties at the back. Matching cape bordered with peach embroidery and rhinestones. £440. Gina Fratini. Pave diamond ring. Diamond and gold bracelet. Gold and diamond chain. All by Graff.

Stunning pink and lilac full-length silk dress with a V-neck at front and back, tie-belt, and a high waist threaded with elastic. The batwing sleeves fall to form a flowing cape at the back. £350. Chloe at Browns. Diamond and gold bracelet. Graff.

Left: Backless black and cream djellaba with a tie at waist and back of neck. £76. Caroline Charles. Right: Cream chiffon dress with gathered waist. The batwing bodice is embroidered with multi-coloured flowers and birds; the sleeves fall into a cape at the back. £90.50. Rosemary at Leonard.

Varnish in a summer rainbow

1970s, beauty, biba, chelsea cobbler, Inspirational Images, Lester Bookbinder, mary quant, platforms, Rayne, Russell & Bromley, Samm, shoes, Vogue
Strawberry leather centurion straps on cork, £8.95, at The Chelsea Cobbler. Mint green suede knotted across cork, £8.95, by Giusti, at Russell & Bromley, main branches. Toe paints : big toe, Biba Matisse Green. Second, Quant Lime Lolly. Third, Quant N/C 73. Fourth, Biba Royal. Little toe, Wolz Italiana 155 Laguna.

Summer’s sandals have lots of straps and knots and plaits and weaving, they are leather on huge slices of cork, in colours of caramel ice and salads. Toenails are as fresh and bright. Paint yourself a summer foot.

Photographed by Lester Bookbinder.

Scanned from Vogue, June 1972.

Caramel woven and plaited leather on small leather heel, £20, at Rayne, Bond St, Regent St. Caramel cream woven leather on cork, £8.95, at Samm, 205 Kensington High Street. Toe saints . Longlex Pistachio. Pedicures by Elizabeth Arden

On the sands of summertime

1970s, anello and davide, annacat, barry lategan, Bombacha, Brigid Martineau, Buckle Under, Casa Pupo, Charles Batten, chelsea cobbler, Crocker Wilson, Diane Logan, Early Bird, edward mann, Inspirational Images, jap, jeff banks, Joseph, Juliet Dunn, katharine hamnett, Ken Lane, kenzo, laura ashley, liberty, liberty's, Rayne, Rosie Nice, Russell & Bromley, sanderson, sarah frearson, Scott Adie, Sujon, The Purple Shop, Vintage Editorials, Vogue, wallis
Long and frilly flower print cotton frocks, all at Wallis main branches. Peachy, below left, a puff-sleeved shirt with deep skirt frill. £12.95. Pink, green, red, white chintzy parasol with sapling handle, £15.50, Crocker-Wilson. Straw with bright ribbon and flowers, Edward Mann, £3.40, at Barkers. Flower and bird glass necklace, £3.50, Bombacha. Flowered cream papier-mache bangles, £7 each, at Emeline. Peachy, below right, with wide sleeves and sash. £13.95. Green/white leafy parasol, £34.50, at Crocker-Wilson; Elle. Wide lacy straw with flowers, by Buckle Under, £11, at Lucienne Phillips ; Smiths, Bath. Cotton and lace drawstring bag, £4.50, at Rosie Nice. Bunches of sweet peas, by Novelty Import Co. Inky blue and brown frock, opposite left, extra beige and scarlet flowers, ecru lace and sweetheart neckline, £15.95. Red/white/green striped parasol, £19.50, Crocker-Wilson. Light blue glass beads, 80p, at Rosie Nice. Rough straw with chocolate velvet, creamy flowers, by Sarah Frearson, £13.75, Lucienne Phillips. Provençal cotton drawstring bag, £3.75, from Brother Sun. Sky blue, brown, natural frock, below centre, in two—camisole lacy top and skirt £15.95. Sandy lacy shawl, £8, at Scott Adie. Opaque amber glass fruit beads, about £28, from Emeline. Plum, blue, orange cotton, right, with lots of lace. £18.95. Sky blue lace shawl, as above. Flowered black chintz and tasselled parasol, £25.50, Crocker-Wilson. Enamel pansy brooch, on silver chain, £6.50, at The Purple Shop. Liberty print Country Cotton drawstring bag, by Brigid Martineau, £7.25, at Harrods. Canvas espadrilles, both pages, £3.50, from The Chelsea Cobbler.

Photographed by Barry Lategan.

Scanned from Vogue, May 1974.

Green, cream and red Liberty printed Tana Lawn halter dress, left, a salad of flowers shirred to the hips. with tiny frills. About £32, at Annacat: Harvey Nichols. Pink, white and blue glass beads, bangle, ring, from Rosie Nice. Cream and green cotton dress, right, trellised and bordered with flowers, flounced and bordered with lace. By Earlybird, about £14.95, from Earlybird; Fenwick. Glass flower necklace, £12, The Purple Shop. Blue bird’s nest earrings, £1.50, Bombacha. White nylon openwork gloves, by Kir, about 95p, John Lewis. Flowers by Novelty Import Co. Deep green and red night-flowering smock, right, each tier with creamy lace. Liberty Country Cotton, by Sujon, £23, Liberty; Parkers of Hampstead; SuperStar; Leeds. Matching green flowered hand-bag with wrist strap, by Brigid Martineau, £7.75, at Harrods. Green/red bird sparkling necklace, Bombacha, £3.50. Espadrilles, £3.50, The Chelsea Cobbler. Hair by Christopher at Vidal Sassoon. Sanderson Wallpaper. Smilax leaves from Pulbrook & Gould. Bird-cage from Casa Pupo. Budgerigars from A1 Studio, 164 Princes Gdns, W.3.
Pale blue, ivory, light terracotta Liberty print Tana Lawn and lace flouncing skirt, above left. Cap-sleeved top. By Sujon, £24, Liberty; SuperStar, Leeds. Long frilled white petticoat, £4.75, at all Laura Ashley branches. Lacy straw, with harebells, by Buckle Under, £10, at Lucienne Phillips;’ Smiths, Bath. Glass beads and flower necklace round wrist, £3.50. Bombacha. Embroidered white espadrilles, £7.99, Russell & Bromley main branches. Black and bright red flowered white jacket; frilled skirt,: above right, piped in black and white. By Jeff Banks, £14.50, £13.50, at Selfridges; Adele Davis. Petticoat, as above. Straw hat, £14, at Diane Logan. Blue bead bracelet, 80p, Rosie Nice. Espadrilles, as above. Blue, scarlet, cream Liberty print Tana Lawn flowered shirred top and skirt, opposite left. About £13, £19.95, at Annacat; Harvey Nichols ; Unicorn, Birmingham. Ribboned straw, Edward Mann, £2.50, at John Lewis. Flowered cream papier mache bangles, £7 each, Emeline. Lacy shawl, £8, from Scott Adie, Flower necklace, £2.50, at Bombacha. Cream chocolate laced boots, £13.95, Anello & Davide. Powder blue, green, pink cotton pleated skirt and cap-sleeved crossover top, cenre. By Jap, £25.95, £16.95, at Jap & Joseph. Espadrilles, £3.50, The Chelsea Cobbler. Lacy shawl, as above. Straw hat, Buckle Under, £11, at Lucienne Phillips. Powder blue, cream, beige tiered pleated skirt, right: Liberty print Tana Lawn with creamy lace and matching button-down bodice. About £23, £14, by Juliet Dunn, at ZigZag; Adele Davis; Smiths, Bath. Green straw with flowers, £14, at Diane Logan and Hampstead Bazaar. Cream laced espadrilles, £6.50, front Rayne at Harvey Nichols. Mother-of-pearl leaf necklace, about £15, Emeline. Hair by Christopher at Vidal Sassoon. Fishing gear, front Harrods. Picnic hampers and raffia bags, all from Habitat. Liberty print Dick Whittington bags and care shopping basket, all from Liberty. Stripy parasol, £19.50, from Crocker-Wilson.
Rose crepe de chine dress, far left, flowered brightly red and white. With V neck, slightly gathered sleeve. Jeff Banks, about £21, at Jeff Banks Shop ; Puella, Croydon, Purley and Reigate. Pale straw bowler with flower-painted brim, Diane Logan, £8. White beads with red and white flowers, Rosie Nice, from a selection, from 60p. Gold locket engraved with flying bird, Goldmine at Woolworths. Rose and cream flowered Liberty cotton and leather purse, Chris Trill, £13, at Flight Studio ; Jap & Joseph. White nylon gloves, by Cornelia James. Sunglasses, Elle. Eau de nil crepe de chine dress, centre, stippled with beige and white flowers. Jeff Banks, about 823.95, Jeff Banks Shop ; Puella, Croydon, Purley and Reigate. Blonde straw with a bunch of harebells, Buckle Under, £10 at Lucienne Phillips ; Smiths, Bath. Mother-of-pearl leaf necklace, about £15, at Emeline. Flowered glass brooch, £1.50, at Bombacha. Eau de nil leather purse with quilted flower sides. £30, to order from Clive Shilton. Eau de nil and grey silky cotton gloves with violet/blue embroidered cuffs, £5 Browns. Clear flower-patterned Perspex sunglasses, £25.95, Elle, Bond St and Sloane Square. Snake bangle, £2.50, Mulberry Co at Selfridges. Gold bangle, £16.75, Andre Bogaert. Gold rings, from £5.50, at Ken Lane. Sepia flowered crepe de chine dress to mid-calf, left. Sujon, £15, at Liberty ; Image, Bath ; Super-star, Leeds. Flat straw with cream petersham, £7.50, Charles Batten. Mother-of-pearl hat pin, £1, Diane Logan. Pale cream, yellow fake orchids, Crocker-Wilson, £1.65 a pair. Seed pearls, Corocraft, from range at Peter Robinson. Raffia purse, Chris Trill, .E7.70, at Flight Studios ; Jap & Joseph. Speckled cream net gloves, by Katherine Hamnett for Tuttabankem, £3, Browns. Ivory, gold and diamond, pale amber rings, £4, £25, £4, Andre Bogaert.

Why not spread your wings?

1970s, eric boman, Inspirational Images, Rayne, shoes, Vogue, Wedgwood

The famous names of Rayne and Wedgwood come together for one prestigious pair of shoes. Rayne’s high-heel sandals, heels decorated by Wedgwood, about £59.50, Rayne branches. Stockings, Christian Dior; satin nightdress, Courtenay.

Photographed by Eric Boman.

Scanned from Vogue, March 1978.

Love Forty

1960s, Berkertex, Daniel Hechter, Foale and Tuffin, George Malyard, Graham Smith, helmut newton, Inspirational Images, Ken Lane, Malyard, Marlborough, mary quant, Queen magazine, Rayne, Vintage Editorials
White crepe dress by Berkertex. Jewelled snood by Graham Smith.

The clothes of the Thirties were capricious, narcissistic and extravagant — the jazz of the Twenties turning soft, like swing – but with the wartime Forties they necessarily became austere and functional.

To compensate, the details kept their extravagance – shirred waists, sweetheart necks, floppy sleeves, Veronica Lake hair.

On this and the following pages we have a minor Forties revival – minor because these clothes are strictly 1968, when women want to dress both practically and frivolously.

I do not endorse this copy, because I would not agree about the clothes of the Thirties being ‘narcissistic’, but I do endorse the photos and the clothes.

Photographed by Helmut Newton.

Scanned from Queen, July 31st 1968.

Red crepe dress by Foale and Tuffin. Hat by Malyard.
Red wool crepe dress by Foale and Tuffin. Gilt snake bracelets by Ken Lane.
Black crepe dress by Daniel Hechter for Bagatel. Beret by Malyard. Shoes by Rayne.
Grey crepe dress by Harriet.
Black checked beige crepe dress with bloused sleeveless top, by Marlborough. Black beret by Mary Quant for Kangol.

Five for the road

1970s, bally, charles jourdan, harpers and queen, Kenneth Griffiths, Mary Graeme, Miss Holmes, platforms, Rayne, shoes
l-r Bally, Charles Jourdan, Mary Graeme, Bally and Charles Jourdan.

August on the steps of the Albert Memorial…

And shoes for the coming season..

Plum and conker coloured with a hint of sobering black for the first days of autumn.

I know nobody likes to hear THAT word in August, but it seems appropriate on a day when I’ve been forced back into brogues by the miserable weather.

Photographed by Kenneth Griffiths.

Scanned from Harpers and Queen, August 1974.

l-r Charles Jourdan, nMiss Holmes, Rayne, Rayne.

April Flower Evenings

1970s, belinda bellville, bill gibb, Gina Fratini, Inspirational Images, john bates, oliviero toscani, Rayne, Richard Sharah, Sue & Helen, thea porter, Toscani, Uncategorized, Vintage Editorials, Vogue, yves saint laurent, zandra rhodes

April Flower Evenings 6

Primrose silk georgette camisole top and handpainted satin jacket by Bellville-Sassoon.

Delicate flower evening dresses, in silks and chiffons… Beauty far beyond the English flower garden…

Photographed by Toscani. Make-up by Richard Sharah.

Scanned from Vogue, April 1975.

April Flower Evenings 1

Honey coloured silk dress by John Bates. Sandals by Saint Laurent Rive Gauche.

April Flower Evenings 2

Silk chiffon by Zandra Rhodes. Pink sandals by Rayne.

April Flower Evenings 5

Banana silk georgette printed with apricot flowers by Yuki.

April Flower Evenings 4

Pale peach silk chiffon with sheer sleeves by Thea Porter.

April Flower Evenings 3

Snow orchid chiffon by Sue & Helen. White sandals by Rayne.

April Flower Evenings 7

Drift of frilled white silk organza printed with snowdrops by Gina Fratini. Sandals by Rayne.

April Flower Evenings 8

Blackberry printed organza by Gina Fratini.

April Flower Evenings 9

Cream lace jacket and skirt by Bill Gibb.

April Flower Evenings 10

Palest pink silk chiffon by Bill Gibb.

First Essentials

1970s, eric boman, Inspirational Images, janet reger, loungewear, Midas, mild sauce, Rayne, Richard Hamnett, The Savoy, tuttabankem, underwear, Vintage Editorials, Vogue

first essentials 2

Lace and satin nightdress, turquoise and white, by Janet Reger. Mules by Midas.

Photographed by Eric Boman at The Savoy.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Vogue, April 1977.

first essentials 1

Silk crepe de chine wrap by Richard Hamnett at Tuttabankem White bra and French knickers by Silhouette at Dickins and Jones. Plastic and marabou shoes by Rayne.

first essentials 4

White layered waist slip by Janet Reger. Clear plastic mules by Midas.

first essentials 3

Briefest white bra and white nyloon very briefs, both by Triumph. Clear plastic mules by Midas.

New Wave Rayne

1970s, cosmopolitan, James Cotier, Rayne, Vintage Adverts

rayne20advert20cosmo20oct2079

Photographed for Rayne by James Cotier – 52°05°N 00°08°E – June 1979.

Original concept by Edward Rayne Jnr.

Clothes by Maxwell Parrish.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Cosmopolitan, October 1979.

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,