LEFT: Rose-printed Liberty cotton shorts and bandeau halter-neck sun top, Sujon £8. Wavy leather wooden-sole sandals, Samm £12.99 ; scalloped plastic bangle, Paul Stephens 25p. RIGHT: Crisp cotton flowerpot-printed shorts and neck-tie top, Sujon £8. Knotted patent sandals, Saxone £5.99 ; plastic bangles, Adrien Mann from 20p ; shaded blue sunglasses by Pierre Balmain.
A strenuous day’s sightseeing deserves some-thing more than a cold Campari. In such an idyllic scene you’ll want to look exotic as a jungle flower, cool as that shimmering, irresistible pool. Playsuits—trousers or shorts, halter-necks or wrapovers—blossom bright, beautiful and shamelessly sexy.
Photographed by Roy A Giles at the Club Las Hadas, Manzanillo, Mexico.
Scanned from Honey, June 1973.
Cross-over Trice! top £3.50, and wide-legged deep ruched trousers £6.50, both by Martha Hill, from Martha Hill, 39 Marylebone High Street, W1. Striped high-heeled sandals, Samm £14.99; large stud earrings 60p, gilt and green beaded necklace £1.50, elasticated gilt bracelet 65p, and bangles 20p each, all by Adrien Mann.
LEFT: Slinky wrapover Tricel top £3.50, and matching shorts £2, both by Martha Hill. Necklace, Butler & Wilson £9.50; plastic, bangles, Paul Stephens from 20p. Shaded sun-glasses by Pierre Balmain. RIGHT: Sexy puff-sleeved Tricel sun top with knitted front £3.50, and matching flared shorts £2, both by Martha Hill, from Martha Hill, 39 Marylebone High Street, W1. Peep-toe leather and wooden-sole sandals, Russell & Bromley £11.99; gilt bracelet, Adrien Mann 65p; sun-glasses, Gay Designs £2.50; choker, Chelsea Gems 90p.
Strawberry red and white polka-dot seersucker halter-neck playsuit, Bus Stop £4.95, from Bus Stop, 3 Kensington Church Street, W8 (mail order 25p) and branches. Crimson conker choker £1.80, and gilt elasticated bracelet 65p, both by Adrien Mann ; lime green leather peep-toe shoes with wooden soles, Russell & Bromley £11.99.
LEFT: Lilac and cream iris-printed puff-sleeved cotton bolero with tie waist and matching trousers, Richard Green £12 approx. Write to Richard Green, 79 Great Portland Street, W1, for stockists. Large button earrings, Adrien Mann 60p; saxe blue patent knotted sandals, Saxone £5.99; tinted sunglasses, Gay Designs £2. RIGHT: Cream and crimson Pretty Polly printed rayon crepe-de-chine softly wrapped kimono jacket with wide flaring sleeves and matching drawstring pyjama trousers, Sujon £17.50. Barley sugar stud earrings 60p, and bangles from 20p, all by Adrien Mann ; white rimmed sunglasses, Gay Designs £2.
LEFT . Candy striped swirly printed loose cotton trousers vvith wide shirred waist £6.80 and sleeveless scoop neck crepe blouse with elasticated waist £6.50, both by Biba, from Biba, 124-126 High Street. Kensington, W8. Criss-cross leather andals, Samm £9.99, strawberry plastic bangle 30p. and thin bangles from 10p. all by Paul Stephens; smokey brown sunglasses. Gay Designs £2.50. RIGHT. Scorching pink cotton ruched seer-sucker all-in-one play-suit, Sally Tuffin for Charnos £8. Strappy patent sandals, Samm £14.99; wing-sided sunglasses, Corocraft £5.95; gilt elasticated bracelet, Adrien Mann 65p; bangles, Paul Stephens from 20p.
Cornflower blue button-through fitted cotton spotted blouse and wide flaring chevron trousers, Pierre Elegant £13.95. Pale blue beaded choker, £1.80, and bangles from 20p, all by Adrien Mann ; sugar pink and white high-heeled sandals, Samm £14.99.
LEFT: Spotted cotton baggy trousers, Stirling Cooper £7.95. White cotton boned sun top John Craig £3.50. Cornflower blue shirt with wide turnback sleeves, John Craig £5.50; bobble bead necklace, Corocraft £1-25. RIGHT: Baggy white trousers, Stirling Cooper £9.95. Loose cotton shirt with American Bowling Print design or back, Inega £6.95. Pull-on hat, Edward Mann £2.70; twirly plastic bangle 25p, and thick blue marble bangle 45p, both by Corocraft; shoes, Samm £8.99.
Cotton jackets and blouses, comfortable baggy trousers, skimpy bareback sun tops and neat knee-length shorts. Team them up with saucy felt berets and rope-soled espadrilles —wear them anywhere (or on the prom).
A glorious recreation of 1930s photographs by the late great Mike Berkofsky, but we all know those pups are the real stars of the show!
Photographed by Mike Berkofsky.
Scanned from Honey, May 1974.
LEFT: Striped cotton blouse, Stirling Cooper £6.95, from Ronnie Stirling. High-waisted trousers, Shelana £8.95. Thin patent leather belt, Gay Designs £1.50; authentic sailor’s cap, Lawrence Corner 44p; espadrilles, Samm £3.99. RIGHT: Finely striped jersey halter-neck T-shirt £2.95, and matching cardigan jacket £5.95, both by Bus Stop. Shantung linen Oxford bags, Martha Hill £8.50. Original 40’s canvas percher hat, to hire from Diane Logan.
LEFT: Swirling striped cotton skirt with elasticised waist £15.95, loose white cotton blouse with pintucked front £5.95, both by Stirling Cooper. Sailing ship brooch, Butler & Wilson £2; canvas peep-toe wedge-heeled espadrilles, Chelsea Cobbler £9.99; natural straw hat, Diane Logan £10; denim umbrella, Crocker & Wilson £10-50. RIGHT: White cotton trousers, Jackie Ross at Jon Elliot £9-50. Spotted cotton halter-neck top with rope ties £4, and matching jacket £10.75, both by Diana Doe at Carr Jones. Leather rope-soled espadrilles with ruched front, Samm £8-99. Sunglasses from a selection at Bombacha £2.
Sky blue double-breasted Trevira jacket with shawl collar £6.75, and matching Oxford bags £5.50, both by Spectrum. White cotton piqué fitted halter-neck sun top with buttoned back, Miss Mouse £6.50. Brown and white striped umbrella, Crocker & Wilson £14.50.
Cornflower blue cotton jersey halter-neck top with daisy motif, Tabu £4.90. Cream gaberdine shorts, Tuttabankem £12.50. Silky fine knit cardigan with embroidered pockets from a selection at Bombacha. Blue felt beret, Kangol £1.50. Thin scarlet belt, Peter Robinson 55p. Royal blue canvas wedge-heeled peep-toe espadrilles, Chelsea Cobbler £9.99. Men’s clothes: Striped blazers from £23.50, and Panama hats £1.30, both from Simpsons, Piccadilly, W1. Double-breasted white jersey knit suit £40, striped cotton shirts £7.95, and white bags from £5, all from Bugatti, Kensington Church Street, W8. Black and white correspondent shoes, £12.75 from Anello & Davide, 33 Oxford Street, W1. Brown and cream correspondent shoes, £24.99 from Russell & Bromley. Hair by Trevor at Ricci Burns.
White linen tie-waisted jacket with wide elbow-length sleeves, Rosie Nice £17.95, from Rosie Nice, 12 Clifton Road, W9. Tangerine, green and white map-printed cotton boned sun top with shoestring straps, John Craig £3.50. White cotton sun hat, Edward Mann £2.70; leather rope-soled espadrilles, Samm £8.99; thin emerald green patent belt, Gay Designs £1-50.
LEFT: Cream, navy and scarlet checked madras cotton shirt, Carr Jones £8.50. Pale blue linen Oxford bags with tie waist and patch pockets, Martha Hill £8-50, from Martha Hill, 39 Marylebone High Street, W1; blue beret, Kangol £1-50. RIGHT: White cotton loose pintucked shirt and matching Oxford bags, Sujon £16. Sunshine yellow cotton jersey halter-neck, Tabu £4.50, from Nouvelle, Kensington Church Street, W8 ; umbrellas from Crocker & Wilson.
Green suedette pull-on hat, by Edward Mann, £4. Green cord coat, with wrap-over front and wool shawl collar, £13.75. Matching straight skirt, with two hip pockets, £4.75. Both by Stirling Cooper. Green tights by Mary Quant, 40p. Green leather shoes, with slim heels and high flap fronts, from Samm, £9.99. Brown leather shoulder bag, from Bus Stop, £6.95. Brown leather gloves, with embroidered leather trim, from Universal Witness, £4. Brown and white spotted scarf from a selection at Essences at Antiquarius.
Now you can be spot on by wearing corduroy. This material used to be an essential part of every girl’s wardrobe, but for years it’s been a plain Jane fabric and most unfashionable. This spring, however, cord has made a spectacular comeback, particularly in coordinates. Colours are sludgy, shapes are trim, and it’s a nice, casual fabric that wears well and is flattering. Buy a jacket, then choose skirts and trousers to match—and you’ll have a whole new wardrobe that can cope with the vagaries of the English spring.
Photographed by Roger Charity.
Scanned from 19 Magazine, February 1973.
Brown felt pull-on hat, with wide brim, by Edward Mann, £2.90. Black and white striped shirt, from Bus Stop, £6.95. Beige cord coat, with fitted waist and tie belt, £18.95. Matching cord pants with turn-ups, £5.95. Both by Stirling Cooper. Green leather brogues, with high crêpe soles, from Sacha, £8.99. Pin from a selection at Universal Witness. Black felt hat, by Edward Mann, £2.90. Black and white thinly striped cotton blouse, with revers and short sleeves, by Richard Green, £5. Beige jacket, with revers and tightly gathered waistband, £8.25. Matching skirt, with kick pleat at back, £6.50. Both by Stirling Cooper. Black cover-up tights, by Mary Quant, 40p. Black patent lace-up shoes on high crêpe soles, from Sacha, £8.99. Black leather gloves, from British Home Stores, £1.75.
Brown wool hat, from Browns, £5.50. Brown cord jacket with tightly fitted waist, gathered back and two pockets on hips, £13.75. Matching straight skirt, £6.50. Both by Stirling Cooper. Brown tights by Mary Quant, 40p. Leather shoulder bag, from Bus Stop, £6.95. Brown and cream silk printed scarf, from Fenwick, £2.40. Brown cord pull-on hat, from Diane Logan, £5.25. White jersey shirt, by John Craig, £4.50. Brown cord wrap-over knee-length coat, by Stirling Cooper, £18.95. Gloves from British Home Stores, £1.75. Brown, cream and rust printed scarf, from Fenwick, £2.40.
Green suedette hat, by Edward Mann, £4. Green Viyella shirt, £5.95. Cord wrap-over jacket, £8.50. Matching trousers, with belt-loop waistband, £5.95. All by Stirling Cooper. Shoes from Ravel, £9.50. Bag from Bus Stop, £6.95. Gloves from British Home Stores, £1.75. Scarf from Fenwick, £2.40. Pin from a selection at Essences At Antiquarius. Hat by Edward Mann, £4. Jersey shirt by John Craig, £4.50. Green sweater, with heart-shaped neckline, £4.75. Rust jacket, with gathered back, £13.95. Matching cord trousers, £5.95. All by Stirling Cooper. Shoes from Ravel, £6.50. Brown leather gloves from British Home Stores, £1.75.
Green cord pull-on hat, from Diane Logan, £6. Black and white thinly striped cotton shirt, by Richard Green, £5. Green cord jacket, £11.95. Matching trousers, £5.95. Both by Stirling Cooper. Brogues from Sacha, £4.99. Gloves from British Home Stores, £1.75. Tweed pull-on hat, by Malyard Grey, £6. Grey shawl-neck sweater, with red and white stripes, £4.75. Grey wrap-over jacket, £8.50. Both by Stirling Cooper. Maroon cord Oxford bags, with elasticated waistband, by Sheilagh Brown at Coopers, £9.95. Brown brogues from Sacha, £4.99. Gloves from British Home Stores, £1.75. Silk scarf from Fenwick, £2-40.
Pull-on hat from Herbert Johnson, £2-60. Cotton shirt, from Clobber, £4-95. Grey cord battle jacket, by Sheridan Barnett at Coopers, £15-95. Matching trousers, by Sheilagh Brown, £9-95. Court shoes from Ravel, £5.99. Leather gloves from British Home Stores. £1.75. Scarf from a selection at Essences at Antiquarius. Pull-on hat from Herbert Johnson, £3. Grey silk shirt from Bus Stop, £6-95. Grey cord jacket, £18. Matching trousers, £9.95. Both by Sheilagh Brown at Coopers. Court shoes from Russell and Bromley, £8.49. Leather shoulder bag, from Bus Stop, £6.95. Shetland gloves from Universal Witness, £1-60. Scarf from a selection at Essences at Antiquarius.
Brown felt hat, by Edward Mann, £2-90. Brown cord jacket, £1395. Matching cord skirt, £9-95. Both by Stirling Cooper. Tights by Mary Quant, 40p. Leather court shoes, from Samm, £11.99. Brown leather shoulder bag, from Bus Stop. £6.95. Leather gloves, from British Home Stores, £1-75. Pin brooch from a selection at Universal Witness. Bracelet from Corocraft, £1.25.
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
Just the jacket, for interviewing the gardener… if he’s as handsome as Ian Knipe. Trille does the Lady Bountiful bit in yellow and a romantic hat. Jacket C&A £9.95, felt hat by Herbert Johnson, pearls by Ciro. Yellow angora sweater by John Craig, £2.10.
There is a licence to touch all the clothes on these pages. There is not a single trad, scratchy, thornproof tweed among any of the frankly tactile silks, angoras and flannels of autumn. Jerseys and pearls and sensible shoes were once the uniform of the WI. Now, (well) kept ladies whose fingers smell of “Cabochard” rather than cabbage, are pressing their flannel bags, having their pearls restrung and are wearing them with shirts so unbuttoned they could catch pneumonia – and heels high enough to rise above the muddiest farmyard. They are taking to pleated kilts, and cashmere sweaters so tight they’d enliven the dullest game of backgammon. Dinner dresses are back in style, and I do mean back down as far as you can go. Properly and provocatively dressed, a weekend in the country might be more fun than you think.
Hair arranged for all pictures by Carl of Molton Brown.
Fashion by Deirdre McSharry.
Photographed by John Kelly.
Scanned from Cosmopolitan, October 1972.
Give into the call of the wild, but come on softly in silk, angora and flannel. Jenny Harrington sends Ian Knipe slightly wild in her silk shirt, £15, flannel bags £16.50 by Annacat, and angora cardigan, John Craig £5. Fish pendant by Ciro. Ian’s camelhair sweater Ballantyne, £11.50. (Inset: The smoothest tweed in the softest shape will make you want to throw away your old trench. A great way to look for opening bazaars – and coping with Mellors. Coat by Coopers £33, hat by Herbert Johnson, £8.95.)
What would the WI say? Trille lolls about in cashmere sweater, skirt and pearls- -and shoes too high for country lawns. Sweater £11, skirt £30, both by Ballantyne. Pearls by Ciro. Shoes by Samm, £7.50.
Who’s for backgammon? Trille and Jenny get down to it (right) in necklines that ought to fetch the men from their port, on the double. Trille in red jersey dinner dress, John Bates for Jean Varon £16.75, shoes by Terry de Havilland £15.95, pearls by Ciro. Jenny in cream satin shirt by Coopers, £8, and pleated plaid skirt, Gor-Ray f11.95. Red shoes by Samm, £7.50.
The sporting life means quick repairs on the run. Jenny puts back the paint, stays ladylike in powder soft suede and silk. Jacket and skirt by Janet Ibbotson; the jacket costs £38, the skirt £33.50. Silk shirt Fenwicks, £11.50. Jewellery and shagreen compact from The Purple Shop. Shoes by Samm, £7.95.
Long weekends can lead to explosive situations – Jenny ignites something in her cashmere and kilt. Sweater by Ballantyne £13.50, skirt by Gor-Ray £11.95, shoes by Terry de Havilland £15.95. Pearls by Ciro. Ian in ruffled lawn shirt, Turnbull and Asser £11.75, check trousers Irvine Sellars £5.95.
By dawn’s early light a lady likes to relax. Ian wears C & A velvet suit £28; Trille in taffeta skirt and blouse, £5.50 each from Spectrum. Rose 84p from Spectrum. Shoes by Terry de Havilland, £12.99.
The softest touch of all is this mohair sweater (right), and a far cry from the clumpy rustic knits we used to wear. Jenny puts the new country clothes together gently—pink sweater, Buckle Under £12, pink wool skirt, Spectrum £6.95, hat by Herbert Johnson £7.50. Ian’s shirt by Jasper £5.50, check trousers £6.95 by Irvine Sellars. (Inset: Soft again —cream flannel blouse and satin trousers whipped up with beads and roses. Jenny’s blouse £5.50, trousers £5.50, flowers 84p, all from Spectrum. Ian’s blue shirt by Mr Harry £7.65.)
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.)
Rose-strewn wrapover cotton bolero and long frilled skirt from Spectrum. Raffia and cotton tie belt by Herbert Johnson. Right: Tightly ruched off-the-shoulder top and long skirt with deeply riched waistband from Wallis.
Ritzy ruffled satin bolero top with frilled skirt by Dinah Adams for Granny Takes a Trip. Wavy leather sandals by Samm. Right: Slinky spotted Tricel dress by Ian Batten at Stirling Cooper. Crackly taffeta long flounced skirt by Antony Price for Che Guevara. Wooden and patent sandals by Russell & Bromley.
Flouncy black and white gingham off-the-shoulder dress printed with orange and lemon flowers by Gillian Richard. Canary yellow sandals by Samm. Embroidered cummerbund by Herbert Johnson.
Swirling striped cotton skirt by Jean Junction. Off-the-shoulder pleated blouse by Martha Hill. Polished leather boots from Dolcis.
Black cotton ruched and flared rumba dress printed with multi-coloured flowers and birds by Miss Mouse. Apple green shoes by Russell & Bromley.
Left: Crisp cotton gingham blouse and flounced skirt both by Martha Hill. Oval bead choker and bangles by Paul Stephens. Right: Ruffled cotton check blouse and tiered skirt by Polly Peck. Cummerbund by Herbert Johnson. Shoes by Russell & Bromley.
Top: Green canvas slingback espadrilles on rope, Russell & Bromley. Left to Right: Pink, white and green patent slingbacks, Samm. Pink patent peep-toe shoe with black cork wedge, Russell & Bromley. Pink and navy patent sandals on wedge, Russell & Bromley. Pink sandals, Russell & Bromley.
Soopah doopah shoes to stride you through summer days, to lounge you through sunset, to get hot nights on the move. This summer you really can make footwear go a long way because the nicest styles are stout enough for strolling yet manage to look sophisticated and elegant too.
Gillian Richard pinny. Van der Fransen sailor blouse. Biba espadrilles. Cotton blouse and animal print winceyette shirt, both by Richard Green at Lady M ships. Raffia beret, wire bracelet and cherries, all from Biba.
This is the freshest summer fashion story so far. The prettiest pastel shades with tiny nursery prints you must be happy in. These clothes do the most for a girl and whatever your shape you’ll find all manner of pants, aprons and shirts to match your own personality.
Photographed by John Carter.
Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Petticoat Magazine, June 1972.
Jasper shirt. Pants by Lizzie Carr for Plain Clothes. Biba beret.
Shirt by Lizzie Car for Plain Clothes. Canvas pants at Stirling Cooper.
Crochetta sweater at Knits and Leathers. Satin pants by Lizzle Carr for Plain Clothes. Edward Mann hat. Ankle strap shoes by Samm.
Satin bermudas and satin smock, both by Lizzie Carr for Plain Clothes. Rosebud vest from Bus Stop. Edward Mann hat.