Mild Sauce: Wild Thing

1970s, Fiesta, mild sauce, Wonder Workshop

Scanned from Fiesta, 1975

You never know where you might find a cool little piece of fashion history. Here are the first two images (and the only printable ones as far as this blog is concerned!) from a spread in Fiesta. A ‘dirty little magazine’ (as Mildred Roper might spit at George) for the uninitiated among you. Our soon-to-be-starkers model is wearing an iconic ‘Wild Thing’ t-shirt, originally designed by the wonderful John Dove and Molly White at Wonder Workshop but also ripped off by large-scale manufacturers. I have no idea if our girl is wearing an original or a cheap rip-off (her skirt is obscuring the ‘Thing’ part and you can’t really see much detail) but it was a bizarrely cool spot. Plus, I want her red wedges.

Art of the Hang Tag: Fiorucci

1970s, Fiorucci, Hang tags, Illustrations, Inspirational Images, pin ups

Fiorucci were famed for their saucy, pin-up girl hang tags back in the Seventies. Sadly this one is not taken from a garment I own; I bought it at the same time as the illustrated Ossie Clark one I mentioned back in March. I do have a superb Fiorucci outfit for sale over at Vintage-a-Peel though, which doesn’t have an original hang tag but DOES have its original boutique bag. These little things make me happy…

Mary Tamm RIP

1970s, doctor who, doctor who companion fashion, Geek stuff, Mary Tamm, Romana

And so I awoke to the awful news that the glorious Mary Tamm has died, aged 62. Just over a year after Elisabeth Sladen and a few weeks after Caroline John. It gets more sad for me, because each has been that bit more of a favourite of mine. Romana I (indubitably the superior of the two Romanas) was one of my absolute favourites and a very formative and notable style icon for me. Her wardrobe for her sole series as companion is an absolute triumph, and was a perfect reflection of the glamorous and slightly icy character of Romana (the first and finest Time ‘Lady’ of the series). I salute you Mary Tamm (mmmmm), beauty and talent incarnate.

Dateline Persia: Putting the peasants in their place

1970s, Alan Rodin, anello and davide, Angela at London Town, aristos, Baltrik, british boutique movement, clobber, Dolcis, gordon king, Herbert Johnson, Honey Magazine, Inspirational Images, Martha Hill, Miss Impact, Ricki Reed, Sacha, Shelana, Simon Ellis, Sportaville, Vintage Editorials

Dirndl skirt and bolero by Sportaville. Boots by Anello & Davide.

Currently inspiring me (as someone who doesn’t enjoy stripping off in the much-awaited heat…) is this photoshoot from Honey, April 1970. Pretty much perfection, as far as I am concerned. Astonishingly, there is no credited photographer for any of the photoshoots in this magazine, so I’m afraid they will have to remain anonymous…

Dress by Martha Hill.

Dress by Miss Impact.

Shirt by Aristos. Trousers by Gordon King. Skirt by Alan Rodin. Boots by Sacha. Hat by Herbert Johnson.

Harem pants and bare-midriff top by Angela at London Town.

Peasant shirt by Baltrik. Trousers by Clobber. Skirt by Alan Rodin. Boots from Anello & Davide.

Dress by Ricki Reed

Dress by Simon Ellis

Dress by Shelana. Boots by Dolcis. Hat by Herbert Johnson.

Making Lingerie and Nightwear

1970s, haute naffness, loungewear, underwear

I had three reasons to buy this glorious book from 1979: the beautiful illustrations (which I will scan at a later date), a vague idea that it might be rather cool to start making Seventies-style lingerie and lastly, that the photos within are quite spectacular. Of course, my definition of spectacular is slightly different to many people, but there are plenty of levels on which you can enjoy them.

(Published by Mills & Boon, no less!)