Entice in clothes of clinging silk and flowing crepe de chine, fragile and provocative. Mata Hari knew the secret … try it for yourself.
Photographed by Mike Berkofsky.
Scanned from Honey, September 1974.
. . . or how to wear furs this winter without hurting your pet’s feelings.
There is nothing, absolute nothing quite like wrapping yourself in fur. As a sensuous experience, it is in the same class as a new love, old champagne or fresh truffles. But even the most hedonistic of women are relieved that the threatened species are no longer imported. Snow leopards, tigers and other cats can go their own way and sensibly sybaritic female will look for furs that are farmed, such as fox and mink. This winter, too, the fakes are so wayout and wildly coloured that only a girl without a heart could resist their charms, albeit synthetic. Perhaps that’s why the fur trade have taken the hint and dipped their favourite fox pelts in the dye pot, Furrier Maxwell Croft offers his explanation of the female urge to wear and the male urge to bestow furs: “For many men it is a primitive desire to see his woman in furs.”. Very nice, too.
Plenty to scoff at the end of the copy there, but oh goodness the clothes – the clothes! And the glorious photography of Alice Springs, whose work doesn’t turn up nearly enough for my liking.
Fashion by Deirdre McSharry.
Photographed by Alice Springs.
Scanned from Cosmopolitan, November 1972.
LEFT: Salmon pink crepe overblouse with short fluted sleeves, Marie France for Quorum £10 approx, from Quorum, 52 Radnor Wealk, SW3 and Heath Street, NW3 ; Quorum shops at all branches of Peter Robinson. Satin trousers, Alkasura £6.50, ,from Alkasura, 304 King’s Road, SW3. Apricot beads £5, amber bangles from 20p each, wide yellow bangle £2, all from Emeline. RIGHT: Crêpe shirred blouse. with tie neck, Alice Pollock at.Quorum £10 approx, from Quorum, 52 Radnor Walk, SW3 and Heath Street, NW3; Quorum shops at all branches of Peter Robinson. Green satin trousers, Jeff Banks £7.50, from Jeff Banks Shop at Peter Robinson, Oxford Circus, W1; City Stylish, Newcastle. Gilt dress clips, Universal Witness from 25p each.
The season of the shirt. Wild and waisted. Smart, sharp and snappy. Crisp, cuffed sleeves for the new tight and tailored look. Soft and slinky overblouses to revive the romantic 40s.
The first picture has got to be one of my favourite fashion shots of all time. Such joy in movement, perfect lighting, and harmonious colours from the most heavenly Quorum clothes.
Photographed by Dick Polak.
Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Honey Magazine, May 1973.
LEFT: Crisp white crêpe pintucked overblouse £8.50, from all branches of Bus Stop (mail order 30p from 3 Kensington Church Street W8). Satin trousers, Alkasura £6.50, from Alkasura, 304 King’s Road, SW3, Thin patent belt, Gay Designs 69p; sea green waist-length bead necklace £4.50, short green necklace £3, and art-deco bangles £2 each, all from a selection at Butler & Wilson. RIGHT: Neat cotton sports shirt with patch pockets, Cacharel at Joseph £8.50, from Joseph, 33b King’s Road, SW3 (mail order 25p). White cotton trousers, Jeff Banks £7.50, from Che Guevara, Kensington High Street, W8 (mail order 25p) ; Jeff Banks shop at Peter Robinson, Oxford Circus, W1. Thin leather belt, Baggage Et General £1.10; plum plastic bangles, Adrien Mann 25p.
LEFT: Finely striped cotton casual shirt, Ian Batten at Stirling Cooper £6.50, from Stirling Cooper, 94 New Bond Street, W1 ; Stirling Cooper shops at DH Evans, Oxford Street, W1 ; Peter Robinson, Oxford Circus, W1, Leeds, Norwich and Cardiff ; Escalade, Brompton Road, SW3; Kendal Milne, Manchester. Gaberdine Oxford bags, Alkasura £9.50, from Alkasura, 304 King’s Road, SW3. Long polka-dot scarf, Van der Fransen £1 ; wide amber bangle, Paul Stephens 25p; ebony clutch bangle, Adrien Mann £1 ; stretchy webbing belt, Gay Designs £4. RIGHT: Button-through striped cotton blouse with matching attached cravat and deep cuffed sleeves, Ian Batten at Stirling Cooper £7.50 (stockists as for shirt above). Cotton trousers, Jeff Banks £7.50, from Che Guevara, Kensington High Street, W8 (mail order 25p) ; Jeff Banks shop, Peter Robinson, Oxford Circus W1. Enamel dress clips, Universal Witness from 25p each; wavy webbing belt, Gay Designs £4; amder bangles, Emeline 20p each.
LEFT Smartly striped square-necked. crepe-de-chine overblouse with set-in short sleeves, Suzy Craker at Roger Nelson £9.50, from Way In, Harrods, Knightsbridge, SW1 (mail order 25p) Che Guevara, Kensington High Street, W8 ; Crocodile, Kensington High Street, W8 and .branches. Lilac Trevira trousers, Jakie Ross at Jon Elliott £6.70, from D H Evans, Oxford Street, W1 ; I Spy, Oxford Street, W1 ; Sidney. Smith, King’s Road, SW3; Hendersons, Liverpool. Elastic and leather belt from a selection at Escalade ; bangles, Emeline £2 each. RIGHT : Rainbow striped loose overblouse with sweetheart neckline and puff sleeves, Ian Batten at Siding Cooper 16.50, from Stirling Cooper, 94 New Bond Street, W1 ; Stirling Cooper shops at D H Evans, Oxford Street, W1 Escalade, Brompton Road, SW3; Peter Robinson, Oxford Circus, W1, Leeds, Norwich and Cardiff ; Kendal Milne, Manchester. Gaberdine Oxford bags. Alkasura £8, from Alkasura, 304 King’s Road, SW3. Lime green patent belt, Gay Designs 69p; long bobble beads, Paul Stephens, 85p.
Left: Green felt hat from Bombacha. Grey crepe top and matching skirt both by Strawberry Studio. Gloves by Tuttabankem. Silk scarf by Eddie Yap for Howie. Right: Navy blue hat by Charles Batten. Green crepe top and matching skirt by Strawberry Studio. Gloves by Tuttabankem. Scarf from Essences. Brooch from Bombacha.
Skirts are big news! They come in soft, pretty fabrics like crepe and flanesta. Looks are soft and sweet too. So go feminine. Wear skirts that are full, and keep warm with chunky sweaters and long, knitted scarves.
Photographed by Arthur Elgort.
Scanned by Miss Peelpants from 19 Magazine, October 1974.
Left: Rust felt hat by Marida. Rust crepe de chine suit by Marie France. Mixed tweedy cardigan by Outlander. Brown leather shoes by Bombacha. Scarf by Eddie Yap for Howie. Bag from Nostalgia. Right: Hat by Edward Mann. Cream blouse and grey crepe de chine suit all by Marie France. Huge grey cardigan by Crochetta. Grey lace up shoes from Sacha. Silky scarf by Eddie Yap for Howie. Brooch from Bombacha.
Left: Hat by Edward Mann. Blouse by Garilee. Wool cardigan by Johnson & Johnson. Skirt from C&A. Shoes from Sacha. Right: Hat from Bombacha. Green blouse by Garilee. Wool v-neck top by Outlander. Cardigan by Johnson & Johnson. Skirt from C&A. Shoes by Sacha. Beads from Bombacha. Brooch by Adrien Mann.
Left: Red and white striped wool tank top and matching cardigan by Outlander. Cream crepe skirt by Mushroom. Right: Flannel beret at Essences. Cream crepe blouse by Jon Elliot. Cream tank top and matching cardigan by C&A. Pale pink crepe skirt by Marie France.
Left: Blue felt hat by Charles Batten. White silk shirt by Carr Jones. Blue cord pinafore dress by Strawberry Studio. Leather shoes from Bombacha. Silk scarf from Essences. Right: Hat from Nostalgia. White Chinese shirt by Carr Jones. Blue tweed hacking jacket by Jenny Hare at Bombacha. Skirt by Inega. Shoes from Bombacha. Bag from Essences. Scarf by Eddie Yap for Howie.
Pyjama suit by Sujon.
Photographed in Brazil with Yardley, whose Yardley McLaren team took part in the 2nd Grand Prix, 1973
Photographed by Harry Peccinotti. Styled by Caroline Baker.
Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Nova, May 1973
Drawstring neck top (part of a flared Pajama suit) by Ossie Clark for Radley. Compact mirror from Biba.
Crêpe de chine printed coat and plain crêpe bags from Electric Fittings. Rib sun top by John Craig. Pique sun hat by Edward Mann. Espadrilles at Ronald Keith.
Dressing gown from Austin Reed. Silk blouse and baggy pants by Katharine Hamnett for Tuttabankem. Cobweb shoes at Chelsea Cobbler.
Crêpe de chine pyjama suit by Susie Craker. Panama at Paul Craig.
Sun top sweater by Virginia. Cotton baggy pants by Universal Witness. Hat by Herbert Johnson. Shoes by Yves Saint Laurent.
Crêpe and satin jacket top by Marie France for Quorum. Flared crêpe trousers by Alice Pollock for Quorum.
Just one of my occasional ‘oh yeah, I have a website don’t I?’ blog posts where I show you a few pretty things I’ve listed over at Vintage-a-Peel. I’m off on holiday on Monday, so I won’t be able to post out until I get back (a week later) but feel free to peruse and purchase (it is, as ever, first come, first served – so get in there first!!). There’s a lush chocolate brown Biba gown (if you need the perfect Christmas Day lounge outfit then this will take you from breakfast to after dinner drinks, and beyond, in that laid-back glamour Biba-loungewear/eveningwear kinda way…. )
For the romantics amongst you, there’s a stunning cream frilled Marie France evening dress:
Disco queens can shimmy into a bright blue crepe dress: 
Anyone’s Christmas would surely be cheered up with a vivid printed red dress by Betty Barclay:
Snuggle up in a chocolate brown suede jacket with sheepskin collar…
and remove to reveal a stunning black and cream striped knit top by Harold Ingram.
If Christmas sends you a bit loopy, then you can always count on John Bates for a sober but elegant retort with this loopy black wool crepe dress…
…ensure you don’t get run over on poorly lit roads in this splendid acidic early Laura Ashley smock dress:
…and if you finally, understandably, lose the plot and want to completely baffle your family (or go clubbing on Christmas Eve, rather than going to church…), there’s always Pam Hogg. Thanks Pam!!
If you can see your way past the ‘hell kind of birdsnest’ on Roxy’s bonce, and have a yen to look like a goddess or a Queen, then please do take a look at the Marie France dress over on the site. And if you want to complete the look, there’s little better to add than one of WendyB‘s amazing Cleopatra pieces.
If you aren’t already aware, the gold earrings are set to feature (dangling from the noble lobes of Kim Cattrall) in the new Sex and the City film. Wendy herself has a very similar Marie France dress, bought from Vintage-a-Peel a few years back, which she wore with the Cleopatra necklace and Toni Colette arm candy.
There’s a very lovely silver version of the earrings as well, which I would probably choose. Given a choice. And given unlimited funds. Because, weirdly and purely personally, I’m more of a silver kind of gal. I would, of course, accept platinum as a substitute though. Ahem.
p.s My apologies for the slower-than-usual updating of the blog and website. I’ve now been distinctly under the weather (Truthfully? “Positively consumptive”.) for 18 days (and counting) since a chilly Sunday walk around Worthing. Not that I’m blaming Worthing or anything, but fresh air doesn’t always equal good health. That’s all I’m sayin’. 😉
Anyway, antibiotics have now (reluctantly) been accepted and I hope to be back to normal very soon.
Vive la Marie France! Stunning bamboo printed jersey goddess dress by the mysterious Marie France, who once designed under the Quorum banner. Deeply plunging and deeply gorgeous….
Edited to add a link to a pic of the fabulous WendyB in a very similar Marie France dress she bought from me (I think!!) ages ago. I knew I remembered having a similar one and thought it might have been on Wendy’s blog, so many, many thanks for jogging my memory! Doesn’t she look GORGEOUS? You could look just as gorgeous as WendyB in the bamboo version…
Liz Eggleston 