ossie clark

Purdey Fragrance

1970s, celia birtwell, joanna lumley, ossie clark, Random Ossies in Adverts, Vintage Adverts, Vogue
Carlo Dini has created Purdey Perfume. A Perfume in the timeless French tradition, made for the exciting woman of today. Purdey for the woman with style.

Joanna Lumley giving me the New Avengers and Celia Birtwell-print Ossie Clark crossover I didn’t know I needed. I would dearly love to know what this smelled like, if anyone can remember please let me know!

Scanned from Vogue, January 1978.

Shady Ladies

1970s, Adrian Mann, Bermona, biba, Bilbo, Buckle Under, Butler & Wilson, chelsea cobbler, Crochetta, Deco Inspired, Dickins and Jones, edward mann, Honey Magazine, Inspirational Images, Jacqmar, Knits and Leathers, Lizzie Carr, Martha Hill, ossie clark, Plain Clothes, platforms, quorum, Richard Green, Richard Selby, Sacha, sheridan barnett, simon massey, stirling cooper, Sujon, Vintage Editorials
SEXY cut-away cotton knitted halter-neck top, Crochetta, £4, from Knits and Leathers, 5, Harewood Place, W1 and 2, Carnaby Court, Carnaby Street, W1; flaring jet black crêpe high-waisted trousers, Ossie Clark for Quorum, £10, from Quorum, Radnor Walk, SW3; flamboyant flocked canvas shoes, Chelsea Cobbler, £11.95; “Shady Lady” straw hat, Buckle Under, £7; carved rose bangle, Butler and Wilson, £5.50; artificial rose, Biba, £1.15.

Long languid shapes, tiny halter necks and easy voluminous trousers. Shades of 30s tea dances and glorious afternoons lounging amongst the hothouse palms in clothes that make you feel every inch a lady while keeping you cool on the hottest day.

Photographed by Richard Selby.

Scanned from Honey, July 1972.

LEFT: Sensuous halter-neck cotton vincel cross-over top, Lizzie Carr at Plain Clothes, £3.95. Slinky emerald green Tricel jersey trousers, £5, from Martha Hill, 39 Marylebone High Street, Wl, mail order 25p extra. Antique flower-garland brooch, £5.50; ivory clutch bangle, £4.50; mottled horn elasticated bracelet, £4, all by Butler & Wilson; enamel flower brooch, Biba, 75p; peep-toe shoes, Bilbo, £7; daisy-clipped shoulder bag, Cingula, approx £9. RIGHT: Tightly ruched cotton striped top, Richard Green, £3.10. White Tricel mesh trousers, £4.50, from Martha Hill. Spotted-bow shoes, Sacha, £7.99; straw boater, Edward Mann, £1.90; bangles, Adrien Mann, 25p each.

ULTRY poppy red and white glazed-cotton top, £3.95, from Stirling Cooper, Wigmore Street, W1. Pure white Tricel trousers with self-patterned border, £5, from Martha Hill, 39 Marylebone High Street, Wl, mail order 25p extra. Scarlet silk sash, Jacqmar, approx £3; black and orange genuine Art Deco necklace, Butler & Wilson, £10; crimson straw hat, Bermona, £1.35.

LEFT: Wrapover covered-up cotton-jersey top, Richard Green, £4. Well-cut flared cotton-gaberdine high-waisted trousers, Ossie Clark, £9, from Quorum, Radnor Walk, SW3. Enormous straw hat, Edward Mann, £2.80; artificial rose from Dickins & Jones, 90p; mother-of-pearl tulip brooch, £4.50, elasticated horn bracelet, £4, both by Butler & Wilson. RIGHT: Plunging candy-striped cotton top, Richard Green, £2.50. Milk white cotton-gabardine Oxford bags, Sujon, £6. Sugar pink floppy straw hat, Bermona, £1.35; carved ivory elasticated bracelet, Butler & Wilson, £4.50.

SENSUOUS backless all-in-one suit with crimson and white striped cotton top and plain wide white trousers, Sheridan Barnett at Simon Massey, £8.50. Wide scarlet straw hat, Buckle Under, £7; ivory beads, Butler & Wilson, £5.50; bright red poppy, Biba, 90p; pink plastic bluebell bracelet, Adrien Mann, 75p.

Live a Little

1970s, Adrian Mann, Bata, Boobs, Brian Downes, bus stop, Butler & Wilson, celia birtwell, corocraft, Crocodile, Dickins and Jones, Fenwick, gillian richard, Inspirational Images, lee bender, ossie clark, quorum, Sacha, Therèse, Titfers, Upwest, Vintage Editorials
LEFT: Long flowing marocaine wrapover dress with frilled cap sleeves, Radley for Ossie Clark, £15, from Quorum, 113 King’s Road, SW3. Swallow brooch, Adrien Mann, approx £2; antique satin clutch bag with rhinestone star, Titfers, approx £8. RIGHT: Keyhole-fronted crêpe button-through party dress with Chinese word pattern, £12.95, from all branches of Bus Stop, mail order 20p extra from 3 Kensington Church Street, W8. Sequined skull cap, Crocodile, £4; antique powder compact, Butler & Wilson, £4-75.

Short, shiny waves, tight to the head and crowned in a slippery sequin beret add the ritzy touch to oyster satins and champagne silks—daring dresses, glamorous enough for anybody’s Rolls.

Brunette model is Therèse.

Photographed by Brian Downes.

Scanned from Honey, December 1971.

LEFT: Poppy printed black dress, Ossie Clark for Quorum, £16.25. Sheer natural tights, Elle, 45p; high-heeled suede peep-toe shoes, Bata, £6; round beaded evening bag, Butler & Wilson, £8.75; diamante hairslide, Adrien Mann, approx £1.25; diamante stranded necklace, Adrien Mann, £4-50. RIGHT: Daring slash-necked green pineapple printed marocaine dress, Ossie Clark for Radley, £16, from Quorum, 113 King’s Road, SW3. Luxurious white feather boa, Dickins & Jones, £7.60; multi-coloured sequined cap, Crocodile, £4; pale green tights, Elle, 45p; suede peep-toe shoes with bows attached, Sacha, £5.99; diamante rings from a selection by Adrien Mann.

LEFT: Slippery black rayon satin dress with scarlet rose print and plain scarlet bolero, Gillian Richard, £11.60. Jet black sequined cap, Crocodile, £4; black fabric gloves, Fenwicks, £1.30; simple diamante choker, Adrien Mann, approx £1.50; tiny square powder compact from a selection by Butler & Wilson; diamante and pearl brooch and diamante rings from a selection by Corocraft. RIGHT: Ritzy plunge-neck black and multi-coloured satin party dress with black velvet bolero, £12.50, from Boobs, 1 A Chapel Market, N1. Diamante drop ear-rings, Corocraft, approx £2.50.

LEFT: Slithery rayon and satin flower embossed dress and bolero, Gillian Richard, £10, from Way In, Hans Crescent, SW1, mail order 20p extra. Glass and diamante choker, Adrien Mann, approx. £1.50; real silver zig-zag and wavy bangles, John Plenderleith, £8.50 each; suede and snakeskin peep-toe shoes, Upwest, £10.95. RIGHT: Flowery fluted long printed satin skirt, £7.50, waistcoat-jacket, £7.50, and slashed-neck button through satin blouse, £5.95, from all branches of Bus Stop, mail order 20p extra from 3 Kensington Church Street, W8. Diamante drop ear-rings, £2, diamante sailing ship brooch, approx £2, both by Adrien Mann; black suede shoes with mauve diamond pattern, Bata, £4.49; beaded evening bag, Butler & Wilson, £12.50.

That old black magic

1970s, alice pollock, alistair cowin, biba, Buckle Under, bus stop, celia birtwell, christian dior, christopher mcdonnell, corocraft, Dolcis, edward mann, Elgee, Elle, Fenwick, flair magazine, George Malyard, gillian richard, Herbert Johnson, Hiroshi, Inspirational Images, janice wainwright, jean muir, John Craig, kangol, Ken Lane, lee bender, leonard, lilley and skinner, Malyard, Marks and Spencer, marrian mcdonnell, mary quant, Miss Impact, ossie clark, quorum, Russell & Bromley, Sheraton, simon massey, stirling cooper, Vintage Editorials, yves saint laurent
The witching hour—smock shirt dress, white birds flying on yards and yards of transparent black georgette, Alice Pollock for Quorum, £36.75. In her hair, crescent moon £3, and a flash of lightning slide £5.25. Both from the House of Leonard.

Black, the old enchanter. Bewitching, mysterious, romantic. In velvet, satin and soft silk jersey. Dramatic alone or shouting with colour. That timeless black magic still weaves its ancient spell.

Hair by Leonard.

Photographed by Hiroshi.

Scanned from Flair, November 1971.

In best black style. Left : tailored single-breasted embossed velvet jacket, £16.75; matching skirt, £12.60; matching velvet hat £3.50. Brown tea rose, £1.05. All from Biba. Black thorn walking stick from a selection at Herbert Johnson. Right : Silver birds on black velvet blazer, £13.95, satin shirt with black cravat, £5.95; ankle length skirt, £4.95. All from Bus Stop. Sweeping ostrich feather hat by Edward Mann, £3.85.

Celia Birtwell printed Marocaine shirt by Ossie Clark for Quorum, £7.50. Red Poppies, 35p each, Fenwick.

Romantic panne velvet dress by Simon Massey, £16. White full-blown rose on black velvet ribbon, both from John Lewis. Black chenille snood, £1.95 Fenwick.

Graceful blouse with elasticated waist, over matching rayon flared skirt, £21.50 by Mary Quant. Silver diamante belt by Ken Lane, £21.50. Quant’s butterfly tights, Farfalla, 95p. Diamante paste clover leaf on black velvet ribbon, £7.90 by St Laurent Rive Gauche. Black ostrich feather, 55p Biba.

Printed shirtdress buttoned up with red hearts. By Gillian Richard, £9.50. Red heart necklace, £19 by Christian Dior. Sweeping black felt hat, by Buckle Under, £8.

For high coloured drama put black with traffic light colours : red, yellow green and strong electric blue.
Wool jersey vest by Sydica at Miss Impact, £4.90. Heart necklace from Elle, £3.75.

Cotton velveteen shirt £9.75, and culottes £7.75. By Alistair Cowin. Jersey wool shirt by John Craig, £4.80. Black leather belt, Fenwick £2.45. Suede boots banded in red, yellow and green, Lilley and Skinner £10.95. Velvet cap by Malyard £5, pinned with red star by Corocraft, 99p.

Warming up to black, in strictly daytime mood, our model wears Guerlains Teint Dore for a real tawny tint, 99p with Juvena’s Sahara Sun Blush Colour Stick as a highlighter, £1.63. Her. eyelids are coloured in Boots No 7 Transparent Eye Tint, 40p, and her lipstick is Chanel Corail, 95p.

Wrap around, tie belted wool jacket. £10.50. Over red Oxford Bags £6.50. Both by Alastair Cowin. Tartan wool man’s scarf, Scotch House £1.25. Black suede beret by Malyard, £16.

The little black dress revamped by Jean Muir in crepe de chine with puffed sleeves, demure bow and flared skirt, £21. Black suede strappy shoes, Russell & Bromley, £19.95. Sheer black tights, Mary Quant, 65p. Rhinestone star, St Laurent Rive Gauche £2.50.

Tie round black wool midi coat, topstitched in white, £22. Matching trousers, £6.25. Both by Elgee. Black and white Orlon tweedy knit tunic jumper, Marks and Spencer £2.95. Herbert Johnson knitted wool cap, £2.50.

Black wool tent coat by Stirling Cooper for Sheraton £16.95. Black wool Kangol beret, 65p. Black and plum suede lace up shoes, Dolcis £8.95. On collar, cupid heart brooch, St Laurent Rive Gauche £14.

Black wool jersey nautical blazer, £15.25, over grey and white knitted wool trouser suit, £28.25. Both by Christopher McDonnell for Marrian-McDonnell. Mock mother of pearl clips, Biba 35p each.

black velvet smoking jacket, £10.50; ankle high skirt in red, yellow and black wool tartan, £5.75. Both from Bus Stop. Cupid heart brooch, Rive Gauche £14. White shetland jumper, £5.50 Scotch House.

Put yourself on show

1970s, biba, Browns, bus stop, crowthers, gillian richard, Inspirational Images, Jean Claude Volpeliere, lee bender, Lena Stengard, miss selfridge, ossie clark, petticoat magazine, quorum, radley, van der fransen, Vintage Editorials, wallis, way in
Gillian Richard print midi with laces from Marshall & Snelgrove Just In, £12.12s. Silver butterfly pendant, £9.9s. and plastic rings, 3s. each, at Biba. Chiffon printed scarf, £5. Browns, W.1. Belt, £4.. Way In. S.W.1.

Don’t waste dresses like these by taking them someplace quiet. Give them all the freedom they want and a lot of personality and more besides. Just for once take something really special and show off!

Model is Lena Stengard.

Styled by Sue Hone.

Photographed by Jean-Claude Volpeliere.

Scanned from Petticoat, December 1970.

Cream and red printed crepe dress by Ossie Clark at Radley, £13.19s. from Quorum, S.W.3. Biba plastic rings, 3s. Cream silk embroidered shawl, 15s., Van-der Fransen, S.W.6. Gilt moth brooch from a selection at Biba, W.8.

Crepe floor-length dress, £9. at Bus Stop, London W.R. Velvet coat with star print, £12.12s., from Crowthers, W.8. Way In tie choker, £1.

Grey satin midi dress, £9.9s., from Biba, W.8. Black lace jacket, £5., Van der Fransen, S.W.6. Way In reversible choker, £2.2s.

Velvet midi dress with ribbons, £16.16s., from main branches of Wallis shops. Miss Selfridge choker, £1.2s.6d. Printed velvet hat with coins, £4.15s. at Way In, London S.W.1.

Gillian Richard striped lures vest with lurex dress, £12., from all branches of Irvine Sellars and branches of Owen Owen. Fringed scarf, £2.8s., from Biba, W.8. Snake belt from a selection at Laurence Corner.

Ossie invents summer… Patti wears it.

1960s, celia birtwell, david bailey, Inspirational Images, ossie clark, Pattie Boyd, pre-raphaelite, quorum, Vintage Editorials, Vogue
Yellow vibrations, sun crepe printed with black and green, cut out at shoulders, frilled like a waterfall down tight sleeves; 15 gns. All clothes by Ossie Clark at Quorum, 113 King’s Rd.

Look at summer through new eyes. Ossie Clark sees you in shepherdess smocks of voile, in long crepe dresses, reed-thin red or printed by Celia Birtwell. Pattie Boyd looks at it her way. All at Quorum.

Photographed by David Bailey.

Scanned from Vogue, June 1969.

I think this editorial might be one of the first I ever scanned, back in even my pre-blog days. I may have posted it on MySpace (don’t judge me, I feel ancient enough as it is). I’ve been meaning to properly rescan for years, but finally the time seemed right. It is the perfect combination of designer, model, photographer and a stunning use of Pre-Raphaelite imagery.

Cloud white voile, left, with apple green and peach, a shepherdess shirt, about £8 14s. 6d, matching skirt, about £10 8s. 6d to order.

Gentle beige smock, below, with crepe yoke, half sleeves above long voile cuffed sleeves; body beige, too, with olive and orange; 142 gns.

Flame red crepe dress, below, wrapped round and tied behind, with dragon fin sleeves, long and slender, a potent mixture of enchantment; 12 gns. Scarf by Celia Birtwell. High collar, £3 5s, from selection at London Docks, Munro Terrace.

Who knows her face better than a model?

1970s, beauty, celia birtwell, Hair and make-up, Make-up, maudie james, ossie clark, patrick hunt, Patrick Hunt, quorum, Vogue

And who better than Maudie James, demonstrating here, exactly how she shapes and colours her face:


1 Starting with shining clean skin (thanks to Pond’s Cold Cream), she dabs on Mary Quant’s Skin Drink and blends it in.


2 Max Factor’s Nouveau Beige Pan Stick goes on with a small damp sponge giving a smooth ‘finish, covering tiny blemishes.

3 Several coats of Boots No 7 Black Block Mascara intensifies but does not cake upper and lower lashes.

4 Blackened lashes are curved to sweep up and out with eyelash curlers (45p from Boots).

5 Each eyelash is separated to look natural.

6 Eyelids coloured with Caran d’Ache purple pencils (Nos 110 and 120) blended up to the brows.

7 Short feathery lines drawn with Caran d’Ache pencil (No 80) outline the cheekbones.

8 And are then blended in towards the nose to make a soft rose-pink blush.

9 Caran d’Ache pencil (No 80) outlines then fills the lips with colour.

10 Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream glossed over lips with a brush—for protection and shine.

11 Biba’s Mascara Brush neatens the eyebrows.

12 The look: face dusted with Boots No 7 Nearly Natural compact Powder; hair: shining with Wella’s Shampoo and Lemon Creme Rinse.

Photographed by Patrick Hunt.

Scanned from Beauty in Vogue, Summer 1972.

Dress: brilliant silk chiffon by Ossie Clark for Quorum, print by Celia Birtwell, £45, from new Quorum, 52 Radnor Walk, S.W.3; Just Looking, Knightsbridge, S.W.1; Hedgehog, 135 Fulham Road, S.W.7.

Ossie’s Extravaganza

1970s, Clive Boursnell, ossie clark, quorum, Vogue
Night

There was dancing in the aisles when Ossie Clark showed his autumn ’74 collection at the Chelsea Theatre where “The Rocky Horror Show” is drawing the crowds. Pattie Harrison was one of the models. Marianne Faithfull made a finale appearance.

Photographed by Clive Boursnell.

Scanned from Vogue, May 1974.

Day
Night

Bottoms Up

1970s, alistair cowin, barbara hulanicki, Barbara Hulanicki, Big Scene, Dorothy Perkins, gillian richard, gladrags, Guy Cross, Honey Magazine, Inspirational Images, Jacqmar, Miss Impact, ossie clark, radley, ravel, Rodger Bass, Russell & Bromley, Shelana, Titfers, Toto, Vintage Editorials
Deep purple Polyester button-through romper suit, Dorothy Perkins, £3.95 (79s.); rust and blue rose patterned cotton mixture vest, Toto, £6.25 (£6 5s.); purple panne velvet plumed cloche, Titfers, £8. / Pillar-box red cotton jersey and Vincel dungarees, trimmed with yellow, £7, and bright sun-shine high-necked shirt, £5, both by Alistair Cowin. / Brick and rust moon-in-orbit sweater, Toto, £4.50 (£4 10s.); calico midi skirt with coloured nursery print border, Alistair Cowin, £8; beige suede ankle strap shoes, Ravel, £3.99 (£,3 19s. 9d.); dolls’ house patterned cloche, Titfers, £1.75 (35s.). / Scarlet jersey pinafore dress with yellow appliqued apples, Rodger Bass, £9.50 (£9 10s.); tangerine, blue and purple striped sweater, Miss Impact, £4.20 (4 gns.). / Dusty pink Acrylic jacquard jacket, £5.25 (5 gns.), and matching gauchos, £3.50 (£3 10s.), both by Gillian Richard; red panne velvet Wee Willie Winkle hat, trimmed with an apple, Titfers, £4.20 (4 gns.).

At last we’ve reached the bottom – the latest erogenous zone to be limelighted by shiny shorts, skin-tight jumpsuits and all kinds of sexy bum-huggers.

Interesting to note the dual pricing as the UK adjusted to decimalisation, and also that the Radley outfit in the photo below is actually an Ossie Clark design (I’ve seen it pop up with the Ossie for Radley label) but wasn’t properly credited as such.

Photographed by Guy Cross.

Scanned from Honey, March 1971.

Navy and scarlet polka dot cotton boiler suit, Alistair Cowin, about £4; plain pink suede boots, Biba, £8.97½ (£8 19s. 6d.). / Shiny pink cotton satin dungaree shorts, £6.50 (£6 10s.), and multi-coloured cotton nightsky printed shirt with drawstring neck, £9, both by Gladrags; sheer pink tights, Twiggy, £1; wine wedge-heeled shoes, Russell & Bromley; purple silk headscarf, Jacqmar, £2.37½ (47s. 6d.). / Slippery royal blue satin acetate shorts with bib top and scarlet satin patch pockets, Shelana, `£5.25 (5 gns.); red and blue running vest, Syndica, £3.15 (3 gns.); shiny pink tights, Twiggy, £1; wine suede wedge-heeled shoes, Russell & Bromley; burgundy silk scarf, Jacqmar, £2.37½ (47s. 6d.). / Ritzy yellow moss crêpe fitted jacket and black skirt with red, yellow and black inverted pleats, Radley, £14; black peep toe shoes, £4.99 (99s. 9d.). / Lilac and grape shady lady printed jersey pinafore with lilac shirt top, Big Scene, £8; maroon leather criss-cross sandals, Ravel, £5.97½ (£5 19s. 6d.).

Unseamly tights

1970s, Barbara Miller, Inspirational Images, ossie clark, pretty polly, Random Ossies in Adverts, Vintage Adverts

Another in my irregular series of random Ossie Clark sightings in adverts. This time a wrap around Cuddly dress, made from a crinkle pleated crepe with satin trim.

I think the model is Barbara Miller.

Scanned from Cosmopolitan, March 1975.