Vintage Editorials

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.

Sipping Summer Through A Straw

1970s, Adrian Mann, biba, bus stop, Butler & Wilson, charnos, Inspirational Images, lee bender, liberty, liberty's, Martha Hill, pierre balmain, Pierre Elegante, Richard Green, Roy A. Giles, Russell & Bromley, Sally Tuffin, Samm, Saxone, shoes, Sujon, Vintage Editorials
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.

Stay in One Piece

19 magazine, 1970s, Bellino, Inspirational Images, james wedge, Silhouette, swimwear, Tweka, Vintage Editorials, Wiki
Red Bandura halter-neck swimsuit, with low back. and shirring under bust, to give a flattering shape, ties at back of neck, by Wiki at Bellino, £5.75.

For the first time in ages we’ve seen really good one-piece swimsuits — so nice, in fact, that we might put our bikinis away in mothballs for a while! All the swimsuits photographed are extremely flattering, with low backs for a good sun tan, and well-cut.

Photographed by James Wedge.

Scanned from 19 Magazine, July 1972.

White nylon Grecian-style one-piece that clips together at back of neck, by Tweka, £9.95.

Black Bandura halter-neck swimsuit with low back, has fine, transparent line to give a striped effect, by Wiki at Bellino, £5.75.

Nylon stretch panne velvet one-piece in silver, with elasticated ruched centre seam and low back, by Silhouette, £5.99.

Red and white spotted Bandura one-piece with low V-neck front, by Wiki at Bellino, £5.99.

Black Antron velour stretch one-piece with scoop neck front, by Wiki at Bellino, £6.25.

We’re Morocco Bound

1970s, Andreas Heumann, Browns, Corinne Bricaire, Fiorelli, French Connection, Inspirational Images, Jane Cattlin, jap, Joseph, kenzo, Lawrence Corner, Mari Ka'lma'n Meller, Over 21, Pierre D'Alby, Sacha, Vintage Editorials, Zucchi
Summer sophistication in the softest possible cotton. Jane Cattlin’s evening dress (£56) has rouleau straps, a handkerchief-point layered skirt and a huge, wraparound, printed matching shawl (not in the picture). At Chic of Hampstead, Heath Street, NW3 . Gilt and coral necklace (about £9) by Mari Ka’lma’n Meller at Feathers, 43 Kensington High Street, W8.

We’re Morocco-bound with a case full of the soft, sweet cottons you’ll be wearing this summer…

Hair by Kelly.

Photographed by Andreas Heumann.

Scanned from Over 21 Magazine, July 1976.

Loose, easy, basic caftan shape for a classic djellaba (£7.95) by Zucchi at Fenwick, New Bond Street, W1.

Supersoft sunburn-saver: a full peasant smock (£17.95 with matching scarf, not shown) and harem pants (£15.95) in shaded fine cheesecloth. By Fiorella at Joseph, 33 Kings Road, SW3.

Long cheesecloth dress to wear any way, any time (£22.50) by Pierre d’Alby at Jumi, 278 High Holborn, WC1. We’ve added shape with a big, brown leather wraparound belt (£8.50) at Henry Lehr, 13 South Molton Street, W1. Sandals (£13 .99) at Russell & Bromley, 24 New Bond Street, W1.

Cool, long dress for a heatwave in extra fine cheesecloth with drawstrings around the waist and under the bosom (£23.95) by Pierre d’Alby at Match, 7 Vere Street, W1. Leather sandals (£1.99) at Eastern Bazaar, 111 Oxford Street, W1.

Very full three-tier skirt (£16.95) by Pierre d’Alby at Jumi, High Holborn, WC1, worn with a leather-trimmed brown canvas waistcoat (£25.95) by Jap, at Jap and Joseph, 20 Brompton Road, SW3 . Leather purse (53p) from a selection at Laurence Corner, 62 Hampstead Road, NW1. Flat sandals (£4.99) at branches of Sacha.

Simple cheesecloth, cleverly coloured blue and mauve for drawstring blouse (£5.50) and dirndl skirt (£9) both by French Connection at Cane, 170 Walton Street, SW3. Woven cotton waistcoat by Corine Bricaire (£12) at Browns, 27 South Molton Street, W1. Wraparound top on the right (around £2.95) by Global Editions at all branches of Fifth Avenue. Skirt (£8.50) by French Connection. Necklace (30p) from Miss Selfridge, Duke Street, W1.

Softly Softly

1970s, Alain Walsh, Angela at London Town, Bata, biba, bus stop, Butler & Wilson, Chelsea Antiques Market, gillian richard, Honey Magazine, Inspirational Images, Jayne Swayne, lee bender, liberty, liberty's, Martha Hill, miss selfridge, Russell & Bromley, Sujon, Vintage Editorials
Dove-patterned dress with cap-sleeved bolero, £10.75 from Biba, Kensington High Street, W8. Suede patchwork shoes, Russell & Bromley, £6.95; sheer tights, Wolford, 40p ; carved bangle, Butler & Wilson, £1.50 ; plastic bangles, Biba, 55p each. Right : Wool-jersey gymslip dress, Sujon, £9.99, from Liberty, Regent Street, W1 , mail order 25p extra ; Image, Bath. Grey suede shoes, Russell & Bromley, £9.95 ; tights, Mary Quant, 75p ; bangle, Butler & Wilson, £1.50 ; bluebird brooch, Biba, 60p.

Daytime dresses in pretty prints and purely simple plains – warm and practical for everyday but special enough for best.

Photographed by Allan Walsh*.

Scanned from Honey, January 1972.

*Usually credited as Alain Walsh, I think it must be the same photographer.

Royal blue and bright pink spider-. knit Acrylic tiered smock, £4.50, from Martha Hill, 39 Marylebone High Street, W1 , mail order 20p extra. Multi-coloured beaded necklace wound round wrist, Paul Stephens, 80p ; antique green compact, Butler & Wilson, £4.15. Right : Flowered black, lemon and cream short Acrylic smock with pleated front, Gillian Richard, £9.95, from Peter Robinson, Oxford Circus, W1 , mail order 20p extra. Lime green bow brooch, Biba, £3.

Biscuit and plum flower-printed wool dress with fluted cap sleeves, Gillian Richard, £8.25, from Way In, Harrods, Knights-bridge, SW1 ; I Spy, Oxford Street, W1 ; ’27’, King’s Road, SW3. Mulberry flower-carved elasticated bangle, Butler & Wilson, £1.50 ; plain round plastic bangles, Biba, 55p each. Right: Bright yellow and pink sunflower dress in Liberty wool with scalloped neck, Gillian Richard, £11.25, from Liberty, Regent Street, Wl, mail order 25p extra ; I Spy, Oxford Street, W1 ; ’27’, King’s Road, SW3. Ivory brooch, Biba, £3; bangle, Butler & Wilson, £2.

Dusty-blue jersey dress with flared skirt and flouncy cap sleeves, Angela at London Town, £9, from all London branches of Neata-wear ; Sacha, Bridgend. Multi-coloured butterfly brooch from a selection at the Chelsea Antique Market, cream elasticated bracelet, Butler & Wilson, £3. Right: Scarlet wool jersey dress with yellow batwing sleeves and rainbow inset neckline, Jayne Swayne, £8.40, from Bata International, 151 Oxford Street, W1, and main branches including Newcastle, Sheffield, Swansea and Ipswich. Metal pretty-polly brooch, Butler & Wilson, £3.50.

Spider-knit Acrylic puff-sleeved smock, £4.50, from Martha Hill, 39 Marylebone High Street, Wl, mail order 20p extra. Blue bead choker, Paul Stephens, 75p ; antique poppy brooch, £2.50, ivory elasticated bracelet, £3, beaded bag, £4.50, all from Butler & Wilson. Right: Electric-blue jersey dress, Sujon, £9.99, from Liberty, Regent Street, W1 , mail order 25p extra ; Just Looking, King’s Road, SW3. Spotted cotton kerchief, Herbert Johnson, 25p ; sheer blue tights, Mary Quant, 40p.

Scarlet and white confetti-spotted zipped jersey dress, £9.95, from Bus Stop, 3 Kensington Church Street, W8, and all other branches, mail order 15p extra. Plain plum and rust plastic bangles, Biba, 55p each. Wooden bead bangle, from a selection at Miss Selfridge. Right: Spotty silver-grey and white button-through jersey shirt dress, £9.95, from Bus Stop, 3 Kensington Church Street, W8, and all other branches, mail order 15p extra. Rose-carved bangle, Butler & Wilson, £2.

The Drawing Room Stage

1970s, barry lategan, bill gibb, Inspirational Images, manolo blahnik, Vintage Editorials, Vogue, zapata
Cream broderie anglaise full-tiered halter dress, lace on halter, pink satin and bee buttons on bodice. Silk lace jacket: £350, jacket, £50, — at Bill Gibb. Gold shoes, Manolo Blahnik, £39, at Zapata.

Hit looks from Bill Gibb: fashion on the drawing-room stage starring net and ribbons and flowers.

Photographed by Barry Lategan.

Scanned from Vogue, March 15th 1977.

How very pretty. Cream net coat, tied with ribbons over matching full skirt and top. Skirts embroidered with sugar pale flowers from scallop hems. Top, a knitted bandeau with crossover halter. Coat, £98, top, £18, skirt, £116, at Bill Gibb.

Silvered peach skirt, this page, lace appliquéd with shine, wrapped and gathered at waist, with superfine silvered peach cape, £246, cape, £190 at Bill Gibb. Gold shoes, Manolo Blahnik, £39, at Zapata.

Frosted lilac silk organza dress, wrapped, bandeau bodice backless, crossed with silver. Hems of pastel flower embroidery; £380. Lilac hooded cape with silver lace, £190, at Bill Gibb. Gold shoes, Manolo Blahnik, £39, at Zapata.

Strike the right cord

19 magazine, 1970s, Antiquarius, bus stop, clobber, coopers, corocraft, Diane Logan, edward mann, Essenses, Fenwick, Herbert Johnson, Inspirational Images, John Craig, lee bender, ravel, Richard Green, Roger Charity, Russell & Bromley, Sacha, Samm, Sheilagh Browne, stirling cooper, universal witness, Vintage Editorials, Viyella
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.

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.

Because it’s Christmas (part II)

1970s, biba, Feathers, Frank Horvat, Inspirational Images, Jaeger, janice wainwright, polly peck, simon massey, The Purple Shop, vanity fair, Vintage Editorials
Crushed velvet again, sliced into a clean Seventies shape, narrow and knickerbockered but with lace-ruffled sleeves for the right touch of contrary nostalgia. By Polly Peck. Bugle-bead embroidered butterflies on brocade choker from The Purple Shop, Chelsea Antique Market. Child’s midi culotte dress by Just Jon.

Because it’s Christmas. Give yourself time. Time for you and those you love. Time to remember a neglected relative with a telephone call, a lonely neighbour with a visit more meaningful than the automatic instant greeting card. Time too, to think of perfect strangers in other countries, struggling against hardships we can barely imagine. Could be this is the time when a donation to one of those organisations which try to help is truly the spirit of Christmas, A spontaneous flowing of compassion and care from the unknown to the unknown.

Photographed by Frank Horvat.

Scanned from Vanity Fair, December 1970.

Velvet, crushed for texture, so right in brown, turned into a curvy gaucho suit by Janice Wainwright for Simon Massey. Perfect, amusing accessory— Biba’s boa from, of course, turkey feathers!

Long, serene, thoughtful dress by Young Jaeger in chestnut and purple printed panne velvet. Wide, full sleeves collected tightly at the wrist, soft, graceful skirt belted at the waist with a wide brown suede appliqued belt from Feathers.

Because it’s Christmas

1970s, baccarat, biba, bill gibb, Frank Horvat, Inspirational Images, The Purple Shop, vanity fair, Vintage Editorials
The kind of dress that might have got you Henry VIII — if you had wanted him. Tapestry tunic over a long skirt ; beautiful, low-necked blouse in silk. By Bill Gibb for Baccarat.

Because it’s Christmas. You’re going to forget, for once all the dreary practicalities of life. You’ll have no connection with the girl in the bus queue, wet winter mornings, tiresome clients, ceaseless telephone battles, budgets & diets, mortages and shopping. You’re going to experience the womanly spelndour of long, sumptuous gowns, shaped from luxurious stuffs – rich brocades, painstaking tapestries, beautiful braids; the whole piled into pattern on pattern so that the woman we know we could become emerges from grubby little Cinderella with a nonchalant elegance – relaxed, seemingly pampered and so obviously desreving a custom-made Prince Charming.

And because it’s Vanity Fair, it’s quite a long and endearingly meandering editorial on a loose theme which I will divide into a few different parts. Today, the glorious work of Bill Gibb for Baccarat, photographed so exquisitely I want to live in these images.

Photographed by Frank Horvat.

Scanned from Vanity Fair, December 1970.

Mediaeval splendour in a long tapestry coat, richly panelled in hamster, over a tapestry skirt and silk blouse. Rings, Purple Shop, Chelsea Antique Market ; Biba cameo.

The leisured life – something you can try out at Christmas, no matter how much organisation goes into it, epitomised by the slash-sleeved, printed panne velvet tunic over a ruffle-necked, ruffle-wristed blouse in festive red and green print. Bill Gibb for Baccarat.