Marianne Faithfull in Ossie Clark, by David Redfern 1973.
She looks so sad here, and this contrasts in a perversely beautiful way with the most exquisite Ossie Clark dress she’s wearing. I’ve been listening to her a fair bit lately and she often makes me snivel in public. A feat managed only by a handful of people…
I know nothing of Beyond the Pale other than this photo (scanned from 20th Century Fashion by David Bond). If anyone knows anything, please do let me know. I love this photo; nobody looks quite as good as they probably think they are, but they look all the more amazing for it. And I particularly love the ‘candid’ face of the guy coming out of the door.
Edited to add a scrap of information from the photo agency website:
London, England, 1968, Former psychology student opens London’s latest Boutique, ‘Beyond the Pale’, Seen here are (L-R) Manageress Jo Cruickshank, model Chantey Mulville, owner Peter Woodworth & model Anthe Holt
Goodness me. A week has flown by with no blog posts and I barely even noticed. I’m still awaiting my new computer (finally ordered though, hurrah) and decided to luxuriate in the long weekend we’ve just had, courtesy of Mr Duke and Mrs Duchess, down in Brighton. I’ve even started swimming! Wonders will never cease…
I was trying to not care about the nuptials, and all the hoo-ha surrounding them, but I’m afraid I was sucked in for the ceremony. My excuse is that it was because a very lovely and ridiculously talented friend of mine had been working on The Dress for the Royal School of Needlework and her excitement was infectious. It’s always nice to have the inside scoop on such a thing as well, and I’m so immensely proud of her!
On a mini-jaunt to Cambridgeshire, I found the most divine thing for myself in an Ely charity shop.
Your eyes are not deceiving you! It is a suitcase, and it is covered in striped chenille. Made by renowned luggagiers (yes, I made that up…) ‘Antler’, it’s so perfectly Seventies and so perfectly ‘me’. A snip at £5, and seemingly never used, I was unable to resist. Even if it never actually goes on any trips, due to lack of wheels and innate heaviness, it will still perform the function of storage with the added benefit of aesthetic appeal.
On Sunday we jaunted to Standen House, which is a simply perfect Arts and Crafts house near East Grinstead (see top photo). It was almost surreal, seeing those oft-reproduced William Morris textiles in an authentic setting. It has managed to retain the warm atmosphere of a family house and, although we chose tea and cake over walking around the grounds (limited time and a descending chill in the air), I think the surrounding land would be well worth a visit alone if you’re ever in the area.
Anyway, after a lovely lunch with the gorgeous Laurakitty yesterday and sushi with another dear friend in the evening, I find it’s now Thursday and I’ve been completely lazy for a whole week. Whoops! Back to work and back to blogging.
So sorry for not having been around to comment on your blogs, I will do my best to make amends!
Photographed by Celia Birtwell
“Usually I lack confidence, but when I wear Ossie’s designs I know I’m beautiful and sexy. His clothes are like a play. I act to suit the mood of the dress. Fashion now is very sophisticated – as always Ossie had that feeling first.”
Gala Mitchell quoted in Vanity Fair, July 1971
One of my favourite images, possibly ever.
So the great, the good and the not so great or good are constantly telling me/us that colour blocking is back in a big way this summer. Well, such information tends to make me either run for the hills, or stay and stick my tongue out/dig my heels in/yawn dramatically/stick my nose in the air.
However, i) I like colours, blocked or not and ii) this spread from Vanity Fair (July 1971) shows me how it *should* be done, courtesy of the likes of Foale and Tuffin and Mr Freedom, in true Glam Rock style.
Judy and Sally Geeson
…never were there such devoted sisters…. I only have brothers so I can’t even imagine what it must be like to have a sister. I always wanted one when I was younger, mainly because my brothers seemed like a pain in the backside a lot of the time (as I’m sure I was to them). Although I love them both dearly, they always had each other and I felt deprived of such a partner in crime. But I guess I’ve also benefitted from never having that kind of competitiveness. This post is pretty much just an excuse to post pictures of a few glamorous famous sisters…
Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac
Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave
Loretta Young, Sally Blane and Polly Ann Young
Patricia and Rosanna Arquette
Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave
Loretta Young and Sally Blane
Jackie and Joan Collins
Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Dorléac
Jenny and Pattie Boyd
Lillian and Dorothy Gish
Olivia De Havilland and Joan Fontaine
Joan and Jackie Collins
Jenny and Pattie Boyd
Joan Fontaine and Olivia De Havilland
One of my favourite spreads from Honey magazine, June 1965 and perfect inspiration for the weather we’re having here in Blighty. I’ve selected some of my personal highlights (because it doesn’t half go on…) which include two John Bates dresses, an amazing Dollyrockers (above, I love the detail with the missing button!! Makes me wonder if it fell off while the shoot was happening…) and I can’t help but adore the final image which is a superb example of the beloved ‘Butt Bow’ phenomenon. And what I would consider to be an ideal wedding outfit (please see previous blog about meringues…). Ahhhh, such bliss to live in the past. One day I hope I’ll be able to move there permanently…
As the copy in the magazine says, “No need to go that far but there’s nothing wrong with a calculated strip in the right places. And on the right occasions, of course.”
Dress by John Marks
Dress by John Bates for Jean Varon
Dress by John Bates for Jean Varon
Dress by Martha Hill
Trouser suit by California Cottons
One of the few recent passings which has actually left me rather embarrassingly weepy, perhaps because of the childhood significance (although Sarah Jane was long gone as a companion by the time I was born, I grew up watching her episodes on scratchy VHS…). I can’t really say any more than any of the other fans are right now, and I didn’t know her to say anything very personal. So I will do what I do best, posting some of my favourite images of Lis Sladen as Sarah Jane, Bus Stop wearer extraordinaire and one of the best Who-ladies ever….
Farewell!
Someone never forgot the Importance of Being Dandy. That person was Prince. I used to crush on him quite badly in my early teens and I’m certain it’s all tied up with my love of flamboyant male dressers and New Romantics. Prince didn’t just do stripes, he did spots as well. He didn’t just do a bit of colour, he was all-over purple. The man is a sartorial genius as well as a musical one. Prince, how I do adore thee…
Liz Eggleston 