Christine McVie in Thea Porter

british boutique movement, christine mcvie, fleetwood mac, personal collection, seventies fashion, stevie nicks, thea porter

I’m usually all about the Stevie Nicks. I have a fabulous skirt (in severe danger of falling apart at the seams, quite literally) which is identical to one she had. As identical as a patchwork skirt can be. And it’s safe to say, she is one of my biggest style icons. And I was going to do a post about her today. And then I spotted these two photos in the folder and remembered I had spotted that Christine McVie is wearing a gypsy Thea Porter dress, but didn’t blog about it at the time (for some weird reason).

It can’t have been fun being photographed next to Stevie most of the time, so it’s nice to see a rare moment where she outshines her.

I have one Thea Porter gypsy dress which, despite never having found occasion to wear, I cannot bring myself to sell (the skirt is very sheer and, clearly, I will never find a suitably hemmed petticoat to go underneath….). I rather like the fact that mine is a monochrome (aside from the gold silk waist panel), but it doesn’t stop me slightly lusting after the coloured ones as well.

Ossie Holy Grail

celia birtwell, holy grails, Inspirational Images, marisa berenson, ossie clark, seventies fashion

I met up with the gorgeous Laurakitty yesterday for an Enchanted Palace experience (at Kensington Palace) and then prosecco and vintage geek talk near the birthplace of Biba on Abingdon Road. Laura has one of the most incredible collections of Ossie Clark clothes, many of which would definitely be something of a ‘Holy Grail’ for me.

Ossie holy grails are a strange subject I suppose, since I have a not-too-insubstantial handful of covetable pieces myself, but it doesn’t do to become too complacent about the idea of ultimate pieces by designers you love. New discoveries are what keeps the passion alive. Love Me Do is probably one of the ultimates, as is the Hockney portrait dress, but sometimes I think I would dearly trade either in for, say, this one as worn by the impossibly beautiful Marisa Berenson.

That said, I recently bought an Ossie I had lusted after for years. And now I have it, I’m not convinced it suits me.

Holy Grails are strange things. What are yours?

Both Ends Burning

bryan ferry, roxy music

Because I’m feeling a tad exhausted and uninspired right now and am about to spend most of the afternoon photographing new pieces for the site, so am in desperate need of energy and inspiration, here is a gratuitous BryanGod video.

Both Ends Burning is absolutely one of my all-time favourite Roxy songs, and one I listened to fairly constantly during a very weird period in my life just over a year ago. It doesn’t have bad associations, it’s a reminder of how passionate I can feel about life – even when I’m exhausted physically and, more frequently, emotionally. And that is the power of a great song by a great band like Roxy….

And Bryan Ferry in eyepatch and tight trousers can’t do any harm either…

Inspirational Images: Bette Davis

1930s, bette davis, Inspirational Images

Bette Davis, 1933

“Why am I so good at playing bitches? I think it’s because I’m not a bitch. Maybe that’s why Miss Crawford always plays ladies.”

Mick Karn

japan, mick karn

It’s hard to tell what the outlook is, and it’s none of our business really, but I would like to take the opportunity to send some love and healing vibes to the stupendously talented bassist Mick Karn.






Designers and models

amanda lear, bill gibb, christopher mcdonnell, jean muir, joanna lumley, john bates, mary quant, zandra rhodes

One of my favourite Telegraph magazine spreads (May 25th, 1973) featuring some of my favourite designers (and, for a few, their partners) with their favourite models, wearing favourite pieces from that season.






Forecasting a busy few weeks….

brighton, trenchcoats, trevira

Apologies for the lack of updating the past few days. I’m currently doing some dressing work again and trying to keep up with general day-to-day website stuffs. I also snatched a mere 48 hours in Brighton (bliss!) in a break between shows which, in turn, reminded me that I scanned this brilliant image the other day and hadn’t shared yet.


I’m determined to keep up a snappy[ish] blogging pace but, with work and a birthday holiday, I can’t promise quite such frequent updates. Besides, it’s summer. Is anyone even still reading me every day?

Very Britt Ekland. Very envious.

britt ekland, hair, interior design, loungewear, sanderson, seventies fashion

1973

I appear to have Ekland hair-envy again. Only this time, it’s coupled with Ekland interior decor-envy as well. Damn her.

Farewell Duffy

brian duffy, celia birtwell, ossie clark, quorum, telegraph magazine, thea porter
Both dresses by Sheridan Barnett for Quorum

Both dresses by Sheridan Barnett for Quorum

Brian Duffy, 15 June 1933 – 31 May 2010

Thank you for making the world more beautiful. Photos by Duffy for The Daily Telegraph Magazine, September 1973.

Clothes by Jane Cattlin

Clothes by Jane Cattlin

 

Left: Thea Porter, Right: Missoni

Left: Thea Porter, Right: Missoni

Left: Ossie Clark, Right: Yves Saint Laurent

Left: Ossie Clark, Right: Yves Saint Laurent

Left: Jean Muir, Right: Sheridan Barnett

Left: Jean Muir, Right: Sheridan Barnett

More Veruschka Tonik

1970s, veruschka, Vintage Adverts
Vogue, March 1973

No, I haven’t distilled some Essence of Veruschka. It’s another in the series of adverts she did for Tonik by Dormeuil. One day I hope to complete the set.