Gimme Biba

biba, keith richards, menswear, seventies fashion, the rolling stones

I have just listed a rare piece of Biba menswear over on eBay. Not only is it a rare piece of Biba menswear, it’s also the same print as one worn by the divinely dissolute Keith Richards. I’m 99.9% certain that Keef’s is a bit of ladieswear, probably stolen from a girlfriend or even just from the rails of the boutique (as so many people did) but it’s a pretty cool coincidence nonetheless, non?

In other news, I would like to say hello to anyone who has just found me via The Guardian’s ‘Internet Picks of the Week‘ feature. Hello! If you want the promised feature on Scopitones, you can find that here.

Hoarding can be rewarding: Britt Ekland

britt ekland, sixties
Cine Revue, January 1969


Many moons ago, I ran a website dedicated to Diana Rigg. Time, finances, enthusiasm; they all waned drastically and it became defunct a couple of years back. Seems I rarely post about her these days (though this is certainly not intentional) and lo! this is to be another post sans Rigg. For I have realised, more recently, that I had accumulated a whole pile of bizarre Sixties and Seventies TV and film magazines (rarely even in English) in my efforts to find the rarest pictures of La Rigg.

I never really looked terribly closely at them, I was working too hard on scanning in the pictures for which I had bought them and would often file them away without really, really reading them. A couple of magazines have garnered these gorgeous shots of Britt Ekland, amongst other interesting things, and I thought I would share them.

Cine Revue, October 1968

Inspirational Images: Dolly girls

1960s, Inspirational Images

Yet another incidence of an average 1970s or 1980s-produced ‘History of Fashion’ book where the text is cliché-ridden and lousy, but then some amazing and rare images seem to make up for it, and then you try to find out who took the photo, when they took it and what it features, and fail dismally. Or AANONPHOFBWTTICRALBTSAARISTMUFIATYTTFOWTTPWTTIAWIFAFD as an acronym. Mmm….catchy!

Well this is clearly Sixties, probably around 1967, and appears to at least belong to someone called Michel Molinare (although I can’t be sure if he is the photographer). But I think it’s a beautiful shot, and very inspirational at a time when I’m definitely in need of it. Still working hard on the first big batch of Autumn/Winter pieces for Vintage-a-Peel, and just generally dealing with life. I hope you can all bear with me, and I would just like to thank you all very, very profusely for the lovely comments you’ve been leaving me lately. They really do cheer me up immeasurably, and spur me on, so thank you….

Chirpy chirpy, not very ‘Cheap Cheap’….

jo grant, katy manning, middle of the road, mr freedom, olivia newton john, sally carr, seventies fashion

Thank you thank you thank you, lovely anonymous reader (please let me know your name or online ‘alter-ego’ so I can say thank you properly) who commented on the previous post with this amazing vintage spot.


Sally Carr from Middle of the Road, wearing the iconic Mr Freedom hotpant outfit. It also came with the knee length variation, as worn by Olivia Newton John.

It was also worn by Miss Peelpants favourite, Katy Manning (Jo Grant in Doctor Who) for a few publicity shots, although I have no idea if she was in the hotpant or baseball short variation.

It was clearly one of their most popular pieces, and does occasionally turn up at auction (with an appropriately hefty price tag). I have never owned the complete ensemble, but I do have a polka dot ‘skater’ dress with matching frilly knickers by Mr Freedom, which I must photograph and share very soon.

Thank you, also, for introducing me to Sally Carr as a potential style icon. I haven’t found many decent photos online just yet, but she does seem to be a hardened hotpant girl (which is to be admired, worshipped and generally cooed over).

Smartie Pants

1970s, antony price, british boutique movement, bus stop, celia birtwell, christian dior, clobber, Diana Crawshaw, hotpants, mary quant, mr freedom, ossie clark, Patrick Russell, ritva, stirling cooper, telegraph magazine, universal witness, yves saint laurent
Smartie Pants

Shorts have been with us for some time now – “hot pants” making even starlets front page news – but the big question was whether they were here to stay, or were just a gimmick. Increasing sales seem to show that they are really catching on, and now the big stores are stocking them. For those with the youth and legs to enjoy them, we bring the very latest designs.

Photographed by Patrick Russell.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from The Telegraph Magazine, April 1971
Outfit by Anthony for Stirling Cooper. All menswear by YSL.

Outfit by Antony for Stirling Cooper. All menswear by YSL.

Shorts and top by Bus Stop. Shirt by Toto from Crowthers

Shorts and top by Bus Stop. Shirt by Toto from Crowthers

Outfit by Diana Crawshaw for Mr Freedom

Outfit by Diana Crawshaw for Mr Freedom

Top and scarf by Ossie Clark from Quorum. Shorts by Clobber

Top and scarf by Ossie Clark from Quorum. Shorts by Clobber

Outfit on left by Diorling at Christian Dior. Outfit on right by Sheilagh Blagden at Stirling Cooper

Outfit on left by Diorling at Christian Dior. Outfit on right by Sheilagh Blagden at Stirling Cooper

Outfit on left by Ritva. Outfit on right by Paul Reeves for Universal Witness.

Outfit on left by Ritva. Outfit on right by Paul Reeves for Universal Witness.

 

Distracted by men. Again.

brighton, menswear, seventies fashion, telegraph magazine

I went to scan a fabulous hotpant-themed fashion spread in the Daily Telegraph Magazine from 1971, and instead I found myself scanning in menswear adverts. Whoops….still, dreamy or what? I am particularly loving Mr Brighton, above. Hotpants tomorrow….

Inspirational Images: Donbros knitwear

1970s, boots, Inspirational Images, knitwear, petticoat magazine

Petticoat, September 1971

Bagsy the middle outfit with the purple boots on the right…..so there!

Woodland Nymph

annacat, jean varon, john bates, personal collection
Photos: Tracey Fahy. Model and ballerina: Holly Owst.


Dirndl dress by John Bates for Jean Varon. Plunging jersey dress by Annacat. Styled by….me! Both pieces are from my private collection.


Photoshoot in Queen’s Wood, Highgate. Typical British “August” weather tried to stop us, but I think they’re beautiful shots. Thank you so much, ladies!

All images are © Tracey Fahy. Please do not use the images without asking permission.



This must be underwater love….

1970s, biba, cherry twiss, flip schulke, Inspirational Images, mary quant, ossie clark, telegraph magazine

White pleated dress; £30 from a selection at the Prop Shop, 51 Old Church Street.

I can’t believe I’ve never scanned this before. Honestly, the backlog of scanning is ridiculous due to time constraints and the fact that all magazines other than early Honeys are a very Bad Size for my scanner. When will I ever have an A3 scanner? When will I ever have the room?

Anyway, this is an utterly delicious shoot from The Daily Telegraph Magazine, July 1972, featuring some seriously beautiful clothes actually worn underwater in the Bahamas. I must admit that part of me winces at the idea of a silk chiffon Ossie being ruined in the name of a photoshoot. But, then, this is an incredible shoot…and no one would dare do it now, with a vintage piece, so it’s totally unique. I genuinely think that Cherry Twiss is one of the great unsung heroes of British fashion journalism, I’ve always loved the Daily Telegraph Magazine shoots under her direction.

Fashion Editor: Cherry Twiss

Photographer: Flip Schulke

Model: Cathy Shirriff

Also, unfortunately, the Telegraph had a pretty lousy print at times – especially when it came to the small ‘inset’ images. I’ve done my best, but they’re low-res to start with I’m afraid. Still very enjoyable and inspirational though…

Dress by Suliman; £25

Red spotted voile nightdress from Biba; £10.25

Left: Top and skirt by Anokhi; £22.50 – Right: Chiffon dress by Ossie Clark at Quorum; £30

‘Capsule’ by Mary Quant; £4

Left: Silk dress from Rumak and Sample; £25.15 – Right: Chiffon caftan by Deliss; £79

Octopus scarf dress from Essenses (Stand N8 at Antiquarius); £30

More Boyfriend menswear gorgeousness (plus Top Ten award!)

amen corner, boyfriend annual, menswear, psychedelia, ruffles, sixties, stripeyness, the herd

I think the Boyfriend 1969 annual might as well have been called the ‘Miss Peelpants Guide to How Men Should Dress’. Here are The Herd and Amen Corner, rocking the stripes and ruffles respectively.

I’m very chuffed to have put in an appearance in Cision’s Top 10 UK Vintage Clothing Blogs, and in such esteemed company as well. Very nice to get recognition from such a site, even if I don’t quite understand how I ended up there! Thanks Cision! Thision.

(That’s for for any Look Around You fans out there….)