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

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

Left: Thea Porter, Right: Missoni

Left: Ossie Clark, Right: Yves Saint Laurent

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.

Tales from the Nursery

Foale and Tuffin, Inspirational Images, jean varon, john bates, seventies fashion, Vogue

Clothes by Foale and Tuffin
Ninny Nanny Prettycoat
In an oatmeal petticoat.
The fuller the sleeves,
The sweeter the roses.

Delicious nursery rhyme themed spread from Vogue, April 1970. Photographed by Elisabeth Novick. I have included the strange nursery rhymes they have ~~mangled~~ created. Even though I think they’re a load of tosh. Why so literal, anonymous Vogue writer? Why not just use the originals and leave something to the imagination?

The photos are pretty incredible though, which makes it all worthwhile….

Be a fine lady and wear a fine dress,
Fragile as Bo-Peep’s, cut like a caress.
Sleeves are the prettiest,
Bloomers the wittiest,
In light silk and voile, paisley or crepe.

Clothes by Poole
Take a tuck, take a tuck tailor’s man.
Sew me some voile fast as you can.
Frill it and smock it,
And colour it white.
Then add pretty bloomers not quite out of sight.

Clothes by John Bates for Jean Varon
Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet
Wearing brown paisley and blue.
The skirt length was midi,
The bodice was pretty,
The trousers were brown paisley too.

Clothes by Francis Vaughan
Mary Mary silk and suede
How does this garden grow?
With smocking green
And pinafore
And hollyhocks all in a row.

Clothes by Lady Fingers
Several yards of ice-cream crepe,
Several yards of stitching,
Smock it high and frill the cuffs.
The dress is quite enchanting.