We’ve Got a Bottle of Hair Dye and We’re Gonna Use It…

Eighties Fashion, fuzzbox, new romantic, strawberry switchblade

Thought I would share possibly one of my favourite Eighties videos (and songs) by the fantastically low-budget girl group Fuzzbox (a.k.a We’ve Got a Fuzzbox and We’re Gonna Use It). I mainly remembered them from the later Eighties when they came back with a slicker sound, look and Barbarella-concept video for International Rescue. But I also remember my eldest brother speaking fondly of how ‘punk’ they used to be. I’m sure he’d now cringe at the idea that Fuzzbox were ever vaguely proper punk. But when I went a-hunting for inspiration for the New Rom nights, I discovered the early Fuzzbox videos and was hooked.


I honestly really wish I could style my hair and dress like these girls. I think I have a built in taste-limiter though. I usually end up more Roxy-girl or Strawberry Switchblade-esque. But perhaps one day I’ll say ‘to hell with it’ and dye my hair pink or something. The crimping and make-up I think I’ve got down pat….

WendyB in OssieC from Vintage-a-Peel

celia birtwell, gorgeous customers, ossie clark, wendyB

I hope the lovely WendyB doesn’t mind my re-posting her photos of her (and her Zang Toi arm candy) wearing her latest Ossie (to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, no less!) which she bought from Vintage-a-Peel. I don’t often get the chance to see photos of the frocks being worn, although lovely customers often email to tell me where they’ve been worn and it’s always a delight to hear! Check out her blog post here.

Voting and Edwardian Hair….

hair

I’m not one to plead for votes, but I’m chuffed to have even been nominated for the LuLu’s Vintage Blog People’s Choice Award again. You don’t have to vote for me if you don’t want to. It’s not like the Suffragettes did what they did so that we ladies could vote for vintage websites, but if you feel like voting for me, I’d be ever so delighted…. 😉

Speaking of Edwardian ladies, I find I’m rather obsessed with puffed and padded hair today after seeing A Doll’s House last night (highly recommended if you’re in town, and it has the delicious Toby Stephens and Christopher Eccleston in it, as well as Gillian Anderson being generally fabulous and padded in the hair department). Sadly, it is unavoidable for me to sit and stare at costumes and hair when I go to the theatre. Sometimes in squirmy fury if they’ve got it hideously wrong. Thankfully last night was superb in both departments.

Not sure it would suit me, but it would be entertaining to try and achieve. Images pilfered from flickr.










A more unusual Ossie spot: Peter Gabriel

bryan ferry, david bowie, marianne faithfull, ossie clark

Watching the Seven Ages of Rock on YeSTERDAY [or is it yEsterday? I can never remember now…] I happened upon a surprising Ossie spot. After initially enjoying young Mr David Gilmour (yummy!), the BryanGod (yummier!!) and then a young Peter Gabriel (surprisingly yum in his early days, I hadn’t realised)…..they proceeded to show the clip of Gabriel with the fox head….and a red dress. But not just any red dress….

Oh yeah. Mr Gabriel was wearing an Ossie. Presumably belonging to his wife? I think it rather suits him, and certainly makes an interesting contrast to Bowie and Jagger wearing “official” Ossie menswear.

I once sold the black version over at Vintage-a-Peel. I wonder, should I ever come across another one, whether the Gabriel connection would be a unique selling point?? Methinks perhaps not….


I think Marianne is still the bestest wearer of this style, although it helps that hers is a Celia print….

Le Freak, C’est Chic: Ossies! Dancing Pattie!! Ossies!!!

amanda lear, ossie clark, Pattie Boyd

Pattie is shown wearing the ubiquitous scalloped edge trousersuit and Lamborghini. Interestingly named as ‘Georgy Porgy’ in the film. I wonder if that was the original name for the outfit or whether they called it Georgy Porgy as a joke reference to Mr Harrison? Oddly enough, I have greater Ossie-envy for Amanda Lear’s outfits [and, while I’m here, I want her hair!]. And the lucky cow who gets to wear the kicky flared ensemble (Dress of the Year at Bath in 1969 – see below). That’s probably the ultimate Ossie holy grail….for me at any rate.

Irritating that you could dance like that back then. I can dance like that, I could be one of the cool girls… Le sigh.

Lost Art: Illustrating the Mundane

1960s, 1970s, Illustrations, Vintage Adverts

It’s a great disappointment to me that illustration seems to be such a niche market these days. There are occasional high-concept spreads in magazines (I know The Independent used to be very good at fashion illustration), and the odd one or two used to illustrate regular columns. But I’ve noticed, through my many old magazines, that illustrations used to be used to sell the most mundane products in the back of the magazines. Make-up, catalogues, pile cream, modelling agencies….ok perhaps I made up the pile cream one, but you get what I mean. Hell, one of them even advertises a Club 18-30 holiday…

All Aboard

Illustrations

Look out for a brand new collection of Agatha Christie movies on DVD. Released on the 3rd of June, this collection, published fortnightly, comprises a DVD and an informative magazine that looks at the story and the characters with a behind-the-scenes journey into the making of the film.

http://www.agathachristie.com

Very excited to see that the Agatha Christie film collection is being released. The Orient Express one is particularly exciting because it actually features some illustrations by yours truly (see photo above). Oh yes! I was asked to do them last year, and will hopefully be doing some more soon. I’d actually forgotten about the entire project until hearing that it was getting a release this month.

Anyway, here’s the TV advert, which I keep catching the end of and flapping madly that I’ve missed my bit. That’s my stuff on there. Excitement and panic ensues….

Mannifesto

mannequins, roxy music

You may or may not remember my ongoing saga with Odette, my thin white Duchess of a mannequin. Well her stand finally gave up the ghost a few months back, and I’m no welder, so she’s been semi-retired for now (she might be going to live with a friend in Cardiff, so I know she’ll be in good hands). I’ve been using Lil the Dummy ever since but, while I certainly like the simplicity of a dummy, she’s definitely lacking four very important features which allow me to show off sleeves and trousers.

I recently acquired this new-old mannequin; I’ve been coveting a proper vintage one for years. As soon as I unpacked her, I knew what her name had to be. She’s a Roxy girl through and through, so she’s Roxy. Also, Manifesto is a brilliant album cover. And a good pun at that.

However, since I respect my customers’ opinions, I thought I’d ask you all what you thought. She’ll stay put anyway, for the occasional trousersuit or big sleeved confection, but I’m not sure whether or not she should totally replace the dummy. Opinions, if you please?


p.s She’s also giving me wig-envy. But I’m not sure I could carry off a strawberry shag?

Red Dresses

kate bush, noosha fox

I find I’m completely captivated by two videos of two beautiful women, with unique voices and dancing, wearing stunning red dresses, with brilliant hair and make-up. I realise this is not all that surprising for me.

What I find really odd is that, dates-wise for these videos, Noosha appears to be imitating Kate. Whereas, in fact, Noosha pre-dates Kate with her style, singing voice and aforementioned peculiar movements. I generally tend to think Ms Bush imitated Ms Fox, albeit probably quite subconsciously. So when these things blur in such a way, it boggles my mind.

Is it just me overthinking things? Did Noosha start imitating Kate slightly, or was it the natural progression of her own style (which Kate acquired a little earlier because she was processing the Noosha style faster) – since she’s certainly changed a bit! Almost like she’s had a sexual awakening between S-s-s-single Bed and The Heat Is On. Perhaps it’s the effect of a really sexy red dress?

Why should I care? I have no idea. It certainly makes me wonder about individuality and imitation, and how clear-cut either thing can really be.

The Good Life

seventies sitcoms, the good life

Walking along with Charley the other day, who should walk past us but Seventies Sitcom Icon Felicity Kendal. We both got the giggles afterwards, just with a look to each other. Charley is a major fan of The Good Life [and not afraid to admit it – atta girl! That’s why we’re so well suited as friends] and having grown up in Surbiton myself I can’t really help but love it. I’d have been even more impressed had it been the fabulous Varon-wearing Penelope Keith. But you can’t have everything.