Inspirational Editorials: Second Time Around in Alice Pollock

1970s, alice pollock, british boutique movement, City Lights, cosmopolitan, Deirdre McSharry, Inspirational Images, jackie collins, janet reger, joan collins, L'Odeon, laurence harvey, norman eales, paulene stone, quorum, sarah frearson, Vintage Editorials, Walter Steiger, Zazie
alice pollock cosmo may 73 norman eales 2

“He’s a shade younger than I am, but he’s determined to close the generation gap. Luckily I’m not in the least bit ticklish”.

Your second oyster tasted much nicer than the first. The second time you drank champagne the bubbles did not make you sneeze… As Jackie Collins, the writing Collins sister puts it: “The second marriage is definitely more fun. The first time you marry very young; the next time you know what you are involving yourself in.” Joan, the actress Collins adds: “In my case it’s the third time around. And that’s better still. ” Alice Pollock, the designer, is contemplating taking the plunge again – hence this Second Time Around fashion – “It’s cool to marry again, providing you do it well. ” Paulene Stone, the beautiful redhaired model who married Laurence Harvey in the New Year – and after a long courtship – said: “The second marriage? Oh, it’s a lovely feeling. I was so glad when it finally happened.” (Honest lady!) As is Mr Harvey who describes re-marriage as: “The triumph of hope over experience.” And  to all the hopeful ladies who are contemplating love or marriage for the second time, these beautifully experienced clothes are dedicated.

All clothes by Alice Pollock at Quorum. Fashion by Deirdre McSharry. Photographed by Norman Eales. Modelled by Zazie.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Cosmopolitan, May 1973.

alice pollock cosmo may 73 norman eales 1

“It’s so restful spending the evening with a man you know well. I just let him get on with his Proust.” Shoes by City Lights

alice pollock cosmo may 73 norman eales 3

“Well we got to Caxton Hall in time. I picked him up in my Porsche just in case.” Hat by Sarah Frearson. Pendant from L’Odeon.

alice pollock cosmo may 73 norman eales 4

Inset Above: “Who says brides don’t wear black?” / Above: “Second honeymoons are seriously underrated. I haven’t had so much fun since I saw Private Lives.” Suspender belt by Janet Reger. Shoes from Walter Steiger. His outfit at Simpsons.

Vintage Adverts: Black goes with everything…

1970s, cosmopolitan, faux fur, flares, Guinness, hats, hotpants, maxis, platforms, Vintage Adverts

guinness september 1973

Necklines rise and plunge. Hemlines fall and rocket up again. Bottoms are in and out, bosoms come and go, colours wax and wane, waists move up and down, then vanish and re-appear. Only one thing remains calm, constant and reliable. And that’s black. Good to look at. Restrained. Dramatic. At home in any company. Our own little black number is a case in point. It goes with everything. It’s dry, clean-tasting and elegant. And it’s called Guinness.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Cosmopolitan, September 1973.

Inspirational Images: Fancy Footwork

1970s, Inca, Inspirational Images, Meriel McCooey, pat cleveland, Sacha, sunday times magazine
Dazzling sock with toes from Inca, 45 Elizabeth Street, London SW1 for approximately £4 a pair ... The fingerless mitts, also from Inca, cost £1.50

Dazzling sock with toes from Inca, 45 Elizabeth Street, London SW1 for approximately £4 a pair … The fingerless mitts, also from Inca, cost £1.50

The price of boots, like that of most other things today, is disgracefully high: here is another way of keeping your legs and feet warm – with socks.

Modelled by Pat Cleveland. Story by Meriel McCooey. Photographed by Sacha.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from The Sunday Times Magazine, 12th January 1975

Mensday: Brian of Brook Street

1960s, Illustrations, Mensday, menswear, Queen magazine, Vintage Adverts

brian of brook street

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Queen, November 1969

Inspirational Images: Gina Fratini, 1971

1970s, british boutique movement, Gina Fratini, harpers and queen, Inspirational Images, Vintage Adverts
Gina Fratini chooses Diolen Loft to create a Romanesque extravaganza.

“Gina Fratini chooses Diolen Loft to create a Romanesque extravaganza.”

I would dearly love to know the actual concept behind this advert. It has an Alice in Wonderland feel, but who knows…

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Harpers and Queen, April 1971

Vintage Adverts: For those who take their tea seriously

1970s, Illustrations, Vintage Adverts

brooke bond may 72 telegraph magazine

I love the image conjured up here. The fringed throw, the cushions, the patterned wallpaper, the potted plant, her clothes and hair, and – most importantly – the cup of tea. Aspirational Seventies style at its best.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from The Telegraph Magazine, May 1972

Inspirational Editorials: Knits, socks and clogs

1970s, alice pollock, alistair cowin, biba, british boutique movement, Chelsea Antiques Market, crowthers, Donald Davies, elisabeth novick, Grade One, harold ingram, Harrods, Inspirational Images, Jan Jensen, John Craig, kensington market, Margaret Howell, Mayfair Market, moyra swan, quorum, stop the shop, The Sweet Shop, Toto, Vintage Editorials, Vogue
Puff sleeve sweater from Harrods. Small turquoise Acrilan bib sweater at Stop the Shop. Both by John Craig. Khaki ribbed bermuda shorts by Donald Davies. Tapestry clog boots by Jan Jensen.

Puff sleeve sweater from Harrods. Small turquoise Acrilan bib sweater at Stop the Shop. Both by John Craig. Khaki ribbed bermuda shorts by Donald Davies. Tapestry clog boots by Jan Jensen.

A perfect winter look.

Photographed by Elisabeth Novick. Scanned by Miss Peelpants from Vogue, February 1971.

Dusty pink puff sleeved sweater over a beige linen sweater. Both by Harold Ingram. Thick purple wool trousers at Biba. Striped socks, Ruskin at Kensington Market. Knit cap by Margaret Howell at The Sweet Shop. Rose in glass pin, Marie Middleton at Chelsea Antique Market. Jacquard sweater by Toto at branches of Crowthers. Mushroom beige sweater underneath by Harold Ingram. Royal blue cashmere shorts, McGregor of Dublin. Over the knee socks by Donald Davies.

Dusty pink puff sleeved sweater over a beige linen sweater. Both by Harold Ingram. Thick purple wool trousers at Biba. Striped socks, Ruskin at Kensington Market. Knit cap by Margaret Howell at The Sweet Shop. Rose in glass pin, Marie Middleton at Chelsea Antique Market. Jacquard sweater by Toto at branches of Crowthers. Mushroom beige sweater underneath by Harold Ingram. Royal blue cashmere shorts, McGregor of Dublin. Over the knee socks by Donald Davies.

Vest and pullover both by Alice Pollock at Quorum. Pink knitted shorts by Alistair Cowin at Grade One. All clogs from Mayfair Market. Puff sleeved sweater in stripes of tuqouoise, pink and navy, acrylic tibbed dark blue polo neck undeneath, dark blue knitted trousers rolled up. All by John Craig at Stop the Shop.

Vest and pullover both by Alice Pollock at Quorum. Pink knitted shorts by Alistair Cowin at Grade One. All clogs from Mayfair Market. Puff sleeved sweater in stripes of tuqouoise, pink and navy, acrylic tibbed dark blue polo neck undeneath, dark blue knitted trousers rolled up. All by John Craig at Stop the Shop.

Inspirational Illustrations: Love Through the Letterbox

1970s, Honey Magazine, Illustrations, malcolm bird
You can always tell when September's here by the sight of my friend Susie. She gets a sort of look, and the postman starts to steer clear of her. It's the month when she finally realises that Alfonso is far from pining away for her in the Catalonian autumn. In fact, he's probably chatting up some other bird who is blind enough to take him seriously.

You can always tell when September’s here by the sight of my friend Susie. She gets a sort of look, and the postman starts to steer clear of her. It’s the month when she finally realises that Alfonso is far from pining away for her in the Catalonian autumn. In fact, he’s probably chatting up some other bird who is blind enough to take him seriously.

Completely and utterly glorious set of illustrations by the wonderful Malcolm Bird, scanned from Honey, December 1970. They accompany a long article, but I have just left small excerpts under each image. His illustration style is one of the most distinctive and perfect: from the eyes, to the hair, to the detail in the Celia Birtwell-esque prints you see here.

It seems to me that people who've been to boarding school are especially prone to the long-distance habit.

It seems to me that people who’ve been to boarding school are especially prone to the long-distance habit.

How can any Englishman compete with a vision in leopard-skin bathing trunks, cavorting on the beach at sun-kissed Lasagne al Forno?

How can any Englishman compete with a vision in leopard-skin bathing trunks, cavorting on the beach at sun-kissed Lasagne al Forno?

I suspect, though, that the couples who make a success of a love affair at a distance are the real old-fashioned romantics. They're the pink-ribbon people who write to each other every day and keep their correspondence under the pillow at night.

I suspect, though, that the couples who make a success of a love affair at a distance are the real old-fashioned romantics. They’re the pink-ribbon people who write to each other every day and keep their correspondence under the pillow at night.

By the time the vacation ends he's getting a bit fidgety. When you mention coming to see him he mumbles about catching up on his work. You arrive a month later, to his consternation, and grudgingly get a cup of tea in the awful referctory building. He spends the whole time talking to the girl who's sitting next to him. British Railways won't be seeing you on the Western Region again.

By the time the vacation ends he’s getting a bit fidgety. When you mention coming to see him he mumbles about catching up on his work. You arrive a month later, to his consternation, and grudgingly get a cup of tea in the awful refectory building. He spends the whole time talking to the girl who’s sitting next to him. British Railways won’t be seeing you on the Western Region again.

And as for Pat? There he sat nightly in a lonely bedsit, pining for his Laura. He sent her letters every day and occasionally made use of Interflora.

And as for Pat? There he sat nightly in a lonely bedsit, pining for his Laura. He sent her letters every day and occasionally made use of Interflora.

 

Inspirational Editorials: Pretty Cute

19 magazine, 1970s, David Fielden, Essences, Inspirational Images, Ivory, Marida, Salvet, Sue Leighton, Tom Leighton, Vintage Editorials, Vivienne Lynn
Cream tiered dress and matching bolero from Essences. Shoes by Ivory.

Cream tiered dress and matching bolero from Essences. Shoes by Ivory.

As a complete contrast to this season‘s brightly-coloured outfits, here are some really delicate and feminine, pastel-coloured dresses. They can be worn for a variety of occasions when dressing up is a must — even on your wedding day, if you’rc looking for something different. You can buy them new or you could be lucky, as we were, and find one in perfect condition in a second-hand shop. However, these dresses are quite expensive, second-hand clothes do tend to be over-priced in London, so keep an eye out for equally stunning outfits in your local secondhand shop.

Photographed by Tom Leighton. Props by Sue Leighton. Hair by Rocky at The Model Agency. Model is Vivienne Lynn.

Scanned by Miss Peelpants from 19 Magazine, March 1979

Pale blue strapless dress by Salvet. Shoes by Ivory.

Pale blue strapless dress by Salvet. Shoes by Ivory.

Ice blue blouse and matching skirt by David Fielden. Sandals by Midas.

Ice blue blouse and matching skirt by David Fielden. Sandals by Midas.

White cotton dress with lace by David Fielden. Hat by Marida. Sandals by Ivory.

White cotton dress with lace by David Fielden. Hat by Marida. Sandals by Ivory.

Got the Glitterbug…

1960s, 1970s, british boutique movement, chelsea girl, georgina linhart, Jaeger, Marnie Fogg, personal collection, quorum, wallis
Glitterbug (1972) from Marnie Fogg's Boutique

Glitterbug (1972) from Marnie Fogg’s Boutique

For some reason, I have shied away from posting about my collection much in recent years. I suppose it’s always been somewhat fluid; things come and go when times are hard or when something better comes along. But recently I acquired something which had always been a bit of a ‘holy grail’ for me, and it reminded me of exactly why I love fashion history, collecting and researching.

One of the most important books on my road to total geekery was Marnie Fogg’s Boutique: A ’60s Cultural Icon. Amazon kindly (and terrifyingly) informs me that I purchased it exactly ten years ago. Although clearly not comprehensive, something I am now realising is probably impossible, it was my main gateway into understanding the boutique phenomenon as a whole. I already knew many of the designers – and was delighted to see how much space was dedicated to John Bates – but several were new names to me. One of these was Georgina Linhart. Another graduate of St Martin’s College of Art and Design, Linhart set up her label in 1964 and, while she was frequently featured in the top magazines of the period, her business only ran for ten years. She later worked for Quorum, Jaeger, Wallis and Chelsea Girl. All four of which are favourite vintage labels chez Vintage-a-Peel.

Georgina Linhart, 1970

Georgina Linhart, 1970

The more time went on, the more I realised how rare examples of her work must be these days. My eBay search was empty 99% of the time, and only occasionally turned up magazine features and a couple of jackets. The most distinctive dress pictured in Fogg’s Boutique book was ‘Glitterbug’ (see above). A sequined halterneck mini dress, gossamer light and substantial in its insubstantiality; so quintessentially of its time, the epitome of the permissive age.

So my heart was in my mouth when Glitterbug turned up on eBay a couple of months ago. It was slightly out of my price range at the time, and the recent events in my life had forced me to re-evaluate what was important (and worth getting into debt for). So I sat and watched it. Every day I would log into eBay, with one eye shut, and check if anyone had bought it. Every day it was still there, but my nerves were getting beyond frazzled. So the day I finally felt marginally less broke than normal, was the day I logged in and put in a cheeky best offer. I am impossibly grateful to the seller for accepting it and making my collector dreams come true. It has been a long time coming, and it has come a long way from the USA, but Glitterbug is finally in my collection. Plus, it fits me – which I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have done ten years ago. What are the odds?

Glitterbug (1972) from my personal collection

Glitterbug (1972) from my personal collection