Vintage Style - Designer Ossie Clark
Yes, the vintage revival storm has swept through us for awhile now, feeling it's aftermath and what's left of the trend-followers (though it is between the seasons & looks now).
Vintage is still in, and will always be.
Due to it's wonderful ability in flattering women's silhouette.
Romantic flowy chiffon (or something close for a fraction of the price), high waisted dresses, high belts and what not bold prints that hold the attention and lengthen one's form/height.
Above: 1970s, Classic silhouette as defined by Clark for Radley clothing line
But do we know who to credit this style inventor to?
Thanks to a few designers of the era. One of them Ossie Clark.
Left: Clark's graduation collection as featured in August 1965 issue of Vogue
Right: Ossie Clark and McDermott back in R.C.A days
History - Ossie Clark
Raymond "Ossie" Clark, was at the forefront of England's fashion scene in the 1960s to late 70s. Most of his career, with wife & textile designer partner Celia Birtwell, he dresses the rich and fashionable.
Celia designed romantic, nature-inspired prints on textile for Ossie's tailoring, which accentuated the female form and swayed the then somewhat conservative world's imagination & attention, to dresses.
He graduated with a first class degree from the Royal College of Arts and captivated the fashion media with his graduation collection. Soon after, he got himself into the features of British Vogue.
He first began his career designing for Quorum, which featured the works of young talented designers.
Trouser suit as worn by Twiggy, with sharp contrasty tailoring.
I shan't go on with the history of an autobiography isn't the aim of this article but to render credit to the man and a sharing of his classic works which have defined the style of the 60s-70s era.
Left: Celia Birtwell's signature textile pattern 'Floating Daisy', coupled with complementary grid patterns
Right: Chiffon dress with floral print
Above: Celia's textile sketches with design ideas
Delicte & complex - Simple chiffon dress endowed with a spiral of ruffles giving an illusion of layers of fabric
Left: Skirt of this dress is cleverly pieced together from two different lengths of fabric
Left: Clark's 'Dress of the Year'
The ensemble embodies three of Clark's favourite design elements: a Celia Birtwell print, trousers for women, and ruffles to break a garment's surface. Prudence Glynn wrote in The Times,'This outfit exemplifies the 1969 look at its most appealing and its most subtle'.
Variety: Sharp Suits/Dresses
High slit skirt with Celia's signature fabric as suit
Above: Ossie Clark designs for French clothing manufacturer Mendes
Innovations: Exotic Animal Skin On Classic Shapes
Ossie with innovative and adventurous use of snakeskin and mix of materials for garmenfor
Top: Twiggy with Ossie designed snakeskin coat lined with fox fur.
Below: Exotic snakeskin use on classic bombed jacket shape
Hope you've enjoyed the Designers learning journey with me. Will write more as I find the time to learn & write altogether.
Pictures & History: Victoria & Albert Museum
Reference: Wikipedia
Vintage is still in, and will always be.
Due to it's wonderful ability in flattering women's silhouette.
Romantic flowy chiffon (or something close for a fraction of the price), high waisted dresses, high belts and what not bold prints that hold the attention and lengthen one's form/height.
Above: 1970s, Classic silhouette as defined by Clark for Radley clothing line
But do we know who to credit this style inventor to?
Thanks to a few designers of the era. One of them Ossie Clark.
Left: Clark's graduation collection as featured in August 1965 issue of Vogue
Right: Ossie Clark and McDermott back in R.C.A days
History - Ossie Clark
Raymond "Ossie" Clark, was at the forefront of England's fashion scene in the 1960s to late 70s. Most of his career, with wife & textile designer partner Celia Birtwell, he dresses the rich and fashionable.
Celia designed romantic, nature-inspired prints on textile for Ossie's tailoring, which accentuated the female form and swayed the then somewhat conservative world's imagination & attention, to dresses.
He graduated with a first class degree from the Royal College of Arts and captivated the fashion media with his graduation collection. Soon after, he got himself into the features of British Vogue.
He first began his career designing for Quorum, which featured the works of young talented designers.
Trouser suit as worn by Twiggy, with sharp contrasty tailoring.
I shan't go on with the history of an autobiography isn't the aim of this article but to render credit to the man and a sharing of his classic works which have defined the style of the 60s-70s era.
Left: Celia Birtwell's signature textile pattern 'Floating Daisy', coupled with complementary grid patterns
Right: Chiffon dress with floral print
Above: Celia's textile sketches with design ideas
Delicte & complex - Simple chiffon dress endowed with a spiral of ruffles giving an illusion of layers of fabric
Left: Skirt of this dress is cleverly pieced together from two different lengths of fabric
Left: Clark's 'Dress of the Year'
The ensemble embodies three of Clark's favourite design elements: a Celia Birtwell print, trousers for women, and ruffles to break a garment's surface. Prudence Glynn wrote in The Times,'This outfit exemplifies the 1969 look at its most appealing and its most subtle'.
Variety: Sharp Suits/Dresses
High slit skirt with Celia's signature fabric as suit
Above: Ossie Clark designs for French clothing manufacturer Mendes
Innovations: Exotic Animal Skin On Classic Shapes
Ossie with innovative and adventurous use of snakeskin and mix of materials for garmenfor
Top: Twiggy with Ossie designed snakeskin coat lined with fox fur.
Below: Exotic snakeskin use on classic bombed jacket shape
Hope you've enjoyed the Designers learning journey with me. Will write more as I find the time to learn & write altogether.
Pictures & History: Victoria & Albert Museum
Reference: Wikipedia
Labels: designers, style tips
