What A Purdey Outfit!

This recent blog with some great photos by Miss PeelPants reminded me that Joanna Lumley had once worn my halter neck two piece in an episode of The New Avengers.

Joanna must have also remembered it fondly because it features in her recent autobiography.

I intended it to be worn to show the midriff, as in these photos here from my book, but maybe with all the running around Joanna did in episodes of The New Avengers the demure way she wore it was more appropriate!

 

The wonders of the internet mean that you can now watch Joanna wearing the outfit in the relevant episode here on YouTube - she even rides a motorbike while wearing it at one point!





I will be writing other blogs about some Bus Stop outfits that had an iconic place in 1970s TV in the near future.

Turban Outfitters

This girl Shingal is lead singer with THE NOISETTES. She has a great singing voice -  check out "I'll Never Forget You" on YouTube if you don't know their music! What I really love is the way she dresses especially the turban!

Another current great turban wearer is Rihanna.

Eat My Playsuit

Here is a Woolly Playsuit (featuring loads of Bart Simpsons) that appeared in the Sunday Times Style Magazine last weekend (15.04.2012)

It reminded me of the blue stripe woolly playsuit I designed for Bus Stop in the 70's, shown here in Nova Magazine in 1972

                                                            

The Onesie - a Jumpsuit in disguise?

There seems to be an up and coming trend for "ONESIES", rather like Babygrows for grownups. They remind me very much of 1970s jumpsuits.

Here are 2 of my 1970's jumpsuits, which actually could still be worn now (if we had them!).

And here is Joan Collins back then wearing that jumpsuit in Black crepe printed with half moons. All these photos are from my book Bus Stop.

I didn't do clothes for men, but I wanted to share with you this ad for a man's 1970s jumpsuit, from the wonderful Retronaut website - the 1970s advertising copy is something I'm delighted has not come back into fashion!

The Body Clothed In Art

I have been asked by the Chelsea Arts Club, of which I am a member, to do a painting for their current exhibition "The Body Clothed in Art".

150 members (including Paul Smith, Peter Blake, Ralph Steadman, Theo Fennell, Ken Howard, Gray Jolliffe, Adrian George and Glen Baxter, so I am in good company!) were given these small canvases to paint, to be exhibited from Tuesday, and then auctioned for The Artists’ General Benevolent Institution.

Birds of a Feather Blue - Acrylic on Canvas

Birds of a Feather Brown - Acrylic on Canvas

 
I started off just doing the bright one - and decided I would do a less conspicuous one also to be paired together to make more impact!

Being first and foremost a fashion designer I thought both colour ways would give people a choice!

There was a huge audience at the Chelsea Arts Club on the launch day. I wanted to take photos but as it's a private club it's not allowed.

There will be a fashion show with catwalk models, a silent auction of the work, and later live music on Wednesday the 22nd of Feb so I'll find out then how much each of the canvases raised for charity.  All money raised will go towards the AGBI, and CAC Trust.


The full list of canvases for auction from the exhibition is here
There's also a list of all the fashion items up for auction here
Bidding can be made by both members and non-members, so if you see something that takes your fancy, put in a bid!