Laura Ashley Vintage 1984 Spring Dress Collection

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Fashion in the 1980s was not only the New Wave, neon-colored, spandexed, Flashdance attire that we always think defines the style of that decade. There was definitely a more classic side, with the Sloane Ranger (Princess Diana) and Preppy look. There was also a more romantic, traditional look in dresses, with the popularity of Laura Ashley and Gunne Sax styles.

I ran across this Laura Ashley Spring/Summer 1984 catalog that I had saved. I was struck by the fresh and pretty fashions that were probably at the apex of Laura Ashley fashions in the 1980s. I really love the sailor middy dress, and the white wedding gown – so classic! When I was shopping for my wedding dress in 1983, I remember going to the Laura Ashley store in downtown Seattle. I absolutely loved her wedding dresses, but they were way beyond my price range. I drooled nonetheless. I ended up getting a knockoff of a Gunne Sax dress that was on sale. It was lovely, but it was no Laura Ashley!

Laura Ashley Scarlet and Navy stripe print dress. Spring 1984

Laura Ashley white cotton waisted dresses. Spring 1984

Laura Ashley floral print and summer dresses. Spring 1984

Laura Ashley full gathered dress and loose-waisted sundress. Spring 1984

Laura Ashley cotton jumper and classic skirt, jacket and blouse. Spring 1984

Laura Ashley floral print dress and Peter Pan collar blouse with matching tiered skirt. Spring 1984

Laura Ashley button-front dress and plain and striped T-Shirts. Spring 1984

Laura Ashley drop-waisted striped sundress and high-gathered waist print midi dress. Spring 1984

Laura Ashley sweater, skirt and blouse and white cotton sailor-style dress. Spring 1984

Laura Ashley full-length dress in pure Cotton Lawn, just right for bridesmaids or for that very special occasion. Spring 1984

Laura Ashley Wedding Dress. A bridal gown of uncommon beauty, of purest White cotton lawn, generously trimmed with frills and bows. The flattering neckline is gently elasticized for a perfect fit and the bodice is boned front and back to ensure a smooth and graceful line from bust to hips. The dress has a hooped petticoat which adds dramatic fullness to the skirt. Spring 1984.

Laura Ashley nightgown. The ideal cotton summer nightdress tucked and edged in lace. Spring 1984.

~Marilyn~

The BIBA Look Arrives In America 1971

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BIBA fashions, designed by Barbara Hulanicki, were all the rage in London in the ’60s and ’70s. The “Biba Look” or “Dudu Look” was described by Hulanicki as “fresh little foals with long legs, bright faces, and round dolly eyes.” Biba started out as mail-order clothing company, then on to stores, and ultimately to the Big Biba department store.

However, Biba remained firmly ensconced across the pond in England. That is until McCall’s sewing patterns offered Hulanicki a licensing deal in 1971, to bring Biba designs stateside. Hulanicki designed four exclusive McCall’s patterns for Seventeen Magazine to celebrate her American debut. She also designed soft fabrics (Tootal for Biba) to go along with the patterns, that were sold at specialized sewing boutiques.

This is the Biba Boutique fashion editorial that featured McCall’s Biba patterns in the January 1971 issue of Seventeen magazine. The beautiful photography is by Sarah Moon. It is from my personal magazine collection that I had stored away and had to dig to find! I’m glad I saved this issue as I never saw Biba mentioned again in any of my Seventeen magazines. I would love to find any of the patterns listed, as well as the 1971 McCall’s in-store pattern catalog that featured the Biba designs. I’ll keep looking!

Biba design McCall’s patterns 2725 and 2728

Biba – McCall’s pattern 2728 Fabrics by Tootal for Biba

Biba – McCall’s pattern 2728

Biba – McCall’s pattern 2746

Biba – McCall’s pattern 2747

Biba – McCall’s patterns 2747 and 2725

~Marilyn~

Betsey Johnson of Alley Cat Butterick Patterns 1972

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Betsey Johnson of Alley Cat designs were hot, hot, HOT in the early 1970s. The problem, for most of us teenage girls, was that her fashions were on the expensive side. Oh, how I drooled over her fab wool print sweater dresses. Since most of us sewed (Home Economics classes were mandatory), we all cheered when Betsey made her designs available exclusively as Butterick patterns. I was a horrible seamstress, but I got my mom to sew me quite a few of the Alley Cat designs in my high school years. I loved them so much!

This four-page ad was in the January 1972 issue of Seventeen magazine. It featured Betsey in all her braided Boho glory, along with her darling fashions that you could now sew. The patterns designs were 100% pure Betsey, and the fabric choice was too. She chose the colors. And she liked them all in the fresh, washable, down-home goodness of cotton.

Butterick Patterns 6530, 6536, 6532, 6529

Butterick Patterns 6534, 6535

Butterick Patterns 6531, 6533

Betsey sure made fashion fun in 1972. She made us look super cute too. Thank you Betsey! 🙂

Marilyn

Walk Pretty in Vintage 1970 Scholl Shape-up Sandals!

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Dr. Scholl’s Exercise Sandals have been around for a long time. At least 47 years if you go by this June 1970 ad from Seventeen Magazine! I am struck with how current the model in the short pink dress, tattoos, and crocheted hat looks. She would look right in style today, without looking particularly vintage-y.

These original Shape-up sandals were made out of sculpted wood, with leather straps. The defining feature was the toe grip, which caused you to grip mightily onto the sandals. This gripping action was supposed to exercise and put more shape in your legs. They came in flat or raised heel, and in red or bone colors.

Of course I had a pair in the 1970s. I wore them occasionally but found the solid wood very heavy, the strap inadequate, and they were very hard to walk in. Which, I guess, was the whole point of the sandal. It was more Walk Clunky than Walk Pretty. I much preferred regular sandals, or regular clogs if I wanted a wooden base. At least there was some stability with those!

~Marilyn

The Bulletin Board Bag AKA Vintage 1970 Pinterest

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I ran across this unusual ad in the August 1970 issue of Seventeen magazine. It advertised the Bulletin Board Bag – a $9 wood purse with rope handle – that had a four-sided cork bulletin board. You could ‘design it with love’ by decorating it with snaps of special people, signs, flowers, team heroes, school colors and happenings. Change it to fit your mood or the season. It’s your bag.

The first thing I thought of was that it was a 1970s tactile version of Pinterest! You had to physically put things on your ‘board’, and then carry it with you and share with your ‘followers’. You could change things around according to your whim. We didn’t have the internet or social media in the ’70s, but we had our ways to express our personal style.

Marilyn

The 1971 Yardley Pot o’ Glossapalooza!

Posted by & filed under Beauty, Fashion, Vintage.

Being the vintage Yardley of London freak that I am, I thought I had exhausted all the Seventeen magazine Yardley advertising from my personal collection. But, no; I just found an amazing two-page ad in the March 1971 issue. And it’s for my absolute favorite, Pot o’ Gloss!

The cool thing is that there were a variety of Pot o’ Glosses back then; Tinted Lip Gloss, Cheek Gloss, Eye Gloss, and Skin Inscents. You could be glossed all over! I adored the lip gloss so much that I never paid much attention to the other Pot o’ Gloss items, I guess. The divine scent, the tacky feel, and the pretty look of the lip gloss is burned into my memory forever.

Was is striking about this Yardley ad, however, is the deep suntans of the models. 1971 was not about porcelain English Rose beauty; more like how dark your tan could get. The pale British Mod movement of the 1960s was taken over by suntanned American Bohemians in the 1970s.

Marilyn