LONG FOR A COAT
(1970)
The pre-war look is still with us, exerting a wintry influence on coats. The casual trench has been restyled, and is now longer, with squarer shoulders. Large shoulder bags and high-styled Granny shoes follow the look through. It could have been borrowed from an old Rita Hayworth film. Length varies from just below the knee to mid-calf, and although some coats are slimly cut, they all have that marked Granny look, and are made up of appropriate fabrics like tweeds, smooth wools and velvets.
Above: Yellow felt hat, by Feathers, 40s. Spruce green barathea midi skirt, by Foale and Tuffin, £11 10s. Bordeaux wool two-button coat, by Stirling Cooper, £16 15s. Grey tights, by Biba, 10s. 11d. Burgundy bar-strap shoes, by Ravel, £5 19s 11d. Burgundy felt hat, by Feathers, 40s. Bordeaux and beige woollen skirt from a selection at Feathers. Bordeaux wool coat with storm flaps and button-up belt, by Stirling Cooper. £16 15s. Grey tights, by Biba, 10s 11d. Photo by James Wedge.
Above: Brown felt hat, by Feathers, 40s. Beige polo-neck pullover and green skirt, from a selection at Feathers. Black and white tweed double-breasted coat, from Wallis, 13 gns. Plum suede with python trim shoes, by Sacha, £7 19s. 6d. Brown snakeskin and suede laced belt, by Janet Ibbotson, £5 15s. 6d. Huge canvas shoulder bag, by Moss Bros., 84s. Photo by James Wedge.
Above: Cream Russian-style blouse, by Lee Bender for Bus Stop, 85s. Navy and white tweed coat, by Lee Bender for Bus Stop, £16. Beige suede boots with side buckle, by Russell and Bromley, £14 10s. Brown mock snakeskin bag with tassels on pockets. by Sacha, 5 gns. Photo by James Wedge.
Above: Brown tweed hat, by Biba, 63s. White angora jumper with polo neck, by John Craig, 5 gns. Brown tweed trousers and brown tweed midi coat, with leather patched elbows, by Biba, £21. Suede and snake trimmed shoes by Sacha, £7 19s. 6d. Brown leather bag, by Bata, £5 10s. Photo by James Wedge.
Above: Black felt hat, by Feathers, 40s. Black flannelester shirt with wing lapels, by Lee Bender for Bus Stop, 85s. Camel coat with tie belt, by Mary Quant, £27. Photo by James Wedge.
IMAGE CREDITS & LINKS
All images scanned by Sweet Jane from an original issue of 19 Magazine, November 1970. Fashion Editor Norma Moriceau, Fashion Assistant Polly Hamilton. All photographs by James Wedge. Models unknown.
Discover more about milliner, boutique owner and photographer James Wedge via this transcript of an interview recorded with him in 2006, and view further examples of his photography and artwork on the official James Wedge website. Here, you'll find further reading on fashion editor Norma Moriceau, later known for her work as costume designer on The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (1980), Mad Max 2 (1981), Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985).
View some of my previous posts about boutique fashion: The Boutiques Business (1970) which features five of the best known boutiques and the designers behind them, Biba, Quorum, Bus Stop, Marrian-Mcdonnell, and Foale and Tuffin. James Wedge designs for Top Gear illustrated by Caroline Smith, Queen Magazine (1965). The British Boutique Boom, Rave Magazine (1965). The Quant Formula in Fashion, Honey Magazine (1967). The New Boutiques, Biba Postal Boutique, Victoria & Albert, Top Gear and Harriet, Vanity Fair (1965). London Boutique Fashion, Carnaby Girl, Biba, Bus Stop, Universal Witness, Jours de France (1970). The Maxi Look from Wallis and Bus Stop, Jours de France (1970). And finally, Fabulous feminine looks inspired by the Bardot/Moreau film 'Viva Maria'. Wear anything with a faint 'granny look', antique jewellery, button boots, and weird coloured specs, Rave Magazine (1965).