Ossie Clark’s most productive period as a designer coincided with London's most magical, optimistic, rule-breaking era (1965-1974). Ossie’s success was partially due to his extraordinarily productive collaboration with his wife, the textile designer Celia Birtwell. Using her fearlessly mixed unique prints on the same garment, Clark discovered new shapes, silhouettes, and textures. He dressed the fashionable glitterati in long romantic gowns of gauzy chiffon. His eveningwear was daringly seductive; his cutting skills were beyond compare; and above all his clothes were made for women who looked like women--with busts, hips, and long legs.
"He created an incredible magic with the body and achieved what fashion should do-- produce desire." -Manolo Blahnik
In 1967, Marianne Faithfull bought a suede suit trimmed in python with a fluted peplum and never asked the price.
Thanks Leith
(ALL SCANS BY ME, the Ossie Clark Diaries, V&A: Ossie Clark 1965-74, Vintage fashion, David Bailey, The Conde Nast Publications Ltd, and Diet Coke and Sympathy's blog for the pic of Marianne and Mick.)
