Sixties Fashion

A half-century ago, Quant, who is celebrating her birthday today, was the most renowned fashion innovator in the world, promulgating her sixties mod aesthetic to millions of eager young women all over the globe.

Now they gleefully cast off their garter belts, their bullet bras, their nasty sheer stockings, and popped into Mary’s minis, bloomers, baby dolls, shiny flat boots, see-through raincoats, removable plastic collars, crazy pj’s, and cardigans long enough—but just barely!—to double as dresses.

In The Row’s stately minimalist attire, Van der Wal looks worlds away from the femme fatale she once played in VS’s catalogs, but the new look suits her current status.

Contemporary examples of that beatnik staple, the dangling silver earring, are available in styles that include hammered orbs and double circles at Lori McLean’s lovely shop on Grove Street.

“Evolving in fashion has made me realize the power of images.”

Well, everyone is grateful to Miuccia Prada for providing an experience and a sensation, at what must be massive cost, which aims to shake up emotions and prod the numbed intellect. Part of the ritual of going to a Prada show is the excited, nervy conversation that goes on as the audience spills onto the street afterward.

Thanks to the revival of brands like Paco Rabanne, chainmail has been given a whole new life since it made waves in the futuristic Space Age­–inspired collections of the 1960s. In The Row’s stately minimalist attire, Van der Wal looks worlds away from the femme fatale she once played in VS’s catalogs, but the new look suits her current status.

Now they gleefully cast off their garter belts, their bullet bras, their nasty sheer stockings, and popped into Mary’s minis, bloomers, baby dolls, shiny flat boots, see-through raincoats, removable plastic collars, crazy pj’s, and cardigans long enough—but just barely!—to double as dresses.

All images are under copyright © Philipp Jelenska