emmapeelpants

The essence of Jean Muir's popularity is elegant simplicity, but her work is amongst the most complex in construction. It takes immense skill to make it look so easy! Stunning black rayon dress in an absolute signature Muir style. Simple, sophisticated and striking. Anyone who knows me or reads my blog will know that I'm a total sucker for anything ruffly. I'm also borderline obsessed with neck ruffs. This dress has a divine ruffle around the neckline, giving it a very Pierrot feel. These flashes of exuberance in amongst the unassuming silhouette are a Muir trademark, and part of why her fans remain so loyal to her!

Breathtaking Biba dress from the early Seventies in a delicious flower print slinky, sheeny rayon fabric. A deep plunge front is framed by a sharp collar, which is also reflected in the super sharp pockets in the front. I love the flared sleeves which hold their shape thanks to stiffening around the hem, and the flippy little skirt. True to form, there's the distinctly art deco touch with the gorgeous buttons down the front (although it actually fastens with a side zip!). This is completely archetypal Biba from top to bottom, and moves so beautifully.

Having recently visited Liverpool and many important, and some less so, Beatles landmarks, I'm particularly loving the fact that this incredible mini dress was made by a Liverpool Boutique, Looking Glass Original. It has a very strong mod style to it, with a hint of the military styling which was becoming increasingly popular in both mens and womenswear at the time. The lovely rich mustard colour is very, very iconic shade of the time and its all very reminiscent of the colour season Emma Peel wardrobe. Sadly I just can't wear this colour, otherwise I'd be running around all over town in this beauty!

Fabulous example of Barbara Hulanicki's fascination with 'granny' colours and old-fashioned stylings, this jersey dress has an incredible silhouette created by some serious typical Biba-style shoulderpads and some understatedly beautiful cutting. The wide waistband gathers the full top and bottom halves together without it looking frumpy or slouchy. The fine jersey, again a very typical Biba touch, is used to perfection by positioning the stripes so well. I love the billowing sleeves and the unusual length. It's not showy, not glitzy....but it's so very, very Biba and wonderfully flattering!

Sultry halter neck and skirt ensemble by Radley. Famed largely for their connection to Ossie Clark, Radley were also in the business of producing some seriously sexy, sassy own-label versions of his very distinctive deco-groupie style. This two piece, oh! so adaptable as separates as well, is made from delicious black moss crepe and cut beautifully to drape. The skirt is a very simple, straight cut from a high waist and the top is just dreamy. Banded with black satin to fit at the waist, then trimmed with blue bias satin around the top and to create the halter ties....it captures the decadence of the era so perfectly. The embroidered detail on the waistband is the finishing touch to what is one of the best Radleys I've seen yet!

Joy Stevens is one of my favourite designers from the Seventies. She translated the flowing, goddess look of designers like Halston into a more affordable and extremely wearable version. In many ways, I prefer her work to that of Halston....they're more vibrant, more alive somehow. This dress is quintessentially Stevens in style. The heavily draped bodice, the billowing draped batwing sleeves, the long flowing skirt and the sultry claret shade of luscious jersey. It's everything a goddess dress should be, and more.

Just about one of the most fabulous examples of Biba I've had the pleasure to handle. Almost too Biba to be really Biba, but fear not - it's the real deal! A superb early 1970s jumpsuit, the scrumptious claret and cream colours are as vivid as ever and the horse-racing repeat print as an absolute delight! Taking heavy inspiration from the beach-orientated playsuits of the Thirties and Forties, boutiques like Biba and Bus Stop used the style and silhouette to create these timelessly stylish and sexy jumpsuits. I particularly love the halter and bra-cup cut of this one, and the super wide leg cut of the trousers. Long, languorous and lean....wildly decadent and evocative of the time. Just add a feather capelet, heavily kohled eyes and a perfect cupid's bow claret-shaded pout....