Fashion Front: January 2006

Vaja cases

i-Volution leather suit for Sony PSP

Jens of Sweden MP-500 plays movies, music, radio and features stereo speakers

Dior Homme by Hedi Slimane

D& G Spring/Summer 2006 Sneakers

Watch by Cartier. Limited and numbered series of 100 pieces in 18K pink gold

Manhattan Vintage Show

FALLEN GENIUS RISES AGAIN AT THE MANHATTAN VINTAGE CLOTHING & ANTIQUE TEXTILE SHOW

Designs by 70s Style-Setter, Ossie Clark, Inspire Today’s Hottest Looks
Imagine, if you will, the excitement, the furor when he first introduced his snakeskin fashion in the late 60s. Imagine, too, how coveted were his beautiful romantic dresses, with their flowing layers, yet strikingly graphic designs. He was one of those unforgettable talents – a formidable force behind the amazing success of the late 60s/70s “Boutique Culture,” that saw the ascendancy of London’s BIBA and Quorum boutiques to the heights of fashion influence. For more than a decade (from the 60s-70s), he dressed the famous and fashionable at a time considered to be London’s most rule-breaking, only to die neglected and penniless, murdered by a lover.

Now his look comes to the Big Apple in a major retrospective and sale of great Ossie Clark fashion, premiering at the city’s most sought-out vintage fashion event – the Manhattan Vintage Clothing & Antique Textile Sale, Feb. 3 & 4 at the Metropolitan Pavilion, New York City. It’s a real “British Invasion” and it couldn’t be more timely! The 70s influence is felt in all corners of the fashion world, with the abstract pattern design championed by Clark turning up today in the collections of such prominent designers as Giles Deacon, Matthew Williamson and Miu Miu – to name just a few.

What will we be shopping for as Spring approaches? Those romantic creations in chiffon, and rayon crepe that gave an abstract, painterly look to much of the fashion of the late 60s and 70s. Preview Spring 2006 fashion on the pages of Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue and you’ll be instantly catapulted back into the ethereal world of Ossie Clark—a world that was considered innovative and even shocking, to many of the more traditional fashion houses of the day.

The Manhattan Vintage Clothing & Antique Textile Sale’s salute to Ossie Clark will contain items from the collection of Mark & Cleo Butterfield of C20 Vintage Fashion in London. Many of the garments they will be bringing were recently exhibited in an Ossie Clark retrospective at London’s prestigious Victoria & Albert Museum. While specializing in Ossie Clark creations, the Butterfield’s also carry fashion from top designer names of the 50s-80s “British Boutique Movement,” including Thea Porter, Biba, Mary Quant, Bill Gib, Sandra Rhodes, Jeff Banks, Galliano and Vivienne Westwood. These designers will be well-represented in the upcoming sale.

With the popularity of all things “70s,” The Manhattan Vintage Clothing & Antique Textile Sale will “pull out all the stops.” Accessories—from designer handbags and belts, to platform shoes, pumps and boots – will be a major part of the event. Along with additional Ossie Clark gowns and other designer name fashions, showgoers will find such key 70s looks as the Bohemian peasant blouse and gypsy skirt, wild-at-heart animal prints and tough, chic well-worn bell-bottom jeans. This show is the place to shop for lacy Victorian fashion (the most talked about trend for Winter ’06), power suits from all eras and terrific buys on vintage furs, jackets and cashmere sweaters.

Hours are Friday, Feb. 3 from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm; Saturday, Feb. 4, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Admission is $20. The Metropolitan Pavilion is located at 125 W. 18th Street, between 6th and 7th avenues in Manhattan. Admission is $20 -- Bring in a copy of this newsletter or visit the show website for a $5 Discount Admission coupon.

http://www.manhattanvintage.com/