I have just been listening to the delicious Joanna Lumley on Dessert Island Discs. When I was 14 I think I totally in love with Joanna in a big sister sort of way, and I think I still am a little bit. She is so funny, eloquent and charming. And now of course we get taken back to London in the 60’s. I’m a little to young to have really been part of the Swinging Sixties being born in 1952 I was only 14/15 when it was in it’s heyday but being the youngest of four children my older brothers and sister were right in the middle of it.
I remember saving up money from my Saturday job and getting the tube up to Kensington Church Street to go into Biba. Oh how I loved Biba. I remember the shop being quite dark with that lovely art nouveau gold writing on the walls and the clothes were hung on old fashioned bentwood ha t stands.
I remember going to see the musical Hair for a Christmas treat from my sister and her boyfriend. Mother was not best pleased.
I remember drawing spikey lower eyelashes on a la Twiggy, very pale Max Factor panstick foundation , Miners make up where everything was 1/6 and pale pink lipstick.
I remember the first time I went into a Habitat store and being gobsmacked because everything was so modern with clean lines and groovy prints and colours – so different from what most of us were used to at home.
I remember the music. Of course the Beatles and the Stones, but also Manfred Mann, The Moody Blues and Dave Berry.
Well enough of this, I’m starting to sound quaint and old ladyish, but it’s good to remember sometimes.
I'd Rather Dance than Watch
8 years ago
9 comments:
Hello Toady, and thank you for taking me back to my favorite time!
I also got to visit the big Biba store on Kensington High Street on my first trip to London.
It was an amazing place. Lots of ostrich plumes were part of the decor.
The maternity clothing dept. had over-sized furniture, presumably to make the moms-to-be seem smaller.
The lingerie dept. was sort of a harem setting in the middle of the men's dept.
It was still lp time, of course, and on the main floor was a section of upholstered wing chairs, set closely side by side. They had speakers in the "wings" from which you could hear samples of the records you were considering.
There was even a grocery shop a la Biba in the basement. And the rainbow room on the top floor with its glamour.
I could go on, but this is just to show what am impression that place made on me. I still have a python covered journal I bought there, and so now-quite-nasty dark green eye shadow and deep plum blush. Artifacts, they are!
xo
Toady, such lovely memories, bit before my time I'm afraid, but I still have great feeling of nostalgia for the 60's even though I was only a child. Biba, loved it, but 70's were my teenage time.
What a great blog-I was born 1966 and even though I my teenage years were early 80's I still love Biba /retro fashions more than the new romantic thing!
PS-I used to LOVE Joanna Lumley as Purdy in the New Avengers!!
warm wishes
x
PPS-Thanks for your message on my blog-I DO know what happened with regards to my mum and dad-found out approx 2-3 months ago. Just getting my feelings straight before I blog it-my nan was, um, how shall I say, 'instrumental' in it all...
xx
I always had a bit of a crush on Joanna Lumley too. She's so glam. I often wish I'd been around in the sixties (well, I was, but as a teenager). 'My' time was the late seventies/early eighties.
I was to young for Biba!! but i've always collected there fabrics etc and i'm on the look out for some biba inspired paper for my bedroom! no clean lines for me i'm afraid...xxx
For some reason Hub3 hates Joanna Lumley and turned off D. Island Discs - miserable old sod! I like her, and she was nice to my daughter when she met her so must be a nice person. I love her voice! Biba - how gorgeous was that! Remember it very well. My sister and I were entranced by the purple prams in the baby dept. In those days prams came in navy or navy and purple seemed amazingly different. Just going into Biba made you feel trendy - even when you really weren't!
l was a bit gob smaked by her choice of records really. weird. l can remember having the 'purdy'
Oh Gosh yes habitat I remember my fahter taking me there when they first opened to see new designs !
Hi Toady - I'm a 1952 baby too, so your blog really brought back memories. I'd forgotten about drawing the spikey Twiggy eyelashes!! Of course, here in Canada, all things wonderful and Mod came from Britain and we all longed to see Carnaby St etc. When I think of the 60's it's a riot of colour and magic and my mother yelling 'turn that music down!'
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