The Booze Book 1967

The Booze Book, published in 1967 by Determined Productions with design and illustration by John Astrop & Eric Hill, comprises of sixty-six 'booze' recipes by June Dutton and Edith Vanocur, who are described in the introduction notes as "A couple of attractive housewives with an uncommon background in booze." Apparently, they both had husbands who were deeply involved in the social madness of Washington, D.C. politics, therefore they became increasingly aware of the need for a concise compendium of interesting workable drinks. Anyway, 'tis the season to be jolly, so it seems as good a time as any to do a post about it. I've included a selection of the recipes plus a few of their tried and tested cures for ailing boozers at the end of the page. So...down the hatch, bottoms up, cheers etc and Merry Xmas !

                                                               Photo Credits

All Images scanned by Sweet Jane from BOOZE by June Dutton & Edith Vanocur, published in 1967 by Determined Productions Inc. Design and illustration by John Astrop and Eric Hill.

Stars & Garters at The electric circus - New York's East Village 1967

This is part of a fashion feature from november 1967 celebrating the continued popularity of the mini and also the return of the garter as a fashion accessory. There were infact six other dresses included in this editorial, all quite expensive/high-end fashion with price tags ranging from $735-$1,225 for the dresses and $40-$50 for the garters, however none of them were to my particular taste, a little bit too conservative for my liking and not in keeping with what was happening on the street at the time considering that it was originally published just a few months down the road from the summer of love afterall. The model in the photo below (Cathee Dahmen) is wearing the very last outfit to be featured, it may have only cost $38 but it is definitely my favourite look of the entire piece. It is also interesting to note that the shoot took place at New York's premier psychedelic night club "The Electric Circus" located at 19-25 St Marks Place on the lower east side. The club, which had opened in july of the same year, invited it's patrons to "play games, dress as you like, dance, sit, think, tune in and turn on" amidst the psychedelic light shows,live music,circus performers, experimental theater,astrologers and freaks! It was billed as the ultimate legal entertainment experience! I've included several links at the end of the page to more detailed information about the club, including a link to a fantastic blog called "It's all the streets you crossed not so long ago" which has written extensively about the venue and it's origins and many more of  New York city's rock 'n' roll haunts of the 60s and 70s.




                                             A Snappy Bit of Leg Art

In this the year of the leg, with plenty on view, and everything from flashy stockings to high-rise boots devoted to emphasizing the fact. The snappiest attention-getter is the old garter. A dated but delightful showbiz gimmick, garters fit the current theatrical spirit of late-nite fashion. They provide instant razzle-dazzle and what's especially good about them is that if you feel you are getting too much attention at any point during the evening, you can just slip them off and cool it without ruining the effect.

                                     Star and Garter in the East Village
Lounging in the psychedelically painted doorway of the Electric Circus, a discothèque in New Yorks East Village hippie district, a girl wears a feathered garter ($7) which goes with her Indian-style headband ($5), like the star dress ($26) they come from discothèque's boutique.

                              


                                                            The Electric Circus

                                            Opening night of the Electric Circus June 1967.

                                                         PHOTO CREDITS 

All images scanned by Sweet Jane from LIFE Magazine 10 november 1967 - model: Cathee Dahmen, Photographer Milton H. Greene.  Electric Circus photograph scanned from Radical Rags-Fashions of the Sixties by Joel Lobenthal.

                                                                       LINKS

                            "If the Electric Circus were to open today" can be found here.

                " It's All The Streets You Crossed Not So Long Ago" blog can be found here.

An article from the archive of the Village Voice about the opening night of the Electric Circus can be found here.

Party Season = Party Invites (vintage of course)

                                               IMAGE CREDITS

All Images scanned by Sweet Jane from my personal collection of vintage invites, illustrated by John Alcorn and published by Morgan Press, Inc.  If you've ever wondered where the typeface style that defined the psychedelic 60s originated, click on the following link for more information  about Morgan Press Inc. http://imprint.printmag.com/daily-heller/typecasting-the-sixties/

The Beatles' Hairdresser 1967 - 1975

                                                  Leslie Cavendish

 Leslie Cavendish - Vidal Sassoon trained stylist and personal hairdresser to The Beatles. Leslie was first introduced to Paul McCartney through paul's girlfriend Jane Asher who was his client at the Vidal Sassoon salon in the Grosvenor Hotel. After that first meeting in 1967 and for the following four years he became the personal hairdresser to all of the Beatles, he also ran the Apple Hairdressing Salon which was located in the basement of Apple Tailoring (Civil and Theatrical) at 161 King's Road whilst working constantly with the band right up until they finally split and went their separate ways. Apparently he was actually summoned to cut their hair just before the infamous Savile Row rooftop gig in 1969, and after their demise continued to cut Paul and Linda McCartney's hair until 1975.  Leslie eventually quit hairdressing in the late 70's and moved abroad but returned to London and his former profession a couple of years ago. He can now be found at the Joshua Altback Salon in St John's Wood or alternatively you can contact him to make a personal appointment here leslie@beatleshairdresser.com

Vintage Advert: Baby Doll Cosmetics September 1968

                                                             IMAGE CREDITS

                     All images scanned  by Sweet Jane from Photoplay Magazine september 1968.

John Stephen of Carnaby Street...Womenswear

Much recognition and praise has been given to John Stephen's contribution to Men's fashion in the 1960s. However very little has been said about his contribution to womenswear. And inspite of the brilliant descriptions of various of these garments given by his biographer Jeremy Reed in 'The King of Carnaby Street - The Life of John Stephen', there appears to be limited access to easily found photographic evidence, by all accounts it also seems that very few actual garments from this era in his career have survived...or perhaps they have but are yet to resurface on to the vintage market. I'm hoping that the latter proves to be correct because so far the Sweet Jane household are the proud owners of precisely 'two' John Stephen garments, but they are two that are truly worth owning. The first is an amazing mini dress in red velvet with contrasting white polka dots which my sister purchased some time ago from the fabulous http://www.vintage-a-peel.co.uk/ and the second was an unexpected Ebay find, in dark brown wool with contrasting detail in turquoise. Apart from these, the only other example of his womenswear that i've actually seen, is a fantastic deep purple velvet dress which can be found over at Victoria & Albert vintage Clothing. However, as a long time collector of vintage magazines and books I have managed to find some photographs here and there over the years, and thankfully a few of them are in colour, which was such a vital component in John's design aesthetic. I haven't had a chance to go through my entire collection yet but i've uploaded the best of what I have found so far. I've also included photographs of the three dresses that I mentioned earlier, which i'm sure will be of interest to other admirers of John's designs...and I await the day when someone delves into the photographic archives and publishes the definitive John Stephen of Carnaby Street fashion book (in colour ).

Two wild outfits in fab colours - Left: the coat with a matching skirt is in cotton by John Stephen £9 19s. 6d. Right: blue and lime dress in pure silk by Dollyrocker 6½ gns.

Left: Leather maxi skirt 22½ gns., and jacket, 31 gns., from Tracy, 71 New Bond Street, London, W.1. Silk scarf by Liberty, 2 gns. Boots bt Elliotts, 14 gns. Glasses by 47 West at Corocraft, 35s.

Right: Maxi culotte suit by John Stephen, 40 gns. Sweater by Fantasia, 63s. Boots by Elliotts, 13 gns. Beret by Kangol, 10s. 6d.  The boy? Larry Smith of the Bonzo Dog Doo'Dah Band in his own rocker gear. The bike? A 500 c.c. Triumph.

Left: Bright orange chunky cord suit by John Stephen 10 gns. Picked for the super shade of orange, and a terrific belt fastening. Worn with soft cable knit skinny in sun yellow from Dorothy Perkins, 27s. 11d. Yellow beret by Kangol, 10s. 6d..

Right: Startling yellow cord coat with super zip fastening and zip-up cuffs by Mary Quants Ginger Group, 12 gns. Underneath, a lime stretch jersey skirt from France at Roberta Roma, 7 gns. Beret in lemon, 10s. 6d. by Kangol. Neat lime-quilted shoes by Lennards, 59s. 11d.

Left: A dream of a dress in a flare of ice cream colours by Mary Farrin, 9½ gns. at James Wedge. Shoes in soft pale blue leather by Gaby, 79s. 11d. 

Right: With it, a dress that looks tiny when it's off and stretches to your own size when you put it on!  it's by John Stephen, 89s. 6d.

                                                       Photograph by Mike McGrath

          Crochet tops and striped cotton skirt and trousers by John Stephen, 1965 (Mike McGrath)

                     Mick Avory and friend* in John Stephen outfits, photograph by Mike McGrath

                                Deborah De Lacey and Mick Avory  Photograph by Mike McGrath

                                              Clinging disco-dress by John Stephen, 89s. 6d.

                                                         Wrist watches by Old England.

Beige and tan leather suit from John Stephen, 29 gns. Sweater in beige by Fantasia, 63s. Leather gloves by Dents, 45s. 11d. Cream beret by Kangol, 10s. 6d. Tinted glasses by 47 West at Corocraft, 35s.

Leather coat from John Stephen, 35 gns.  Leather skirt from Lewis Separates, £5 19s. 6d. Sweater by Fantasia, 63s. Silk scarf y Liberty, 2 gns. Beret by Kangol, 10s. 6d. Glasses by 47 West at Corocraft, 35s. Boots by Elliots, 89s. 11d

Left to right: Alan Amsby*, Eric Juhasz, Cindy Steeden.  Midi dress £7, Shirt £8, Blouse £5

The garments were available in white with a contrasting design in red and black or green, available from the John Stephen Department store 33-34 Carnaby Street. 

Couldn't resist including this still from the Smashing Time movie (1967), which uses John's "Tre Camp" women's boutique as the backdrop to a Carnaby St fashion shoot.

   John Stephen dress in red velvet /white polka dots from the collection of Sweet Jane's Pop Boutique.                                                         

  

                                                      

John Stephen dress in dark brown wool with contrasting detail in turquoise from the collection of Sweet Jane's Pop Boutique.

                        John Stephen purple velvet dress from Victoria and Albert Vintage Clothing




                                                                   Photo Credits

Images scanned by Sweet Jane from Rave Magazine May 1968, Fashion of the Sixties by Barbara Bernard, Rave Magazine april 1967.

                                    

                          John Stephen - purple velvet dress circa 1968 by Victoria And Albert Vintage Clothing            

                              John Stephen - brown & turquoise/red & white polka dot dress photographs by Sweet Jane   

                                            Smashing Time still scan from Sparks in Electrical Jelly

                       *  Alan Amsby also known as Mr Pussy, originally from London but now a long time resident of Dublin

                            and still looking incredible!  Ps And his surname is  indeed Amsby, not Amaby as credited in The King

                            of  Carnaby Street, obviously an easily made typo error which wasn't noticed before the book went to print.

                       * The photograph of Mick Avory and friend..not sure if this is infact Kiki Dee as there was no credit given

                           but it does look like her, and they did model a lot of John's collections together around this time.

In the Sixties

These are just a few of my favourite photographs by Frank Habicht, who began his career after he graduated from the Hamburg School of Photography in 1962, working as a freelance photographer for publications such as Twen, Esquire, The Sunday Times and The Guardian.

In his varied career he has also worked as a stills photographer for the film directors Roman Polanski, Bryan Forbes and Jules Dassin, as a freelance photographer for Top of the Pops (1969) and as the in-house photographer for the Playboy Club in London (1970). Although Frank photographed some of the most iconic faces of the 1960s such as Jane Birkin, Serge Gainsbourg and The Rolling Stones he also had the ability to capture the essence of the decade through his images of lesser known individuals. Much of this work can be found in his book Young London's Permissive Paradise published in 1969, however it is difficult to find an in-expensive copy these days as it has become a highly sought after collectable. As an alternative, you could try looking for a copy of In the Sixties published in 1998, from which the following scans were taken.

                                            Live it to the hilt, René, Westminster Bridge 1968.

                                                       My heart leaps up when I behold

                                                Part of the scene, Rolling Stones concert 1969

                                  Leaving tomorrow behind, Mata Hari Boutique, Earls Court 1967.

                                              Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the waves


                                                              PHOTO CREDITS
All Images scanned by Sweet Jane from the book "In the Sixties", all photographs & photographic titles by Frank Habicht.