How Doris Day did psychedelic before it was cool

The other night I found myself watching 'Pillow Talk', a schmaltzy 50s movie with Doris Day and Rock Hudson. At one point in the movie Doris Day gets to redesign Rock Hudson's apartment. Now, she hates him, so she puts together the most godawful room she could think of. For 1959 standards that is. Because in a couple of years this flamboyant and colourful style would be all the rage.

Two men walk into an apartment...

... look around...

... and find themselves lost. Gentlemen, would you believe that this is the future of America? That your (future) sons and daughters will sleep in rooms like this? That this revolution will happen quicker than you think? Even before your hair will start turning gray? 

The room itself is a feast of color and styles. Eastern influences, shag carpeting, grandma's old grammophone and just straight up weird stuff. Love it.

And a cat too. Can't leave out the cat.

Doris Day turns out to be a psychedelic interior decorator! She no doubt made some good money in the sixties, catering to rock stars and all that. Good on ya, Doris. 

Oh, and Pillow Talk is not a bad movie. It's one of the better/funnier Doris Day movies. A good watch if you're feeling under the weather and you're still waiting for Mad Men to return... 

John Martyn - London Conversation (1967)

If you're into folk music, don't pass up listening to John Martyn's first album London Conversation from 1967. I found out about this album two months back, and I played it a lot since.




Give this record a spin if you're into the likes of Nick Drake, Donovan, Damien Rice if you want a modern equivalent. A real soothing acoustic album, with lyrics that make you think. Great for those dark winter evenings. My favorite tracks are Sandy Grey, Rollin' Home and his cover of Cocaine.

You can find this album on CD, original LP and recently re-released LP. Prices are reasonable.
Martyn went on to have a prosperous career in music. He would play, record and release albums up until his death in 2011.

Brian Jones April 1965

Swedish 60s patterns by Stil

Some new additions to my pattern stash: 8 Stil patterns. I'd heard of the brand before, I just never acquired any of their patterns. At first I wasn't sure about their origin. I couldn't find anything online or on the patterns themselves. But then I got two new Stil patterns in the mail today - it was a good week - and I found out they're Swedish. Well of course, Swedes are stylish people and it would only make sense for them to have their own pattern manufacturers.

I assume that Stil patterns were sold throughout mainland western Europe. I've seen instructions in German, French and Dutch.

Let's move on to the patterns I bought. There are eight in total, which I bought together with some Simplicity patterns in a lot deal. Though there's no date on them, I feel confident saying that they're nicely spread out across the 60s. A variety of styles.

Above you can see the Stil logo. I got them from a Dutch instructions sheet that came with a 1947 Stil skirt pattern. However, this sheet seems to be a supplement, because it doesn't feature details on this particular pattern. Just general instructions on how to make a skirt. The instructions itself are printed on the inside of the cover.

The Stil logo is not visible on the 60s patterns I'm about to show you.

There's no pattern sheet with instructions with Stil patterns. Instead you fold open the cover to read the instructions. I find the steps to be very detailed. They seem easy to work with - although I have yet to cut and sew anything. I will let you know in due course about my experiences with these patterns.

The first two patterns are early sixties. Stil 2867 is a basic pattern for a dress and jacket ensemble. The dress has a round neckline with a v-back. Pattern 1454 is a little girls' pattern. I don't have children, nor any nieces or nephews in this age group, but I'll keep it nonetheless. It's cute, right?

Another two patterns from the early sixties. I absolutely adore Stil 9918. This is such a pretty dress, that can be worn year round and to different occasions. I love how the fabric drapes at the boat neckline - granted you have the right fabric of course. Stil 3340 (or 13340?) is a pattern for a slim fitting dress and a blouse. 

Now we've come to the mid to late sixties. From now on the patterns are multi-sized. Pattern Stil 4661 features a very cheery lady on the cover modelling an A-line dress. I can be made to worn with sleeves or sleeveless, and has an optional stand up collar. Those are my favorite kind of collars! The next pattern, Stil 4676, I've also seen printed in red in stead of this green. It is not dissimilar to the previous pattern, though it look a little more like a tent dress then A-line. 

Lastly, this Stil 4464. Unfortunately this pattern is far from complete. But the slit up the side with the buttons is definitely and idea I'm going to implement in another dress.

I'm so happy to have discovered Stil patterns, and know a little bit about its origin. If you have more information about Stil patterns, please let me know in the comments!

Mary Quant Afoot, 1967

I'm always looking to find the perfect 60s shoes, whether they'd be true vintage or reproductions. And I'm struggling. Todays trendy shoes just don't cut it. So imagine my delight when I read about Quant afoot. Or quant afoot, because it's spelled lowercase. quant afoot was a shoe line introduced by Mary Quant in 1967. It featured rubber ankle and knee length booties in a range of colors.

The ad reads:

"With quant afoot-boots with a difference in a sparkling first collection of shiny-bright boots by Mary Quant. In crystal clear plastic over colours that zoom into fashion's orbit, they're boots that shrug off wear and weather marks, come up shining. Five different styles, all with the uncluttered, unmistakable Quant touch, all in a choice of colours, all from sizes 3, 3 1/2, right up to 7. The shiny red plastic bag is free - and for the girl who likes thing neat and tidy, there's a quant afoot cotton shoe bag in five different colours for 5p - each. Just watch quant afoot boots start walking, all over town." 

Then a description of the 5 models.

1. Zip, 4 colours
2. ? Unreadable :(
3. Cuff, 3 colours
4. Chelsea, 4 colours
5. Daddy Long Legs, 4 colours

The Daddy Long Legs were special boots where you could zip off the leg part. Like so:

In the clip below Mary talks about the design and production process.

Originals can still be found online and will set you back about 200 pounds/250 euros/300 dollars. I've read that they're not very comfortable though, so best keep these on your chimney mantle. My search continues...

Wrangler jeans ads 1963-1969

I never think of female 60s fashion being very blue jeans orientated. Jeans, and I mean 'blue' blue jeans, never seemed an in thing to wear. They were always colored. I cannot think of a subsequent decade where jeans played such a small role in fashion. 

Check out these jeans ads by Wrangler. They sure did try by throwing in a few blue jeans, but I'm guessing the colored jeans were more popular. 

1963 Wrangler

The style of jean stayed the same the entire decade; high waisted ankle grazers with a regular fit.

1966 Wrangler 

These are smooth fitting Wrangler jeans that stay smooth, without touching an iron. That's because this Avondale fabric of 50% Vycron polyester/50% cotton has a wremarkable, new durable press finish. Wranglok. So these jeans are wready to wear wright out of the dryer. And you look as though you're right out of a fashion magazine. Jeans in girls' sizes 7-14, about $4; misses' sizes 6-18, about $5. Knee pants in girls' sizes 7-14, about $3.50. Misses' sizes 6-18, about $4. All in denim blue, faded blue, wheat, white. For stores, write Wrangler, 1407 Bway., N.Y. Beaunit Fibers, Division of Beaunit Corp., 261 Madison Ave., New York 10016. 

So these jeans are made of 50% cotton and 50% Vycron polyester. Not like the jeans we know today, which are made of 90%+ cotton (actual jeans fabric) en some elastan.

1965 Wrangler

For the look that's wright, the fit that's wright-look for the silent "W" on lady Wrangler sportswear. Left: Tapered pants about $9. Center: A-line plaide jumper about $10. Right: A-Line skirt about $8. All three of 100% wool in heathery shades of lavender, burgundy, green, blue. Wremarkable tops from left to wright. Print of 50% rayon/50% cotton in gold, blue, green, pink. Cotton broadcloth with tucked front in green, blue, gold, burgundy. Print of 50% rayon/50% cotton in gold, red, green, blue. Each about $4. Available in all popular sizes. Lady Wrangler, 1409 Broadway, New York 10018. 

1966 Wrangler

1966 Wrangler, Belgium

Click here to read more about these groovy people doing a groovy dance. Really, you want to. They're dancing to the Wrangler shake!

1968 Wrangler

Three cheers for Wrangler. (Wremember - the "W" is silent!) What's "in" is the silent "W" on the back pocket on every wreal pair of Wrangler jeans! Girls who go for wright fit, wrugged wear and wradiant colors choose Wrangler every time. Wremarkable Avondale denims in sailing blue, orange glow and turf green. Who could wresist? Sizes 5/6 to 18, about $4. 

1968 Wrangler

The silent "W" says it's Wrangler! Wremarkable Wrangler jeans that fit wright and wresist the wravages of wear! Teamed with wreal Wrangler blouses in flowering miniprints. Who could wresist? The jeans, of Avondale's all-cotton High-Ridge twill, in Blue, Green , Rust, Brown. Sizes 5/6-18, about $5. The blouses in sizes 28-38, about $4. 

1967 Wrangler

Wrough and wready Wrangler jeans made of 50% Vycron polyester/50% cotton denim are made to fit a girl wright. And have the remarkable permanent press finish that means no ironing - ever. They come in long jeans, about $5 and in knee pants, about $4. Both come in bronze, white, light blue, faden, navy or wheat. Sizes 5/6 to 18. To top them, the man tailored button down cotton shirt, red, yellow, orange or natural, about $4. Wrangler's cotton chambray western shirt, red, natural, pink, olive or blue, about $4; or the long sleeve western shirt in cotton floral print, red/navy, red/white, yellow/navy, about $5. Shirts in sizes 28 to 38. Wrangler, 1407 Broadway New York, N.Y. 10018.

Keds were the way to go! 

1967 Wrangler, France

Over in La Douce France, they wore them with loafers. Can you believe how masculine the girl with the blue shirt looks? While American girls were still wearing their ribbons and bows?

1960s Wrangler

Some obligatory flowery numbers. This is the first Wrangler ad I saw, and I spent ages looking for the 'W'. Is it in the way they positioned their legs? Their fingers? Really, ages.

1960s Wrangler

The first 'all blue' ad I've seen, with a country undertone. 

1967 Wrangler

1967 Wrangler

Stars and plaids forever great! Especially when they're made with Avondale fabrics.

1969 Wrangler

'Going zany over zero!' 'Youngsters' always makes me think of Ed Sullivan announcing Beatles in 1964... Plus, I think the "silent W" puns got a bit much, to a point where it feels like a school assignment you had in 3rd grade... Don Draper would not approve. Definitely not cool to wear Wranglers in 1969.