Raymond "Ossie" Clark
(9 June 1942–6 August 1996) was an English fashion designer who was a major figure in the Swinging Sixties scene in London and the fashion industry in that era. As a result, Ossie is now extremely well renowned for his vintage designs, the contemporary fashion era being characterised by past influences and a retro feel to design.
Clark is compared to the 1960s fashion greats Mary Quant and Biba. He is also known to be a great inspiration for many fashion designers, including Yves St Laurent, Anna Sui and Tom Ford. Manolo Blanik has said of Ossie Clark's work: "He created an incredible magic with the body and achieved what fashion should do — produce desire." Ossie Clark and Ossie Clark for Radley clothes are highly sought after, and are worn by well known models like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.
This chiffon shirt, in pristine condition, was designed by the Iconic Ossie Clark, and the fabric designed by his muse & wife Celia Birtwell.
From the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s Ossie Clark dressed the famous and fashionable. His most productive period coincided with London's most magical, optimistic, rule-breaking decade.
Birtwell's signature prints inspired from the natural world, were made as limited editions, so as you can imagine an Ossie Clarke shirt made in a Birtwell print is a highly collectable piece.
From the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s Ossie Clark dressed the famous and fashionable. His most productive period coincided with London's most magical, optimistic, rule-breaking decade.
Birtwell's signature prints inspired from the natural world, were made as limited editions, so as you can imagine an Ossie Clarke shirt made in a Birtwell print is a highly collectable piece.
'Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy' by David Hockney
Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy is a painting by the British artist David Hockney. Painted between 1970 and 1971, it depicts the fashion designer Ossie Clark and the textile designer Celia Birtwell shortly after their wedding at which Hockney was Clark's best man. Hockney and Clark had been friends since the early 1960s. One of their cats sits on Ossie's knee (the cat in the painting was not in fact Percy — this was the name of one of their other cats — but Hockney thought Percy made a better title than Blanche, the cat he painted). The work is in acrylic on canvas, and measures 2170 x 3084mm. The painting featured in the final 10 of the Greatest Painting in Britain Vote in 2005, the only work by a living artist to do so. The painting is in the collection of the Tate Gallery.It has been on loan to The Walker Art Gallery Liverpool.
For more information on the fascinating yet tragic life
of this brilliantly talented man see link below:
I have always loved that Hockney photo. It seems to capture something about that period of the 1970's so well. I love those Wooden Shutters
ReplyDeleteHas the shirt now sold?
ReplyDelete