Vintage Swimsuit Inspiration - 1966

How about a swimsuit with a hood?  Oh yeah.  Nina Ricci Boutique.

Newsboy cap atop a wild pop-art print.  Tom Brigance for Sinclair.

Reversible?  You bet!  Purple and mustard wool knit suit and cape by Maljana.  Both pieces reverse to the opposite color.  Cool.

How does that teeny-tiny top stay up?  I'll bet is has wires.  Bikini bottom is wrapped and tied in front.  John Weitz.

Halter neckline with tiny little buttons and loops to leave open or attempt to close.  Beach towel makes a huge turban for your wet hair.  Cole of California.

Wild Accessories - 1966

During the Mod craze of the mid 1960s, accessories became bold and fun right along with clothing.  Today, a look at some fun things from 1966.  Would you wear these today?

Above, Veruschka wears a collar made of blue rhinestones by Jack Gilbert.

Huge white plastic earrings by Paco Rabanne.

Peter Bateman wig made of strands of rhinestones.  That's one way to sparkle at night!

Mirrored cubes made into earrings and a ring by Antonio Lopez for Paris House.

Plastic jewelry by Ingeborg/Georgio for Richelieu.

Weekend Eye Candy - Paco Rabanne, 1966

Paco Rabanne stitches colored plastic triangles to a white crepe sleeveless coat for spring 1966.  This work must have all been done by hand.  You can see the little white stitches at the corners of all the plastic pieces.  Incredible!

Weekend Eye Candy - Valentino, 1966

Model Verushka wears Valentino's rainbow striped maxi coat, 1966.

Pierre Cardin Plays with Fur - 1966

Fox fur, that is. Pierre Cardin showed this fox trimmed white wool felt hood with many different looks for Fall/Winter 1966.




He also showed a white fox fur coat...

...and a cape trimmed at collar and hem.

I love the white, but this orange dyed fox vest captures my heart. Tha-thump. Tha-thump.

Fancy Tights - 1966

In 1966, skirt lengths were on the rise. The hosiery industry responded with fun and fancy tights in lots of open weaves, wild colors, and lush laces. I can remember my first pair of fun tights in bright neon yellow that mom bought for me in 1968. I wore them with a mini dress and patent shoes that were half white/half yellow. I loved those shoes.

Above, a Ballantyne cashmere turtleneck sweater is worn with Beautiful Bryans white lace tights. Ice cube bracelet by Vendome.

You'll see the ad for these Lady Exeter knee socks below. Here, they're worn over black tights.

Van Raalte shows "How to cope with knee-high, thigh-high, high-fashioned skirts."

"Who needs a pretty face with legs like Lady Exeter". The chantilly lace at left were ofered as tights or knee highs in black, brown, white, plum, blue, and honey. The shimmery solid geometric tights at right came in silver, brass, honey, brown, and cream.

Danskin benefited from the fashion trend by promoting their ballet tights as "not just for dancing".

And just for fun, an all-in-one stocking shoe by Nina Ricci for Herbert Levine. Silver mesh stockings are attached to pink soles with ice-cube plastic heels. ♥♥♥

Fun with Mink - 1966

I am a firm believer that if you chose to wear fur, you should always chose vintage. That keeps coats and stoles already in existence out of our landfills and at the same time doesn't support the unneeded slaughter of today's animals for fashion. In showing images of vintage furs on this blog, I hope to inspire you and show you how beautiful they can be for the modern woman.

By 1966, fur makers were playing with new color combinations and unique constructions. Enjoy these mink coats from the winter of that year.

Laurence Kaye showed the first chevron striped mink, pieced in gunmetal gray and white.

Emeric Partos mink dress with an optical illusion pattern in white, gray, and black.

Veneziani mink coat in horizontal rings of color ranging from white to dark brown.

Ben Kahn mink ski jacket with chevron stripe insets.

Maximillan double breasted coat, brown mink set off with pale beige in the front.

Weekend Eye Candy - Jeanne Lanvin, 1966

Love this wool suit by Jeanne Lanvin, 1966. 3 button plackets descend in stairstep fashion down the front of the jacket and skirt.

Photo by F.C. Gundlach

Party Hairstyles - 1966

It's never too late to start planning your look for your next big event. Be it a wedding, a ball, or a formal holiday party, here are some ideas for evening hairstyles from 1966.

In the days before extensions, these looks were accomplished with the use of falls and wiglets (and maybe a little wire).

And lots of hair spray!

My question is, how does one ride in a car with hair this big? Do you have to lean forward all night?

And do you get sued if you poke someone's eye out with your hair?

It might be easier to just cover your own hair with a cool wig.