The work of Celia Birtwell and Ossie Clark: two English creatives whose short but very intense artistic and personal partnership gave rise to an unmistakable style that left its mark in London during the period between Mary Quant’s miniskirt and the subversive punk movement of Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood, from 1965 to 1974. For the first time a book has presented their work together, as Ossie’s shapes and cuts would not have had the same impact without Celia’s prints. Celia created wonderful prints inspired by nature and the different artistic currents that Ossie, with his skill in cutting and modelling, transformed into sensual and feminine clothes. Their iconic chiffon looks and fashion performances conquered the international jet-set and the music scene of the time. From Brigitte Bardot to Liz Taylor, up to Veruschka, everyone was fascinated by their fashion. Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Richards, Jimi Hendrix, Marianne Faithfull, Anita Pallenberg, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Bianca Jagger and Marisa Berenson are just some of the people that Ossie Clark dressed.
This new publication–edited by Federico Poletti–is the result of an extensive research accomplished for the first Italian exhibition Mr&Mrs Clark. Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell. Fashion and Prints 1965-1974 organized by Prato Textile Museum & Fondazione Sozzani in Milan.

Contents

Essays

Ossie Clark, Courage and Talent
Cristina Giorgetti

Ossie Clark, Silent Revolution
Renata Molho

Ossie Clark & Celia Birtwell: Dream Team for Fashion in the 1960s
Suzy Menkes

Ossie Clark and the Invention of Youth
Beatrice Manca

Creative Synergies and Experimenting with Textiles
The collaboration between Celia Birtwell and Ivo Prints
Arianna Sarti

Interviews

Love for Nature and Art
in conversation with Celia Birtwell
Federico Poletti

The Revolution, Ziegfeld Follies and Stryx
Ossie Clark’s part in his friend Amanda Lear’s story
Luca Imbimbo & Federico Poletti

Towards Ossie Clark
A conversation with Massimo Cantini Parrini
Antonio Mancinelli

Beyond Vintage Vibes, Discovering the Collection of Ossie Clark
A conversation with Lauren Lepire
Federico Poletti

The Wizard of Ossie. The Second Coming of the King of King’s Road
A conversation with Avshalom Gur
Federico Poletti

A Selection of Iconic Dresses

Ossie Clark & Celia Birtwell
Dresses and Sketches

The Exhibition at Prato Textile Museum