General Chat

My school pal liked C & A, Pat.

When I was at school I had a Saturday job at the nearby department store (a bit like a mini- HoF because they sold similar products and had a few branches) so, as you would if you got a discount, I tended to buy my clobber from that store. :-D

I shopped at M&S - their Junior Miss range. :-D

Being in London, I spent all my wages, most weeks, in Kensington.

Biba was a tiny shop, and very dimly lit, but it had a vibe all of its own. I had a few outfits from there. I certainly wore the pinafore dresses to work, along with Annello and David shoes, and Sunarama tights. They were ribbed with holes down the sides.

As others have said, I felt the bee's knees.

I also had the white cut-out boots, with a shortie trench coat, and op-art earrings. :-D :-D :-D

A light orange denin hot pant 'suit' - with white plastic knee-length boots, with elasticated tops. :-D :-D :-D

I’ll be the first to admit that I have too many clothes and shoes - but I love things a bit out of the ordinary. Probably the result of having a more sombre work wardrobe - but I still managed to shock a close colleague occasionally when I teamed sombre with a snazzy pair of shoes. :-D

I bought a new royal blue Biba evening dress about three or four years ago. I fell In love with the design, plain but scooped below the waist to one side and it has the little quirk of one shoulder being decorated in silver - from either House of Fraser or Debenhams (can’t remember which) because both of those stores were in that shopping centre at the time.

It was fairly heavy but hung beautifully so I was well pleased with it.

I have no idea whether the brand has carried on or whether some other manufacturer has bought the name.

You’re right, Gwyn, even at my age I did feel like the bee’s knees when I wore it. :-D

Yes the mini skirt and my Dad asking me if I had a skirt to go with the belt.

We weren't poor, but there was not ready cash to buy new clothes frequently, so each purchase was memorable.

I didn't have nearly so many clothes as my daughters had as teenagers and what we did have had to last.

Today's young people have cheaper and more plentiful fashion items available, so I don't think they will remember them like we do our clothes from 60s.

I expect many of us can recall particular clothes of that era, when we thought we were 'the bee's knees'. :-)

For the next generation i think maybe they will go back to more traditional taylored look and not the ripped look of today.

Just watching Antiques road show. Somebody had a collection of things from when Biba closed. The expert was reliving her life as a teenager going into the large department store full of Biba fashion and describing how they felt, how it was decorated and the general colours of the clothes.
Mention of Quant is likely to cause a similar reaction.
Do you think in 60 years time today’s teenagers will rave about how they shopped in Primark, H&M, New Look etc?

I suppose not, in the 60s there had been deprivation post war, the new fashion shops were a breath of fresh air and exciting.

It is not the same excitement for today’s young.
Or am I wrong?