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Ossie’s Back! Part 2

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Bad photo of a nice Ossie
2004

I had a nice chat with Al Radley this week. Al is the clothing manufacturer who owned the rights to the Ossie Clark name and just did a deal to revive the line. He bought the rights in the late ’60s when Ossie was deeply in debt (clothes tended to be given away to celebrity friends or they would just walk out of the store, never to be seen again). Al created the Ossie Clark for Radley diffusion line. A large number of the vintage Ossies that are available today are from the Radley line.

I know that Al had gotten offers before from people interested in Ossie, but in the couple of years I’ve known him, he’s been adamant that any comeback would have to involve high-quality work deserving of Ossie’s name. Hopefully, he’s found the right people at last. I was intrigued to learn that they have a knitwear designer on the team (vintage Ossie knitwear is very hard to find). They also have a print designer. They will be doing their own prints instead of using the Celia Birtwell prints. I was a little sad to hear that at first, but Celia has really devalued the prints in that low-quality Topshop line, so it’s probably for the best that they go with new looks.

My impression is that we might see some snakeskin in the first collection, due this February. I expect the collection will be mostly an Ossie look updated for 2007, with a smattering of vintage looks.

Same print, different dress

Al has quite a few hair-raising Ossie stories, but I think I will have to get him drunk one day so I can convince him to share them here. He has an extensive Ossie collection, which I had great fun looking through. He also showed me the beautiful custom wedding dress that Ossie made for one of his daughters. It as worn with a full-length python coat that I nervously tried on. As I recall, the coat was made for Twiggy originally, but she refused to pay so Al took the coat back! I thought that was a smart move. The Victoria and Albert museum wants the wedding ensemble, but the family is keeping it in case any of Al’s granddaughters want to wear it for their wedding.

Enough about Ossie, let’s talk about me! Voxpop has another game up. Vote for your favorite fashion blog posts here.

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Comments

  2. Hi Wendy
    I love those dresses.That print is a very 60′ s style print,is’ nt it ?I remember it on maxi’ s
    You really do justice to those dresses.A beautiful frame for a beautiful dress

  4. Though I still adore Twiggy, that was very uncool of her. Love the dresses! How risque that first one is!

  5. I’m not sure I dare wear it again! It has all kinds of falling-apart/stain issues too. Ossie was really into ladies being really sexy and letting it all hang out, literally. He also didn’t like anyone to ruin his clothes by wearing underwear under it. Easy for him to say, right? And easier for a ’60s/’70s supermodel/celebrity to do than for a regular person to do now! I don’t want all my bits and pieces to end up on the Interweb accidentally.

  11. I love Ossie clothes too.His work meant a milestone in fashion history. And I’m intrigued at the possible comeback. I hope they’ll do a cleverer movement than Biba.

    Btw, you have an amazing collection.

  12. @Rhiannon, Al is a very fun guy. He has amazing stories and an incredible amount of energy, as well as a somewhat demanding poodle.

  13. Fab dresses!

    And, I must say your jewelry is divine, LOVE the scent locket!!!
    Look forward to seeing what else you’ve got cooking…though clearly not in the kitchen.

  14. Today’s WWD has a big article about the revival.

    I never shop at Topshop, but I went there just to see Celia’s designs. My mom took a scarf and just said, eww. She believes wearing viscose is committing a fashion crime.