Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

Meet Marilyn and, Maybe, Me

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Last week, I wrote about a lovely lady who was auctioning off the Ossie Clark dress she wore at her 1973 wedding. I was delighted when the seller — Marilyn — replied to my post! I especially enjoyed her description of the Ossie-employed friend who appears with her in this picture.

Marilyn is on the right. Both ladies are wearing Ossie Clark.

Marilyn is on the right. Both ladies are wearing Ossie Clark.

Marilyn wrote, “My BFF … had enough Ossies to make your head spinthat fire-engine Red maxi coat, yellow mutton sleeve swing blouse, tons & tons of little black dresses I used to borrow them to copy the patternsas my Mom taught me to sew the Ossie way by turning dresses inside out and making patterns from them. In the 70s Bianca Jagger was our chief style Icon so we tried to copy her recession style.”

Marilyn also emailed me, “Wanted to add that according to BFF, Ossie  believed ladies should NEVER wear underwear yet not be vulgar…(only soft fabrics should caress the skin)…as men should always have easy access to a woman’s body, hence all the ties, buttons, peepholes and wrapsA but no zippers! He was sensuality itself!”

Marilyn has relisted her dress on eBay. Click the photo below to go to the auction. Remember, if you’re not going to use the “buy it now” option, you should snipe.

Click to go to new auction.

Click to go to new auction.

You can also check out Marilyn’s handcrafted necklaces and mirrors at her website here.

Now that you’ve met Marilyn, you can meet me … if you live in London or Paris. I’m not sure of my Paris schedule yet, but there’s definitely a blogger outing planned for July 11 in London. Sharon, Miss Peelpants, Make Do Style and Mademoiselle Robot are planning to come. If you want to join us, let me know in the comments or email me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com.

I met Sharon in London last year, and we had a wonderful time. I feel like I’ve met Miss Peelpants because I’ve bought a couple of dresses from her, including this Ossie that I recently wore for a special tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Afghanistan exhibit.

My latest Ossie from Vintage-a-Peel

My latest Ossie from Vintage-a-Peel

MrB and I were invited to the event by my designing friend Zang Toi and his enthralling friend Cecilia. I’ve been meaning to interview Cecilia for this blog since last year, but her life story is so amazing I hardly know where to begin.

With Zang on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

With Zang on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

I highly recommend the Afghanistan exhibit, especially if you appreciate jewelry. There’s a lot of gold in them thar cases.A  After we saw the exhibit that day, we went to a dinner that Cecilia’s friends were hosting to benefit the American University in Afghanistan. The university has great programs for educating women; check out the website here.

I took this photo of the Central Park Reservoir from the terrace of the Cecilia’s friends’ apartment.

Central Park Reservoir

Central Park Reservoir

It was during a rare break in the June rain.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. How fabulous that Marilyn replied back to you, she certainly made the most of her and her friends Ossies back in the day!! You look stunning in this Ossie my dear, so looking forward to us all meeting up too!

  6. WendyB, Wow! You are solely Beautiful in your Vintage-a-Peel! May you have a Wonderful and exciting trip abroad!!! p.s. Zang Toi is solely a Doll!

  8. Marilyn’s Ossie Clark dress is awesome – and so is yours – love the print and colours too! I also agree with Ossie’s curiously carnal comments on underwear – his designs combine the need for practicality and pleasure so cleverly x

  10. That exhibit sounds amazing! Have a wonderful time in London and Paris. Last time I was in Paris I went to the YSL/pierre bergere foundation and it was amazing. So was the baccarat museum – reminded me of the beauty and the beast movie from the 80s. Awesome.

  12. I would so move to NY if I could have a rooftop terrace with a view like that….sigh…
    Hopefully I will be in NY for the Estate Jewelry Show at the end of July and can see the Afghanistan jewelry show at the MET.

  13. Count me in on that London blogger’s meeting, as I’m planning to stow away in your carryon.

    Just kidding.

    Have fun in Europe!

  14. Lovely dress and I KNEW that was the one – I am a tad jealous I did not spot it first actually. That will teach me to twitter too much and not scout sites 🙂

    Lovely story on the pink Ossie as well

  15. You look incredible in that dress!! Almost as incredible as I’m going to look in my new Francis wrap dress. Ah ha ha ha

  16. Wendy, love the pics of you in NYC. You can wear ANYTHING, can’t you. I love your pale skin even in summer. NYCs lucky to call you a daughter.

  17. That’s a very romantic maxi dress! And I love that you’re taking a summer jaunt to London/Paris. Count me jealous. I’m going to have to make do with my local excursions for now 😀

  25. That wedding dress is amazing, as is your dress from Vintage-a-peel! On a different note, that picture of the resevoir reminds me that I should be out there preparing for Cross Country . . . groan.

  28. Ohhhhh, ohhhhhh, ohhhhhhhh!!!! You look INCREDIBLE in the Ossie, I’m so glad it went to such a wonderful new home – and with someone who looks awesome in that colour *skin tone envy*. I love Marilyn’s Ossie, and the story behind it. And so true about the sensuality of his clothes….switswoooooooo!!

  33. I can’t NOT wear underwear!
    I’m pretty perverted too…..I just HAVE to wear underwear out in the world.
    I don’t give a rat’s ass about VPL either.

  34. This post is so action-packed! Love to hear about Ossie tailoring. And you look just beautiful in the maxi dress. What a spectacular view of the park between rainfalls. Love it all! (PS I wanna meet you. When do you come to TO?)

  35. Wonderful post – lovely insider info and a fab picture of you. How i wish I was stepping into the Met.
    I’m very tempted by patchwork balzer btw!

  36. Hmmm no underwear huh? This meet up in London sounds amazing, pity I won’t be able to make it. I can’t wait to read all about it though!

  37. Thanks for the Great PR.
    U look amazing in that Ossie(no underwear?) and YOUR CLEOPATRA earrings!
    Love, love love London..check out the new look Libertys & have a blast.

  38. Argh!!! I have a gig that night that I can’t get out of…. why did I know about this blogger meet!! Lovely Ossie tales and dress…as always….

  40. Oh my goodness, Miss Wendy, you look stunning! If I needed one photo to show the beauty and magic that is vintage…? You in that Ossie, my-oh-my!

    Wish I was going t be there on the 11th, hope you all have a blast!

    Hugs,
    tp

  41. First…I LOVE THAT DRESS! You look great! Second, I just got back from a trip to NY and the picture of Central Park made me wish I was still there.

  42. I love ur dress, very classy! Gosh, Zang Toi look so much diffrent from what i last saw him in the Magazine. Thanks for sharing this! 🙂

  45. Where to begin? You look amazing. The dress is amazing. The exhibit sounds fabulous. Ossie’s advice? Brilliant. Marilyn’s fro? The best part of all.

  48. i love love the colour of that ossie dress you are wearing. beautiful!

    also, why have i not seen that awesome black skull ring that’s in your header before? clearly, i have not been paying enough attention. please don’t egg my house! 🙂

  49. I am loving this!! The Marilyn in question is MY uber fabulous Aunt Marilyn- she always looks the bomb in whatever she wears and her jewellery range is so fierce, she is creative & such a wild card, I wish she lived closer, Dad says I am just like her- here’s hopin’! If I had the cash I’d buy the dress myself- love you M

    Simone, London xx