Today was all about Ossie Clark. Ossie obsessives like gorgeous blogger Sharon Rose know that the late designer, who was never good with money, sold his financially troubled line to clothing manufacturer Al Radley in the ’70s. (A large percentage of the vintage Ossies floating around nowadays are from the Ossie Clark for Radley line.)
I’ve known Al for a couple of years now. He’d wanted to revive Ossie’s line for ages, but only in a high quality way. He is very protective of Ossie’s work and didn’t want to go the schlock-made-in-a-sweatshop-and-sold-at-chain-store route. I was pleased for him that his dream project got off the ground this year.
Whenever I’m in London, I get together with Al. Today he took me and MrB to the new Ossie offices, where the staff was hard at work on designing the next collection. As usual, we were accompanied by the delightful Caroline Carr, who was the design director for Radley back in the day, and Al’s poodle, Sandy.
Sandy All of us, including Sandy, met with Ossie Clark CEO Roland Green, who acknowledged that he was disappointed with the first collection’s mixed reviews, but pointed out that the line has since been picked up by Saks and Bendels in the U.S., and Browns and Matches in the U.K., plus lots of chic boutiques. Roland definitely has a handle on the direction in which the line should go.
Al, Caroline and Roland pose with a smock dress from the fall collection I’m obsessed with ruffles lately, so I have my eye on this fall dress.
Note that my hair has been beaten into submission.I’m wearing the ruffled bolero jacket I wore when visiting gorgeous blogger ENC.
Here’s a photo of the new Ossie Clark label, hangtag and lookbook. The website will be launched shortly.
When you go out with Al for the day, you really go OUT for the DAY. I hope Al will forgive me for telling you that he is 80-something, but I have to share that only because the man has energy that puts Edgar Winter to shame. If you go out with Al, expect numerous meals, several shopping excursions, a walk in the park and a stroll along a body of water all in one day. One time, he took me for a THREE-HOUR stroll along the Thames, which I managed in high heels. Without complaining.
Today we took Roland to lunch. After we sent him back to work, we took off for our adventures. There were lots of cute stores and restaurants to be investigated in Ossie Clark’s Islington neighborhood. I liked the window of Jewels by Count Alexander.
I also wanted every photograph I saw at Rockarchive, but settled for several of their cute, miniature business cards. Then we headed to Primrose Hill for a walk in the park and a visit to Shikasuki, a vintage store that Al knew had some Ossies. I got an Ossie jacket (non-Radley label) that’s a little bit worse for wear but still spectacular on.
My new jacket is rather stained under the arms.But MrB said, “It’s not like you’re wearing it for a deodorant commercial.”
Caroline got a cute, kitschy fruit necklace.
Caroline in her Luella top and fruit necklaceAfter shopping, we took our stroll by the water — this time, a canal. Fortunately, yesterday’s monsoon had ended and we even saw patches of blue sky.
The canal
MrB, Al, Caroline and Sandy by the canal
Caroline, me, Al and Sandy.I’m wearing the high-heeled clogs that I wore during my Thames walk.
After only eight hours, Al sent us back to our hotel. Hopefully, we’ll see him again this week and get the full 12-hour Radley experience. Despite knowing better, I will, of course, wear heels.
UPDATED TO ADD: Former model Dorian Leigh died at age 91. Read about her here. I have one of her Revlon Fire and Ice ads framed. One of my favorite things about her is that she started modeling at an age when models now would be forcibly retired.
love your ruffle coat and that dress with the ruffles is gorgeous! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
ooh the fruit necklace looks really yummy. yes i need accessories like this. the new ossie jacket looks gooood (: nothing you can do to the stain?
Darling, what a fabulous vintage day! I really cannot wait to see the new collection of Ossie Clark! The dresses look great! And I love love your jacket! It is such a perfect day xxxxxxxxxx
Probably not, Wotton. Once a stain has set for 35 years or so, it’s pretty hard to get out 😉 I’ve got all kinds of weirdly stained vintage clothes. I kind of prefer the sweat stains to coffee stains, actually.
hahah sorry,
not required you do it 🙂
love your ruffle jacket!
Gorgeous ruffled dress! And you’re working the round shades in the last pic…very nice. 🙂
You look gorgeous and that jacket is great!
lovely lovely dream of a day!!!!!!!! love the bollero and the ruffles and that mr.b is so astute about clothes 🙂
great canal pix.
Looks like you are having an amazing time. Isn’t Islington such a cool little neighborhood? I really like the stores Aria and Twenty Twenty One (both furniture, design stores. . . lovely indeed).
ilove the black ruffle jacket ur wearing 🙂
This sounds like a dream of a day–if exhausting! And that bolero is amazing.
What a great post. It sounds like you had a brilliant 40-hour day. In heels. With a smile on your face.
I’m sad to hear about Dorian Leigh. Thanks for letting us know.
OMG…. What a day-I’m soo jealous and excited!! To be best mates with Al, what an honour! This jacket is to die for-and stains, so what-it’s had some life and thats what it’s all about!! See you later on-my cameras at the ready, too!!
If the jacket is of a washable fabric, you could conceivably try dipping the armpits in a bowl of 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 1 tbsp baking soda and let it sit for a few mins, then gently handwashing the whole jacket in woolite or similar detergent. Might at least make the stains a bit less noticeable and certainly less fragrant 🙂 I’m sure I’m not the only one who wishes she was in London with you! Have a brilliant time, darling!
Thanks for the tip, GG!
I wrote about Dorian Leigh death a couple of days ago too, she was gorgeous and the Fire and Ice campaign is legend…
Shikasuki is cute isn’t it?
I don’t think Avsh Alom Gur was the right person to design it and it is unfortunate it didn’t get rave rave reviews but i think they just need to toil on….
what a beautiful neighborhood, that canal is so picturesque.
i’m glad you got the jacket, mr. B is so right.
I forgot to say “Thanks” for the mention!
I always enjoy living vicariously through you when you travel, Wendy. I think your hair looks very cute when ruffled by the rain, btw.
Love the new jacket and that window with the Marie A style mannequin was amazing!