Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog

Never Is the Next New Thing

Miss Mouse and Ms. Muir

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Topshop has intrigued me with the vintage Miss Mouse pieces in their Archive collection. Here’s Topshop’s description of Miss Mouse interspersed with the items they had for sale:

“One of the British High Street’s best kept vintage secrets; Miss Mouse was a boutique-clothing label of the late ’60s and 70s, renowned for its cute yet kitsch designs.”

Miss Mouse maxi skirt
 Photo from Topshop

“The distinctive styles were created by the late Rae Spencer-Cullen; a key figure in the avant-garde fashion scene, moving in flamboyant circles with the likes of Duggie Fields, Zandra Rhodes and more notably the legendary Andrew Logan, whose Alternative Miss World contest often featured her designs.

Miss Mouse skirt suit
Photo from Topshop

“Brightly coloured novelty prints and trims in an elegant 30’s and 40’s style silhouette, were usually adorned in Rae’s signature polka dot print, and if the dots didn’t appear on the outer fabric of the garment, they often made their appearance in the lining.

Miss Mouse dress
Photo from Topshop


“Named as having the Strongest Style in London alongside Vivienne Westwood by West One Magazine in 1973 (she sported green hair and her kitsch designs at the time), and cited as one of the leading style innovators of the decade by Harpers Bazaar in 1976, Rae’s daring designs continue to inspire today.”

While I’m speaking (and this is my own voice now, not Topshop’s) of vintage clothing, and since leather dresses are all the rage, I wanted to show you this navy vintage leather dress by the amazingly talented Jean Muir.


And here’s a closeup of the pansy belt.


The Muir dress is 245 pounds at Vintage-a-Peel. It’s an awesome example of Muir’s work and totally worth the money. If you can pass up buying 10 other items at 24.50 pounds a piece to buy this dress, then that’s what you should do. WendyB has spoken!

Vintage-a-Peel also has a nice Ossie Clark page here.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I’m so stupidly in love with the black Miss Mouse dress! It’s so perfect and wonderful. *drool*

    And that leather dress is simply stunning, too.

  2. I wish for two things: 1. That the skirt suit and awesome 60s dress weren’t sold out and 2. That I had the moola to spend on them!

  4. I am so glad that you stopped by my blog so that I could click on your name and find yours! It’s splendid. I’ve run out of energy this evening to read any more, but I know that I’ll be back–soon!

  5. I love the miss mouse dress it’s stunning all the pieces are great in their own special way, thank you for sharing! I wish top shop would open around the world already!

  7. Ooh, that black dress with the candy-esque ribbon is gorgeous! I may not own boots, but even I know a knee high leather pair would look awesome with that.

    Also, I was a little bit like, why on earth would anyone want to wear a 245# dress even if it is really cute? And then I got it.

  11. Hi Wendy! I loved your post about Ossie Clark and 60’s women, so inspiring… And these dresses looks cute too! I will link you on my blog

  12. Wow, I wasn’t aware that topshop sold this – hmm, I wonder if their store in London has any, definately worth a look.

  17. That belt is amazing. I want, very very much. So much that I can’t write proper sentences 😉

  18. I’d never wear anything vintage worn or owned previously by other people, eww. But I love to look at vintage pieces.