Party Pieces - Dolly July 1982

After a hiatus, here's a new post to signal more regular posts from here on in!  This spread is soo up my alley - I mean knicker bockers, frills, taffeta, sashes and luxe gold accents not to mention the David Bowie cameo.  Adore.

History Comes Out Of The Closet - POL Magazine July 1981

I have New Romantic fever!  Featuring gorgeous frills, knicker-bockers, organza and bows galore!  I tell you these POL magazines I dug up are quite the gems!  Oh and by the way, I will be able to commit to more regular postings as I've fiiinally completed my Grad Dip as of yesterday! :D

Throwaway Fashion - Dolly December 1981

This gorgeous little two-page mini fashion spread is the punkiest I've seen Dolly magazine ever get!  It's kind of a cleaner, sweeter version of punk - the girl wearing the multi-coloured head piece definitely reminds me of the Blitz Kids and that's a very good thing indeed!

This spread is in the Annie Jones issue from a couple of posts ago - it is a fabulous issue, and I will be posting more to come from it shortly.

Dolly Magazine's take on New Romantic, March 1982

'The New Romantics' Fashion Feature

Here are some more images from the March '82 Dolly that I posted earlier on, and they show a kind of localised Australian version of the New Romantic movement which originated in the UK.  It is kind of a watered down version of the movement, as most things in Australia tend to be, but it does have an element of innocence and genuineness that I like.  The pictures kind of look to me like the kind you take at home before you head out to a concert (maybe the shot where the models are posing on the couch with the carpet showing makes me come to that idea).  If you're keen to find out more about the style and essence of the New Romantic movement then you must check out the Blitz Kids website. 

Dolly Magazine March 1982

March 1982
Model Anna Gatmon
Photography Michael Momy

'Casual Complements' fashion feature

This fashion spread from '82 Dolly really is a winner from start to finish.  It reminds me a lot of Steve Strange of Visage when he was doing the Arabian new romantic look.  It's really sweet, and in particular I love how the pants in the second image have ties around the bottom to amplify that looser at the top tighter at the ankles silhouette.  Also there is something about vintage tights like the white ones in the second last image that seem different to the ones today.  They just seem like better quality or something... the woollen ones I buy now always seem to have some polyester in them which is annoying as they always pill.  Anyway, enjoy these superb images.  Oh and isn't the cover cool - how striking - the covering up of the eye reminds me of I-D Magazine but Dolly style. ;-)

Dolly Magazine May 1981

May 1981
Photography Diana Duncan
Model Natalie Hines

'What's In' regular feature

'Roller-Skating is ... falling in love with the floor!' feature

'Hot Tips For Winter Beauty'  cover page

So I have a cold at the moment, and the only thing that can cheer me up is some Dolly!  This issue is an '81 one, and you can tell a difference between the style of this and the '82 ones I think.  As usual, it's super cute and cheerful - as exemplified in the roller skating picture.  That feature was all about the roller skating craze that was taking over the nation!  I actually own a pair of vintage skates - the traditional white with red wheels kind, but the only time I ever took them out I almost fell and had to literally hang on to any surface/wall/rail that I could to get back home, so I guess that's why the 'craze' didn't really take off with me.

I always find the 'What's In' section (which is at the start of every issue) to be really interesting, as it highlighted what the trends were overseas in fashion.  As you can see from this issue, the new romantic billowing ethnic trend was big in London - the fashion capital.  I included the last picture as it's just a sweet one.  Love the crimp and tulle in her hair.  

Dolly Magazine November 1982

November 1982
Photography by Rolf Bruderer
Model Gianna

Moroccan Magic fashion feature
Clothing by Gallery Nomad, Accessories by Orientique, Shoes by Esprit

Clothing by Esprit & Gallery Nomad, Accessories by Gallery Nomad & Orientique, Shoes by Esprit 

Green, yellow & red flat shoes by Sportsgirl
Ballet shoes and red heels by Chelsea Cobbler
All other shoes by Stephen Adler

Dress-Ence fashion feature
"Dresses are back in full bloom - from flared, fifties styles to short shifts"

Hang Ten advertisement

It's been a little while since the last post, so it's definitely time for more Dolly!  I pulled out a stack of issues from 1982, and looking through them, I think it may just be one of my favourite years for Dolly. Teased fluffy hair was in - in a big way, as were lots and lots of frills.

Although there were many varying styles featured during this time, from the Moroccan/New Romantic/Arabian inspired (as per the first two shots) to the sweet ballet slippers and summer dress combo (the Hang Ten ad) and my personal favourite look.  Also 1982 makes me think of my favourite band - Altered Images.

I think what appeals to me about this era in particular was the innocence.  The posing is not as stylised as modelling is today, genuine expression and dare I say it - happiness - is actually apparent in the models faces - unlike today!  Also the fact that photographers had to rely on their skills rather than photoshop is inspiring, I also love the fact that you can see blemishes and wrinkles in many of the photographs, magazines today are ruining any semblance there is of realism whatsoever.  We have the extreme of magazines like NW that show celebrities at their worst, and then fashion magazines that show them ultra-photoshopped.  Where has the normality gone?  Anyway, that's my ginormous rant for now, enjoy Dolly.

The Face Magazine August 1984

Styled by Amanda Grieve

Photography by Mario Testino

Modelled by Suzi-Bic

Clothes by Nostalgia of Mud

Shoes by Robot

Styled by Helen Roberts at Premier
Photography by Martin Brading
Modelled by Kathryn Hardy, Ana Drummond & Lizzie 

Here's my first post from the depths of my collection of Face magazines.  The Face started in the UK of course, in 1980 in response to the New Romantic movement which was emerging at the time.  Its focus was on aesthetics in fashion and in music and was a very stylish publication (although in my opinion it did degenerate in the 90's - I guess as music itself degenerated!)

The first two images are stunning - I mean with Mario Testino as photographer, what else can one expect really, plus Nostalgia of Mud clothing by Dame Viv and Malcolm McLaren!

The next two images feature a fixture in the London scene at the time by the name of Lizzie Tear.  She is the one to the very left in the last image with the big beehive.  She worked in Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren's shop 'World's End' for a time, and later on in 1987 produced a single 'Life Won't Be The Same'.  She was also almost in Malcolm McLaren's band Bow Wow Wow ... ahh well, t'wasn't to be, and we ended up having the fab Annabella Lwin instead!

More images from Mode Winter 1977

Photography by Michael O'Donnell for Marbles

Photography by Michael O'Donnell for Harvey Foster

Love this fashion spread... the make-up is part Glam part New Romantic (before New Romantic) part Futurustic.  Once again, I am awe-struck that this is from 1977, and in Australia too - my picture of Australian women's fashion at this time is an outfit comprised of brown corduroy pants teamed with a synthetic fibre top, so this is very inspiring.