A viewing of Jes Benstock’s fab doc A British Guide To Showing Off occasions this opportunity to dig out the London Belles feature from a 1973 issue of shortlived free magazine West One.
Above is milliner Diane Logan in one of her outfits as contestant Rita Ritz in the 1973 Alternative Miss World.
Logan – wife of sculptor Peter, mother of fashion illustrator Blue and sister-in-law of AMW host & hostess Andrew – is wearing a satin bathing suit with one of her own hats (from Logan’s Chiltern Street shop) and sandals from Tommy Roberts’ Covent Garden boutique City Lights Studio.
Another London Belle was Vivienne Westwood in an early media appearance wearing a Let It Rock striped suit, ankle boots, patterned stockings and an adapted Chuck Berry t-shirt from 430 King’s Road’s incarnation as Too Fast To Live Too Young To Die.
Her answers to the questionnaire are revealing: favourite record is No One To Love Me by Sha-Weez, a doo-wop number from the man who wrote and recorded Iko Iko in 1953. Westwood’s “perfect day” was to be spent with Society for Cutting Up Men author and would-be Warhol assassin Valerie Salanis (sic).
Also featured were Suzi Quatro, Shelley Martin (then at Biba), Laurita (who ran a popular Fulham Road soul-food restaurant/club), Louise Doktor (who appeared in the same year’s AMW as “Miss Nina Haws Your Knockers”), Jo of Models 1 and, contrasting drastically with her flamboyant employer’s appearance in designs by Margaret Howell’s sister Jean, tap shoes from Frederick Freed and an absence of make-up, Zandra Rhodes’ assistant Mary.
Visit The British Guide To Showing Off website here.
West One issue courtesy Tommy Roberts Collection.
Ian Harris
November 23, 2011 at 3:09 pmI worked on the first issue of West 1 magazine. It was edited by Janet Street Porter and at the
time( 1974) I was an Art Editor of several magazines at Haymarket Press, Winsley Street, W.1.
I have a pristine copy of issue 13 from 8th February 1974 with a pic of Mark Bolan as a mod on the cover. Inside on the fashion pages there are plenty of shots with accessories from City Lights Studio.
Amazing magazine for a freebee.
Great post, took me back!
Paul Gorman Author
November 23, 2011 at 3:22 pmGreat info Ian. I think you know what my next question will be…
All best
PG
Ian Harris
November 23, 2011 at 4:25 pmI sent you an e-mail yesterday regarding the Tommy stuff.
Let me have your address and I’ll send the mag to you.
Best,
Ian.
Steve E.
November 24, 2011 at 11:39 amHey, Suzi Quatro’s favourite restaurant was the Haven, run by my dear old Ma!
Never saw her in there, tho’ (Suzi, not my mother).
Paul Gorman Author
November 25, 2011 at 9:23 amTell us more about the Haven Steve – do you have any photos (I feel a post coming on…)?