Ossie Clark 1965-1974

This is the first book on the work of fashion designer, Ossie Clark - a key figure in 1960s and 1970s London. His golden era lasted from the mid 60's to the mid 70's, when fashion, photography, art, music all flourished as never before in the glamorous world of 'Swinging London'. Endlessly innovative, he brought street style to London's most fashionable people. In his own words a 'master cutter', he was a celebrity in his own right, numbering among his friends David Hockney, Patrick Proctor, Mick and Bianca Jagger, Patti Boyd and George Harrison. His collaboration with his wife, the textile designer Celia Birtwell, saw the blossoming of a new young and exciting era for British fashion. Drawing on interviews with Celia Birtwell, models and friends, and on exclusive audio archives featuring Ossie himself, Judith Watt brings to life the vibrant and artistic milieu in which his talent flourished. Juxtaposing sophisticated Vogue fashion shoots and photos of some of the famous names of the day - Jean Shrimpton, Twiggy, Verushka, Amanda Lear - with stunning new photography of iconic outfits and the wonderfully lively sketches produced by Ossie and Celia, this long-overdue celebration of his work will be welcomed by fashion-lovers and students alike and will re-establish him as a major force in recent fashion history.