It is no surprise that in the 1960's Valentino Garavani was well renowned as the fashion genius of Italian Couture, as well as a highly distinguished designer of the fashion industry at the time itself as a whole. His creations were worn and modeled by many from Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy, to the German model Veruschka von Lehndorff.
In 1966 Veruschka was photographed wearing one of these creations, and it so happens to be one of my very favourite items of couture clothing from the decade.
It is a stunning striped full-length, double-breasted, multi-coloured coat. The three-quarter length sleeves and vertical stripes coming down from the empire waistline create the illusion of tallness and slenderness, and the vibrant spectrum of the stripes has been arranged in a way that is so pleasing to the eye.
The photograph was first displayed in the November 1st issue of Vogue in 1966. Versuschka was pictured wearing the brilliant coat over a striped chiffon full-length gown, also from Valentino, sitting on the marble floor of an entryway. The photographer was Henry Clarke. The stripes upon the sleeve of the coat travel down the model's arm in an arrow formation and create beautiful line and flow extending out to her elegantly placed hand and down her sloped leg. This compliments the incredible mass of stripes gently flowing and rippling down and out from the centre of the photograph like a psychedelic river of colour. Her strong and sultry gaze completes the image and perfectly enhances the beauty of this incredible coat.
It is through this photography that I fell in love with this coat and came to view this item of clothing as not just something to wear, but a piece of art to be appreciated.
Goodness me, I'd kill for that coat! Its utterly glorious! x
ReplyDeletewhat an amazing coat! i don't think there is one steadfast piece of clothing that i could say is my favorite from the 60s, but this is marvelous coat, and a well written write up! Verushka certainly had modeled it perfectly. i wonder where and who is wearing it now?
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, what a beautiful coat. I love Veruschka's fierce gaze in the picture as well, she looks stunning.
ReplyDeleteOh god that's so wonderful that real 60s lovers like you exist. Where I'm from it feels like it's only the 50s that exist and no one seems to pay attention to others decades.
ReplyDeleteLoving your blog!
Cheers.
Lorna
<3
That dress is fantastic ! Love it so much !
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