Biba Love and Dolly Eyes

Back in this post I shared some of the latest additions to my wardrobe with you. Here is the late 1960's vintage Merle Stephen maxi dress. I've been pining to wear this one since I first laid eyes on it but the weather just won't allow it. Today, being a little cooler and with nothing planned but lounging about and relaxing, I thought I'd play dress up. The dress is a deep plum purple with a small vine print. It has an empire waistline, ruffled collar and bishop sleeves with covered buttons (please excuse the fact that in the picture above they are only done up half way - the heat you see). 

I don't know about you but for me this dress calls to mind the sultry Biba dollybirds of the late 1960's and early 1970's. Whilst wearing it I can imagine myself lounging across the couch in the shop window of the Biba Kennsington Church Street store. And so, to keep with the aura of the dress, I had to do my Biba style makeup to go with it. I then had loads of fun prancing around and grooving out to the sounds of 1968. What fun! 

A brilliant tutorial to follow to get the Biba girl look is this one here by renowned makeup artist, Lisa Elridge. 

It is clear and simple, and was created with the assistance of Barbara Hulanicki herself.

Do check it out!

Sugar Pie, Honey-BUN!

A few years ago I came across these cute little compacts and they have been on my wish list ever since. They are called 'Honey-Buns', and were released from Revlon in the 1960's. As you can see on the top was a really groovy little graphic of a dolly bird with daisies in her hair, and the compact opened up like a purse. They were filled with Love-Pat makeup that came in different shades such as 'Misty Rose' with a pad for application and the compacts themselves were available in either blue, red or white. They were also quite large, measuring four inches in diameter, and thus I'm guessing they had a beautiful big mirror on the inside. And selling for only $3.00, as advertised in a 1964 issue of Seventeen Magazine, who could resist? I don't think that you could get a cuter compact - definitely something I'd love to carry around in my handbag with me everywhere.

Lilly Shan - 1965

Image (2)

Title: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" - The Four Tops

Cathy's Survival Kit

This is something that has been on my wish list for quite some time. In the 1960's Cathy McGowan, mod icon and British dolly who is most famously known for presenting the popular music show "Ready, Steady, Go!", launched her own product. This was "Cathy's Survival Kit"; Cathy's own cosmetics case for busy girls needing a touch-up on the go. It looks to me like the kit included two lipsticks, a mascara, eye pencil, concealer and either a blush or eyeshadow.

I am an absolute sucker for cosmetics with colourful and groovy 1960's designs, so this is right up my alley. I'd carry Cathy's cosmetics with me everything, feeling oh so mod!

Images: (1. 2. 3.)

Makeup Muses

Here are the top five women that to me had the greatest and most inspiring makeup of the 1960's. There is no denying that they are all amazing. To replicate these would be a brilliant feat.

Twiggy

Edie Sedgwick

Peggy Moffitt

Cher

Penelope Tree

(Images: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.)