Nica's Notebook: Discover Nica’s Inspiration: Time Travel to the 1960s Part Two

Friday 9 August 2013

Discover Nica’s Inspiration: Time Travel to the 1960s Part Two

I adore most retro fashion scenes but the fun and quirkiness of the 1960s never fails to inspire me whilst I'm designing my handbags. I particularly loved the Mod movement with its innovative aesthetics, colourful fabrics, and bold geometric designs.

Barracano silk hooded cape by Emilio Pucci, 1965

Source: Emilio Pucci

(Right) Mary Quant Stockings, c. 1960s / (Left) André Courrèges, Vogue 1969.

Source: Vogue Archive

“It was a marvellous time. In the ‘60s you were knocked in the eyeballs.

Everybody, everything was new.”

Diana Vreeland – Editor in Chief of US Vogue 1963 – 1971

I really love the swirls of classic and geometric patterns that prevailed within textiles during the 60s. A legendary exhibition called The Responsive Eye, held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 1965, greatly triggered the merging of geometric patterns and fashion textiles in the form of Op Art.

Catalogue cover of the Responsive Eye, Op Art Exhibition in MOMA 1965

Source: Cool Hunting

In particular, dazzling black-and-white paintings by Bridget Louis Riley, a London-based English Painter, whose painting (Current, 1964) was reproduced on the cover of the exhibition’s catalogue, prompted an ‘op art’ fashion craze in the 1960's! Her work greatly influenced the designers of this era, including Pierre Cardin, John Bates, and Mary Quant.

(Left) Movement in Squares, by Bridget Riley 1961 (Right) Artist Bridget Riley (c. 1960s)

Source: 2 Modern Blog

Mary Quant dress in 1964

Source: Mary Quant on Tumblr

I actually prefer the op-art fashion trend of the late 1960s, as it was more abstract and less constructed than the early 1960s.

Op- art fashion inspired textile, photo by André Carrara, 1967

Source: Vogue Italy

Fashion-trends constantly come back around, and I've already noticed Sixties' inspired playful cuts, silhouettes, and geometric shapes within the 2013 fashion trends but with a modern twist.