dress

Ossie Clark 1942 - 1996

Summary

Printed wool dress by Ossie Clark using a print by Celia Birtwell; and numbered 577. Two different prints, pink, black and grey; the body of the dress with a grey grid with swirls and stylised tulips; the cape sleeves, turndown collar and fronts in another print of pink, black and white check. Princess line, opening full-length and fastening with 14 self covered buttons; cape sleeves, handkerchief or full pagoda sleeves; printed label "Ossie Clark, made in England. Print by Celia Birtwell, 10". Belonged to Sarah Clark, a friend of Ossie's niece, Carol, who worked at Quorum as a teenager on Saturdays. In 1970 aged 15, she became a full time employee. Print illustrated page 70, Ossie Clark by Judith Watt. Dated to 1968-9 by Celia Birtwell.

Display Label

This striking black, ivory and mauve rayon dress demonstrates the success of Ossie Clark's collaboration with his wife, the textile designer Celia Birtwell. An expert cutter, Ossie Clark designed his patterns to complement the printed textiles he used in his clothes. In this mini-dress, flat black crêpe provides the perfect backdrop for Birtwell's lively, stylised floral print. In the dress illustrated below also from about 1970, two contrasting but related printed wools provide a striking outfit, also designed by Birtwell. Born in Warrington, Ossie Clark (1942-96) studied fashion at London's Royal College of Art from 1962 to 1964, joining the design team at the Quorum boutique in London's Chelsea when he left. He rapidly achieved national recognition after his work appeared in British Vogue in 1965. His use of transparent chiffons and clingy crêpes produced unique, ultra-feminine designs for the "Swinging London" of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Ossie Clark can now be recognized as one of the most important British designers of the later 20th century, a favourite of personalities like Marianne Faithfull, David Hockney, and Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones, as well as of countless less celebrated clients.