Ossie Clark
British, 1942-1996
It’s hardly an exaggeration to say that neither the Swinging Sixties nor the hippie looks of the 1970s would have been what they were if not for Ossie Clark, who popularized the flamboyant fashion synonymous with the eras.
Born Raymond Clark in 1942, the designer moved as a boy to Oswaldtwistle, the source of his lifelong nickname. Clark began studies in architecture at just 13, a foundation that instilled in him the lessons of proportion and scale that would inform his day dresses, suits and other unique clothing decades later.
After learning tailoring, pattern cutting and more important technical skills at the Regional College of Art in Manchester (now the Manchester School of Art), Clark attended London’s prestigious Royal College of Art. There, he began a lifelong friendship with the artist David Hockney, who would eventually paint a portrait of Clark and his wife and partner, Celia Birtwell, also a designer.
Clark’s graduation show in 1964, featuring at least one garment decorated with a line of light bulbs, made instant waves in the fashion world, foreshadowing the career he would have as a boundary-pushing creative. He landed his first feature in British Vogue just months later and was a veritable instant addition to the London fashion scene. While he was still a student, Clark’s designs were being sold in the famous London boutique Quorum, and Henri Bendel had brought his collection to New York. His fashions soon became inextricably linked with the famous “Chelsea Girls” of the decade.
Clark’s clothing ran the gamut from free-flowing garments in muted hues to graphic patterns in bold colors informed by a fascination with Pop art and flora. He collaborated with Birtwell for most of his career, incorporating her dynamic Art Deco–inspired prints in his work before the couple parted in the 1970s. Clark favored crepes and chiffons and paid close attention to small details, often eschewing simple zippers in favor of, say, fabric-covered buttons. At the end of the 1960s, Clark adjusted hemlines to the maxi length and introduced a line of chiffon dresses intended to be worn over a nude body.
Clark’s penchant for flowing pants, bell sleeves and fringe is largely regarded as popularizing the archetype of 1970s fashion in London and the United States — influence bolstered, no doubt, by his dressing such A-list clients as Mick Jagger, Liza Minelli and The Beatles. A gifted draper, he was known for his uniquely flattering fits. As footwear icon Manolo Blahnik once said, “He created an incredible magic with the body and achieved what fashion should do — produce desire.”
Find vintage Ossie Clark evening dresses, blouses, day dresses and more on 1stDibs.
Color: Beige
Designer: Ossie Clark
1970s Ossie Clark Ivory Silk Jacquard Maxi Dress
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This vintage 1970s Bohemian Ossie Clark ivory rayon jacquard maxi dress is exceptional. The rayon jacquard fabric is super soft and quite heavy. Although many Ossie Clark dresses wou...
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1970s British Ossie Clark
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Ossie Clark for Quorum, ivory moss crepe maxi dress, c. 1965-9
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- print with 'The Lovers' tarot card, cupids and the romantic phrases 'while we are absent from one another', 'gli amanti' and 'mitzpah'.
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1970s English Ossie Clark
Ossie Clark fashion for sale on 1stDibs.
Find an extraordinary range of authentic Ossie Clark fashion available on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing our collection of unique vintage and designer fashion to elevate your daily look or to introduce new colors to the dazzling formal wear in your wardrobe, this designer’s body of work includes elements of pink, blue, purple and other tones. Customers who are interested in this designer might also find the work of Jean Varon, Frank Usher, and Janice Wainwright appealing. On 1stDibs, find haute couture, vintage and designer Ossie Clark fashion from top boutiques around the world. Ossie Clark fashion prices can differ depending upon time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,200 and tops out at $6,678, while the average work can sell for $2,256.
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