My Love Affair with Mrs Peel...

Mrs. Peel (aka Diana Rigg)

Growing up in Detroit in the 1960s was an exciting time. We did, after all, have more than 3 channel on TV. We had the mighty CKLW from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. This meant there were lots of programs that originated in Great Brittan. At that time, in the mid 1960s, that meant London, Carnaby Street and Mod clothing.

The most important of these shows to me at that time, was The Avengers. We actually got the programs first run from England. Not only did it expand my culture (that’s what I told my mom), it also shaped the
blossoming fashion sense of a 13 year old girl. 

Growing up I had developed a “unique” fashion sense. Since I attended a catholic school, which was darn near impossible. We wore uniforms and were assigned a “color” of knee sox (NO HOSE) to wear, based on grade. I was once sent to the mother superiors lair for wearing the wrong color knee sox and another time for wearing a button that read “What Me Worry?” with a photo of Alfred E Neuman.

Somewhere in 1966, I was in the 6^th grade, I became obsessed with Mrs. Peel and the incredible designs she wore each week. Her style and grace was unmatched and typically British Mod. The timeless designs of John Varon (see earlier post) were perfect for Diana Riggs 5’ 9” frame. There were brightly colored dresses, suits and pants. Not to mention those leather togs.

I would grab a drawing pad and attempt to copy the designs.

I was blissfully unaware that the looks were not quite right for my 5’2” chubby frame. Since my mother (who was an excellent seamstress) made a lot of my clothes, we would modify patterns so that they had a designer quality. I remember particularly an Easter outfit of bright yellow and orange. I even purchase a pair of yellow patent leather shoes and a “Chanel” style quilted bag to match! Mod was my favorite style and still remains dear.

The school at last, relented and allowed us to wear go-go boots and “real” hose. Few of the nuns were happy about this change. Shortly after, in 1967 as the 7^th grade started, we began to conduct “guitar” masses. The times they were a-changin’.

My Love Affair with John Bates

Picture a chubby pre-teen girl in a bland plaid catholic school uniform with white go-go boots. That was me in 1964. Even at age 10 I was into fashion. I would scan magazines and TV ads for appealing items. I would “design” some of the outfits my mother painstakingly stitched for me. She was an excellent seamstress and could combine bits and pieces from several different patterns to achieve the “look” we wanted. All I know is when I wore a groovy outfit, I felt marvelous!

Since we lived in the Canadian border town of Detroit, we had ready access to British television shows. Enter The Avengers. Diana Rigg as Mrs. Emma Peel. Not only was she the model of the liberated woman who could do it all, she sported  the trendiest clothing and the most fabulous accessories including the previously mentioned gogo boots.

The  clothing designer who first defined Mrs. Peel’s  élan was John Bates.  His fashions underscored her character. That of the truly unencumbered  female. One minute she was in a feminine lacy dress with ruffles and pearls. The next in a one piece leather cat suit, of coarse, with matching boots.
 
Bates' designs for Emma Peel included leather cat suits, low slung trousers, empire waist mini and maxi dresses and jackets featuring PVC and Op Art designs. The garments not only made her look fantastic but were also fun and functional. Moreover, they were objects of lust and (verbose) desire for myself and all my friends.

At the age of 18 in 1957, Bates worked as an apprentice at the design house of Herbert Sidon, in London. He would then go on the be a fashion illustrator. In 1960 Bates introduced the Jean Varon label. The designs were fresh, bright and modern.  Bates’ collections were immensely popular in the London boutiques. They were sought after by trendsetters like Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton and Marianne Faithful.

Bates quipped,”I called it Jean Varon because at the time an English name like John Bates meant nothing, you had to appear to be French. Jean is French for John and Varon because there was no "V" in the rag trade book. Jean Varon made a good graphic image"

His creations were imitated and mimicked by many  American clothing companies. Very short minis, trouser suits, lace dresses, cat suits and tube dresses.  These styles seemed to define not only that particular time, but an attitude that a woman could be anyone she wished to be depending upon her couture. 

In the 1960’s there was even a Poppy Parker doll in Great Britain with outfits designed that closely resemble Bates creations. 

In 1965, one of his dresses with a mesh midriff was chosen as the Dress of the Year and donated to the Fashion Museum in Bath, which in 2006 held a major retrospective show of his work.

One of Bates' most influential champions was Marit Allen, the editor of British Vogue's Young Ideas. Allen considered Bates the true inventor of the miniskirt, rather than Mary Quant or André Courrèges. Bates designed a wedding ensemble for Marit Allen that is displayed in the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Allen  said of Bates, “John Bates loves short skirts, money, false eyelashes and Cilla Black. Hates English bras, big busts and any sort of foundation garment.”

Believe it or not some John Bates/Jean Varon items can be purchased online on Etsy and Ebay and other sites. Some at very reasonable prices.