Biba: High fashion for every girl

Biba fashion was about modern and stylish yet affordable clothes intended for average girls in London. Any average girl could buy and share the same look of media celebrities and socialites without burning a hole in her pocket.

“With Cathy McGowan endorsing our clothes by wearing them nearly every week on TV, there was a sort of underground grapevine which was growing daily. As soon as there was a new style the tom-toms would beat out a message throughout the clubs and offices and the shop would be full again. Every girl could buy a new dress for her evening date.”

Quoted from: From A to Biba, The Autobiography of Barbara Hulanicki

I really like how Barbara Hulanicki “wanted everything Biba sold to be beautiful” and at the same time kept in her mind real people like you and me.

Honestly, it was rather recent that I got interested in the Biba fashion and started reading up her story. I was intrigued by many of the old photos on Biba Barbara Hulanicki’s website and in her book and loved many of her styles. So for this post, I put together an outfit inspired by this pinafore dress (left) I saw on an old photo (below) from Biba’s fourth catalogue.

(Vintage Biba photos from Barbara Hulanicki)

I chose the old streets outside my house as the backdrop. They reminded me of the 60s and 70s London city. To complete the look, I stuck on a DIY pussy bow and gave myself a Biba girl inspired makeup – bright face and round huge dolly eyes. Look out for my Biba makeup and pussy bow DIY posts which are coming up next week!

Shirt & dress from H&M
Pussy bow DIY
Wedge boots from Åhlens

I would love to have vintage Biba clothes to share for my outfit post here, but much to my dismay, many are sold at exorbitant prices at eBay and other online shops now. I hope I pulled off the outfit challenge for our October Idol theme!


Have an awesome weekend!

Ft