That’s Not My Age

A special mention this week for the lovely Dominic Lutyens, 48, who together with co-author Kirsty Hislop has just published a book on 70s style and design. Lutyens is a brilliant arts journalist who writes regularly for Elle Decoration, Vogue, The Observer, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph. The equally lovely Hislop, is a writer and stylist who has worked for Elle and The Observer.

The pair met at a party in the late 80s and bonded over a love for 70s disco, ‘Then it was round to Dominic’s to listen to Cerrone and Giorgio Moroder,’ says Hislop, ‘While poring over his mum’s vast collection of 70s fashion magazines.’ Twenty years later, this proves to be time well spent – previously unreleased photos and information on some of the era’s more obscure designers sits alongside all the big names, “We wanted to explore the lesser know and in some cases forgotten designers of the decade,’ adds Lutyens, ‘ without neglecting such perenially fascinating episodes of 70s history, such as Biba and punk.’

Focusing on 70s cool, not synthetic fabrics, flares and the usual tat, this inspirational book covers fashion, design, architecture, interiors and art. Divided into four themes: the pop movement and the rise of postmodernism; the Edwardian, 20s and 30s revivals; the back to nature movement and finally the decade’s avant-garde movers and shakers, we get to read about Alan Aldridge, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Daniel Hechter, Jean Paul-Goude, Mr Freedom and Mrs Howie. As well as old favourites; Barbara Hulanicki, Laura Ashley, Ossie Clark, Celia Birtwell, Yves Saint Laurent and Vivienne Westwood.

So you can forget Jon Savage’s ‘The decade that taste forgot,’ line (The Face, February 1988). As Lutyens points out, ‘A lot of looks that were born in the 70s, such as the Debbie Harry/Fiorucci look became associated with the 80s instead, because the mainstream was slow to catch up.’ And anyway, the only quote that matters now is from Thames and Hudson’s press release, ‘Seventies Style and Design is a must for nostalgic 40 to 60-somethings or younger people seeking style inspiration.’ That sentence alone is enough to get me filling my electronic shopping trolley.