It is 1967 and the first time I set foot in England. Already I had crossed half the globe with only a backpack, from Holland to Japan over land, crossing Europe, Turkey, Afghanistan, Persia (Iran), Pakistan, India, Nepal, East Pakistan, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, this was in the very early sixties when I just had finished my studies and the round trip took more than 2 years. To Paris I had been already a lot of times, had been in Spain and Scandinavia but London was new for me and THE place to be in 1967 because it was in London the Fashion scene was happening and Fashion is my Passion.
Pic. 1. That is how I arrived at the agency, all in red, red velvet coat, red hat and red YSL platform sandals( check this: I had my name embroidered on my pocket and I remember doing that to all my dresses at that time, isn’t that funny?) The other 2 are from different articles but that black dress was of the most gorgeous vintage silk with velvet patterns.
I wanted to model and I came prepared with a book that I had made up of pictures I directed myself, printed myself and in which I was wearing all my own designs, it was a hit. The doors flew open, landed straight away in Vogue where in the dressing room I met Jean Shrimpton ( one of my idols) worked with David Bailey, Norman Parkinson and Helmut Newton and on top of that they were going to make a display doll of me!
London was wonderful, you could feel an excitement in the air, things were happening. Kings road, Chelsea market, Granny takes a trip…… In the meantime I was booked solid and on one of the trips with Helmut Newton to Morocco for the Sunday Times and some publicity’s, which all together took almost 3 weeks, I met Salvador, my husband on a shoot where Helmut asked him to be in the pictures…
I stayed in Morocco while the whole crew went back to London. My agency calling desperately because I was booked and nobody understood how I could simply leave while my fame in London had taken off and every photographer was eager to work with me? Well, for me it was much more important to live to the fullest my love and the beauties of life and Morocco was so magical at that time. At a point I had to go for a few days because Vogue was going to do a spread about my display dolls with Helmut Newton and it was planned to come out when my dolls were to be unveiled. Helmut said if I did not come he would break all the dolls and photograph them like that with the heads cut, funny.
After my return to Morocco we stayed an other 2 months until my dummy was to be launched. It was great to come to London with Salvador and everything was so well arranged, I was in the clouds.
From there we were invited to Hamburg ( Germany) for an interview for Stern magazine with Florentine Bapst as the reporter and Bockelberg the photographer:
We stayed a few days and went back to Morocco.
My Display Dolls were a big success and I signed a contract whereby for every doll sold I would get 1 E. Pound ( about $10 at the time) and this would automatically go to my account which I had specially opened in the Barclay Bank for that matter and for which in exchange they gave me a lovely looking little bank book…….
will continue……
I just remembered I still have a picture postcard you sent me at that time from Japan (I lived in Ireland at the time). What a lovely memory and keepsake, XX and hugs, Stan
Love it! I mean truly do! engaging we want more! I love that you went to agencies with all of your own pictures and wearing your own designs…you were and still are fierce! more more more…
xoxoxox
hi there, superb weblog, and a good understand! 1 for my bookmarks.
Willy the more I read the more I’m fascinated! I so wish I’d been around in your era. But at least I did do a couple of stories with Florentine Pabst:)
Keep writing, and keep creating beautiful things!
Only now read your nice message, I somehow got there looking up Florentine Bapst. She was and is such a wonderful person, always remember her. Love and Peace Marielle.