COLD WAR DESIGN EVENT

Event alert: Cold War design curator, Jane Pavitt, scheduled to speak on October 17th. Clear your calendars, Spy Vibers! Jane Pavitt's name rings out as the major scholar in the field of Cold War design and fashion. Her work with the V&A to examine art and design from the era, including the major exhibits and books, Cold War Modern: Design 1945-70 and Fear and Fashion in the Cold War, has been a cornerstone in my own research into how technology, world events, and culture came together to reflect and define the 1960s. She will be speaking at the National Archives in south London on October 17th from 7:30-9:00. From the press release: "In 1946, the Parisian designer Louis Reart named a two-piece swimsuit after a nuclear test site - 'Bikini'. Nearly 20 years later, fashion designers Andre Courreges and Pierre Cardin created a 'space age look' with plastic dresses, silver boots, visors and helmets, The conditions of the Cold War - from nuclear anxiety to technological optimism - infiltrated fashion and design in numerous ways in the period. This talk will explore how Cold War attitudes shaped the body, home and environment. Jane Pavitt is Professor of Design and Architectural History at Kingston University. In 2008 she co-curated the V&A exhibition 'Cold War Modern: Design 1945-70, and co-authored the book at the same time. Jane is also the author of 'Fear and Fashion in the Cold War' (V&A 2008), and has published books on art and design in the post-war world." Don't miss it! Evening events at the Archives are wonderfully organized, with insightful conversation- and access to their great bookshop! Guests can also see the current Cold War exhibit about espionage (I have sone photos to post soon). More info at The National Archives. Enjoy! 

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Python 50th, Randall Hopkirk 50th, Thunderbirds Day, Lazenby Returns to MI6, Dr. John R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio: Lupin III, Lupin Ska, Spy Vibe Prime, Zigomar Translation, The Village: Part 1, Monkey Punch R.I.P., Bubble Girl 63, ITC Soundtracks, Spy Vibe Radio: Public Eye, UFO Prime, Spaceship to Mars, Modesty Blaise Companion, Spy Vibe Radio: Fantomas, George Day, Fantomas Blu, Dark Shadows Doc, Bedazzled Blu-ray, Mary Quant Exhibit, Laika Calypso, Lost in Space Japan, Spy Dust Calypso, Atomic Cafe, John Barry Mono, Interview: John Barry Book, Land of the Giants Score, Skyfall Concert, Dearest Emma, Spy Vibe Radio: Upperseven, Ogilvy at Elstree, Mabuse Propaganda, Bond Beatles Day, Spy Vibe Radio: Liquidator, Diabolik LP, Fab Dresses, Eurospy Music Collection, Beetle Bailey in West Berlin, Why Mort Walker?, Spy Vibe radio: The Beatles Help!, Avengers Critical Guide, The Spotnicks, Benny Spies, James Pond 0017', Satire Stones, Annette Andre Book, Cat Day, Spy Vibe Radio: Get Smart, Caine: My Generation, Interview: Ian Ogilvy, Horror of Party Beach, Sylvie Vartan Renown, Ringo At 78, Dark Shadows Strips, Spy Vibe Radio: Flint, Archie Batman 66, Paul at 76, Beatles Pac-Man, Spy Vibe Radio: Jerry Cotton, The Invaders, 007 Horowitz Book Tour, McGoohan/Prisoner Event at Elstree, The Prisoner Interviews Vol 1, British Underground Press, Interview: Fab4 Mania, Bond Cocktail Book, Bond at Bletchley, Spy Smasher, Spy Vibe Radio: Peter Gunn, Agent Zero M, New Prisoner Comic, Dr. No Villains Edition,  Spy Vibe Radio: Danger Diabolik, Dr. No 60th, Oy-Oy-Seven, Spy Vibe Radio (UFO), Cold War Comic Strips, Thunderball Event, Mission to India, Mort Walker Celebration,  Peter Wyngarde Celebration, Batman 66 Exhibit, Prisoner Fifty Event, Ian Fleming Publications 2017-2018, Interview: Ed Hulse Pulp, Avengers Audio Drama, Interview: Callan At 50, Interview: Playboys, Spies, Private Eyes, TWA Returns, Spy Vibe Radio 8, Interview: Ryan Heshka, Mid-Century Modern Schulz, Agent Werewolf, Johnny Sokko 50th, Interview: Trina Robbins, Eddie Izzard, The Prisoner Capt Scarlet 50th, Hugh Hefner R.I.P., Jack Good R.I.P., Interview: Shaken Not Stirred, Callan 50th, Spy Vibe Radio 7, The Prisoner 50th Event, Spy-Fi Event, Kaho Aso 007, Two Million, Bo Diddley, Carnaby Pop, Le Carre Events, Billy Bragg Skiffle, Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview: Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.

COLD WAR MODERN

When I started Spy Vibe in January 2009 to focus on the impact of the Cold War, Space Race, and Youth Movement on the Arts, little did I know I was catching a cultural wave. The V&A in London was running an exhibit at the same time called Cold War Modern Design 1945-1970. It was hailed as the first major exhibition to explore developments in modern art, design, architecture, and film in the context of the Cold War. The pieces included treasures like a Sputnik satellite and original Ken Adam drawings from Dr. Strangelove, Goldfinger, and The Ipcress File. It closed the same week Spy Vibe began, but I'm still finding cool artifacts that (almost) make up for missing the show. The brochure below featured the famous 1965 John French photo of "Space Hat" by Edward Mann. Spy Vibers can learn more by visiting the V&A Cold War page here and checking out the exhibition book by David Crowley and (my hero) Jane Pavitt on Amazon here. Related posts: Edward Mann Fashion, Mods to Moongirls, Cold War Photography, Cold War Comics, Cold War Spies, Fear and Fashion, Dressed For Space, Neil Armstrong, Out of This World, Atomic Art, Trina Robbins Interview, Space Camp UFO, Jason Wu Fashion, 1968 Exhibit, London Playboy Bunny Interview. Enjoy!

Selected Spy Vibe posts: Cynthia Lennon R.I.P., Edward Mann Fashion, Leonard Nimoy Tribute, Shatner at 84, Bob Morane series, New Saint Publications, The Saint Complete box set, Gerry Anderson Box Sets, Music For Spies, Thai Bond Design, Brian Clemens RIP, Bond vs Modernism, Imitation Game, New Avengers Books, Ringo Does Goldfinger, Sixties Beat Wear, Popular Skullture, Art of Modesty, Avengers Blu-ray update, Tokyo Beat 1964, Polaroid Spy, Feraud Mod Fashion, Flint Scores!, Bond Danish, New Richard Sala Book, New 007 Comics, Designing Bond Books, Green Hornet Manga, Margaret Nolan Art, No 6 Festival, Barbarella Returns, Designer: Gene Winfield, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Rare Avengers Scripts, Man From Uncle UK Comics, Thunderbirds Comics, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Avengers Book: Bowler Hats & Kinky Boots, George Lois Design & Mad Men, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The Saint books return, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.

FASHIONS FOR MOSCOW

British Pathe covered this fashion "Mission to Moscow" in 1967. According to the report, raincoats and other items from the Swinging London era were in high demand behind the Iron Curtain. Apparently the Russians bought over five-million pounds worth of clothing in 1966! I hadn't realized that Soviet shoppers could import foreign goods so easily. What they couldn't afford, of course, inspired young Comrades to develop their own fashion industry based on popular Space-Age and Mod designs from the west. This short clip is a fun time capsule for you dedicated followers of fashion. Enjoy! Related Spy Vibe posts: Jason Wu Design, Sylvia Anderson, Fear and Fashion, Romanian Fashion 1966, Jean Varon/John Bates Avengers Designer, Catsuits, Mods to Moongirls, Peeling Off the Trench Coats.

Recent Spy Vibe posts: George Lois Design & Mad Men, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, The Spotnicks, Gerry Anderson Models, Model Spy Gear, Model Secret Agents, Remo Williams Blu-ray, Bunny Yeager and Ursula Andress, Danger Mouse, Lost Avengers Episodes, Big Fun Toys, Danger Diabolik Soundtrack, Bruno Nicolai CD, Mother's Day (Avengers), Mod Fashion Dolls, Cold War Archie, New Avengers Comic, Ipcress File Blu-ray, Honor Blackman Tour, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, UNCLE Gun, The Saint books return, Spy exhibit at the Pacific Science Center, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.

MOD WEEKEND

Happy weekend, Spy Vibers! Don the mini leather jacket and gloves (well, faux leather these days, yes?) and goggle-style shades and find yourselves an adventure. Your outfit will look best in a modern sculpture park, freakbeat disco, or space-age lounge. Tell 'em Spy Vibe sent you. Photo intercepted by my pal Agent J at Jhalal Drut. Popular fashion posts on Spy Vibe: Mods to Moongirls, Nehru Jackets, Fear and Fashion, Ian Fleming fashion, Mad For Mondrian, Dressed For Space, Peeling Off the Trench Coats with The Avengers.

Recent Spy Vibe posts: Steranko S.H.I.E.L.D. Artist Editions, David Tennant's Ian Fleming audio books, The Prisoner & Captain Scarlet, HMV returns to Oxford st w Beatles promo, Diego Fortunato & Verner Panton,  Saturday Morning Cartoons, Assassination Bureau on DVD, new Young Bond series,  Peter Asher, Gerry Marsden tour, Elio Petri on Blu-ray, Sophia Loren, new Beatles BBC album, new Hercule Poirot novel, Beatles fall 2013 releases, A Hard Days Night cinematographer dies, Magic Christian on Blu-ray, Early Beatles image archive, Julie Newmar, Erno Goldfinger, Hitchcock tribute.

Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: Erno Goldfinger, Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, Jon Gilbert interview, Double 007 Designs, Bond audio book reissues, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, rare View to a Kill, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address.

OUT OF THIS WORLD

Spy Vibe has covered the space-age fashion of the 1960s extensively in its first three years. It's a topic dear to my heart, and evidentially to our readers, as well. Our post, Mods to Moongirls, has been visited over 35,000 times. Designers like Cardin, Rabanne, and Courreges are local heroes. As Victoria & Albert curator, Jane Pavitt, has discussed in her writing, much of the inspiration for the moon-look came from the styles developed by NASA, and spoke of modernism and the growing cultural anxieties over radiation. The fashion designers were early adopters of cutting-edge materials from the science sector, and masses of slender baby boomers cut the modern look in their new synthetics. Looking back at some of the images by Richard Avedon, we can also find examples of true NASA style being adopted by the mavens of high fashion and pop culture. Here are just a few examples from Avedon that include Jean Shrimpton and Paul McCartney. 

The reflective surface of the Gemini suits had both an athletic and fetish quality that reminds me of this quote by artist, Andy Warhol: “It was a perfect time to think silver. Silver was the future. It was spacey. Astronauts wore silver suits. And their equipment was silver, too. And silver was also the past. The Silver Screen. Hollywood actresses photographed in silver sets. And maybe more than anything else, silver was narcissism. Mirrors were backed with silver.” –Andy Warhol

Over ten years after the Gemini silver suit, designers kept its retro chic look alive for James Bond's mission in space in Moonraker. James Coburn as Derek Flint images below from Hello Spaceman here (check it out for some fun Doctor Who images with the Cybermen!).

NEIL ARMSTRONG: ONE LAST STEP

Spy Vibe is dedicated to a time when new technology, space-age vision, and a young generation with playful flair, independence (and pocket money), combined to ignite a revolution in the Arts. Although the space program, for some, became a symbol of the nationalistic and militaristic culture of the older generation- and an extension of the Cold War, I believe that there was a forward-reaching spirit of science and exploration at its heart. One of the fearless pioneers in that program, Neil Armstrong, has passed away at the age of 82. The first human being to set foot on the moon on July 20th, 1969, Armstrong was never at ease being in the public eye and chose to lead a private life. You can read his obituary in the Washington Post.

The development of space suits had a large impact on fashion in the 1960s. New synthetic fabrics designed to withstand the cosmos found their way into the hands of young artists and designers, who molded it into space-age dresses, boots, hats, and eyewear. The fashion, as embraced by youth, symbolized a futuristic attitude, and according to Jane Pavitt (Royal College of Art/V&A Museum), it also reflected the deeper anxieties that people had about the dangers of new technology and radioactive fallout.

Neil Armstrong's suit is in the collection of the Smithsonian. Manufactured by ILC Industries, it was made from beta cloth, rubber, nylon, plastic, aluminum, brass, and neoprene. From the Smithsonian: "The lunar spacesuits were designed to provide a life sustaining environment for the astronaut during periods of extra vehicular activity or during unpressurized spacecraft operation. They permitted maximum mobility and were designed to be worn with relative comfort for up to 115 hours in conjunction with the liquid cooling garment. If necessary, they were also capable of being worn for 14 days in an unpressurized mode. 

The spacesuit has the designation A-7L, and was constructed in the Extra-vehicular or EV configuration.

 NASA transferred the spacesuit to the National Air and Space Museum in 1971." I have not read any of the Armstrong biographies, but I wonder if such a private man might have found comfort in the singularity of one's task and in the isolation of the cockpit- or encased in the mobile environment below. Rest in peace. For more on space fashion, check out the many books in Spy Vibe's secure Amazon store.