Maybe your recent holiday travel didn't include swooping, minimal spaces by Saarinen, and I bet those ever-narrowing seats on the plane didn't quite match up to these sleek visions. Much like set design in the 1960s, which brought our spy heroes out of the cramped offices of the Deco period, the new era also promised innovations to launch air travel into the stylish future. Inspired by a pal on FB today, I took a closer look at a number of photographs circa 60s-70s and I was astounded by what I found. The images reveal a Hefner-esque celebration of individual comfort and pleasure worthy of vintage Playboy subscribers. The designs guaranteed each guest would ride in luxury like Derek Flint or Matt Helm on a mission. Hopefully they kept the passenger lists small to maximize all that extra space. Now, that was the way to travel! I'm not a drinker, but even I can admire the idea of inflight cocktail lounges... not to mention piano bars. I wonder if Tony Bennett is available for my next flight to London? Enjoy!
Selected Spy Vibe Posts: 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, Trina Robbins Interview, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review, David McCallum novel, Andre Courreges R.I.P., Who's Talking on Spy Vibe, UFO Blu-ray, Avengers Pop Art Interview, Fergus Fleming Interview, Avengers: Alan Hayes Interview, Jaz Wiseman Interview, Diana Rigg BFI Interview, Casino Royale Interview: Mike Richardson, Lost Diana Rigg Interview, Honor Blackman at 90, UNCLE School.
Fashion Friday: Jason Wu got his start creating outfits and accessories for high-end fashion dolls for Integrity Toys. The company specializes in major doll brands, where new collections are brought out amidst the kind of fanfare we normally expect from life-size creations for the catwalk. Wu's limited Monsieur Z stewardess collection from 2005 paid homage to mid-1960s styles, including sleeveless minidresses, gloves, and white boots. His Flaunt It doll brought back the famous Paco Rabanne metal mini-dress from 1967 (Rabanne image below from the Metropolitan Museum of Art). Where he may have borrowed heavily for his mini-creations, Wu is well-respected in the industry and has been named favorite designer of the First Lady.
Wu's Twiggy-inspired Poppy Parker line from 2012 included the famous black and white striped outfit designed for Mrs. Peel (The Avengers) by John Bates in 1965. Wu's attention to detail captured Bates' original concept, which featured white jacket (with black stripes) over black mini-dress (with white stripes)- a perfect design born from the Mod and Op Art aesthetics of the mid-1960s. Jason Wu doll portfolio images here. Additional images at Fashion Doll Chronicles here.
Recent Ian Fleming posts on Spy Vibe: new Fleming books, SE Asian 007, Cumberbatch as Ian Fleming, Fleming Jamaica Book, Bond Japanese Editions, Fleming Chinese Edition, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50th, Ian Fleming: Mt. Demon Hell Japan, Collecting Fleming, Live and Let Die 60th, new poster announced, 007 Audio Books Update, Appropriating Bond Exhibit, Fleming Letters Mystery, The Goldfinger Variations, Double 007 Book Designs, Double 007 designs II, rare Ian Fleming edition, Book Design Dopplegangers, Turkish Bond design, Ian Fleming Letters, Erno Goldfinger, 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, Spy Vibe's Ian Fleming image archive.
Recent Spy Vibe posts: Wild Wild West Blu-ray, 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, DC Fontana Prisoner Video, Edward Gorey's 1960s, Ipcress File cinematography, 007 SOLO cover designs, Gloria Steinem and Denny O'Neil on MOD Wonder Woman, Win Scott Eckert interview, Siegel and Shuster's SPY, David McCallum: Son of Batman, Wonderwall comes to Blu-ray, Kevin Dart talks Ringo & Powerpuff Girls, Fu Manchu history panel, Mod Tales Interview, Atomic Art, Shane Glines Batman.
