Iconography

The world was a torn planet in the 1960’s – from the Cold War and the Berlin Wall to race riots and anti-war demonstrations – people awoke to a different reality than that of the so-called placid 1950’s. These days heard strong voices in “I Have A Dream” by Martin Luther King and “The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan which clamored for justice and emancipation, and saw the rise of Flower Children and civil rights legislation. Turbulent and impacting, the decade gave form to new ways of thinking and led to a redefinition of core values and to the inevitable clashes that result when society continues its evolution.

In fashion there was turmoil and transformation too as designers explored with space-age materials and Pop Art. The era gave birth to two icons on fashion design: Yves Saint Laurent's  Mondrian dress and Paco Rabanne's Metal Mini Dress. Fast forward to the summer of 2012. Integrity Toy's über popular Poppy Parker and Darla Daley visit Dolldom to pay tribute to these two giants that still continue to fascinate and inspire the well-dressed doll.

Paco Rabanne - The Metal Worker

Paco Rabanne's 1967 mini dress made of aluminum plates challenged the notions of what could touch a woman's skin. By minimizing coverage of the body and emphasizing the hard and protective qualities of the material, the dress realizes the dream of robotic beauty.

 

Darla Daley "Color My World" models Monsieur Z's "Flaunt It" mini dress, Courrèges-inspired white boots, and silver jewelry from "The Happening" fashion set all produced by Integrity. 

In the 1967 film Two for the Road, eternal fashion muse Audrey Hepburn wears a spectacular Rabanne mini in silver metal sequins.

Italian designer Francesca Pigliapoco reinterprets the classic in gold chain mail. Darla loves the fit and and the feel on her skin on a warm summer evening. 

Poppy Parker "The Happening" wears a silver sequined mini that evokes the essence of the Italian designer's original. Dress and hose produced by Integrity.

Ives Saint Laurent - The Master of Color

Ives Saint Laurent's 1965 dress initiated the Pop Art movement in couture. Seeing the simplicity of the dress as the perfect canvas onto which to project the abstract graphic impact achieved by Piet Mondrian's "Broadway Boogie Woogie", the Algerian born designer redefined the concept of wearable art.

Poppy Parker "The Happening" models Darla Daley's "Color My World" ensemble produced by Integrity.  Chair by Maryann Roy.

 

 Model and actress Veronica Hamel wears the 1965 classic in this vintage photo.

 

 Three models and a abstract canvas. Art imitates art.