Every week, the Vintage Fashion Guild has a fashion parade, where trade members show off their finds suited to the week's theme. I'm part of the committee that comes up with these themes, and last week's was one of my favorites. This is what I wrote for the VFG parade, Dream Girls.Starting with Please Mr. Postman the big 1961 Motown crossover hit by The Marvelettes, girl groups ruled in the 1960s.
The Ronettes, Martha and The Vandellas, The Shirelles, The Cookies, The Velvelettes, The Shangri-Las, and of course The Supremes, brought coordinated images and harmonies to pop music.
Speaking of the The Supremes, veteran music critic Susan Whitall said of seeing the group on the Ed Sullivan Show, “they were just such beautiful girls in these beautiful gowns, singing the music that I was listening to all week on the radio.” They were among the first black musicians to appear on that influential show.
Ranging in style from elaborate evening gowns to tight leather pants, each 60s girl group had an image to uphold, always coordinating...and usually with big hair and thick eyeliner.
Martha and the Vandellas
The Ronettes
The Marvelettes
The Shangri-las
The SupremesSome of my fellow VFGers’ choices for getting the girl group look...see all the choices in the VFG forums.
60s beaded gold lamé dress from Poppy's Vintage Clothing, 60s rhinestone and bead dangling earrings from The Spectrum, 60s checkerboard beaded & sequined top from Mags Rags, 60s gold lamé cape and pants set from Viva Vintage Clothing, 60s black chiffon and sequined party dress from Poppy's Vintage Clothing, 60s ice blue sheath with dangling beads from Mags Rags.A little more inspiration, Etsy-style
And the best inspiration, the groups themselves
Read more about the real dream girls at Smithosonianmag.com
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