Vintage Fashion Guild
  • Home
  • Membership
  • Member Directory
  • Support the VFG
  • About
  • Contact
Vintage Fashion Guild
  • Resources
    • Label Resource
      • A to Z Listing
      • Introduction & Terms of Use
      • Bibliography
    • Fabric Resource
      • A to Z Listing
      • Determining Fiber
      • Manufactured Fibers Timeline
      • Fabric "Looks Like"
      • Fabric by Fiber
      • Fabric by Use
      • Guide & Terms of Use
      • Bibliography & Acknowledgements
    • Fashion Timeline
    • Fur Resource
      • Introduction & Terms of Use
    • Lingerie Guide
    • Hat Resource
    • Wedding Resource
  • Articles
    • VFG Member Books
    • Book Reviews
    • Care and Cleaning
    • Buying & Selling
      • Quick Tips for Dating Vintage
      • How to Buy Vintage Clothing
      • Clothing Measurement Charts
      • Clothing Condition Chart
    • Featured Designers
    • Garment & Item Specifics
    • Innovation & Techniques
    • Regional Style & Stores
    • Trends & Genres
  • DONATE
  • Forum
  • About
    • About Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
    • Support Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
  • Join
    • Why Join?
    • VFG Code of Practice
    • Apply for Membership
    • VFG Member Directory
  • Blog
  • Home
  • Label Resource
  • Annacat

Annacat

Jul 5, 2010 | by admin | Label Resource | Labels

Annacat was the Biba of The Brompton Road, being formed in 1965 by friends Janet Lyle and Maggie Keswick. Although little is known about the origins of the boutique, it is easy to show the sense of fun and youthful enthusiasm which encapsulates the Boutique Movement through the designs of Annacat. They were highly favoured by British Vogue (something which Biba and Mary Quant struggled with throughout the 1960s, despite their fame and obvious charms), and the two female designers would appear to have been very ‘in’ with the London scene at the time – which might explain their favoured status. There is a real sense of fun and decadence about their pieces, regularly trimmed in ostrich feathers, printed in feminine, swirling psychedelics and with historically influenced, sexy shapes.

The shop also stocked concessions by other designers (such as Patrick Lichfield), amongst the Lyle and Keswick pieces. Apparently, the boutique was the first London outlet for Laura Ashley in the late 1960s – before her own shop opened on the Fulham Road. In 1968, a New York Annacat was opened on Madison Avenue.

Annacat was sold wholesale in 1970, as presumably there weren’t enough customers clamouring for sequin trimmed dungarees(!), and failed to continue with the critical success of the early years with a different designer at the helm. From being a seemingly permanent fixture in Vogue throughout the late 1960s, I haven’t seen anything of them in my 1970s editions. Perhaps proving that the main reason they were so successful in the first place had been the personality of the two young party girls who started it!

Written by emmapeelpants


from a late 1960s mini-dress - Courtesy of emmapeelpants
from a late 1960s mini-dress
Courtesy of emmapeelpants
from a late 1960s maxi-dress - Courtesy of emmapeelpants
from a late 1960s maxi-dress
Courtesy of emmapeelpants
1968 Advertisement - Courtesy of emmapeelpants
1968 Advertisement
Courtesy of emmapeelpants
← previous next →

Question or Comment? Enter it below.

Donate & shop (paid links)

  • Donate button
  • Shop VFG Members Etsy button
  • Shop VFG Members eBay button
  • Amazon shop button
  • Zazzle shop button

VFG Resources

  • Label button
  • Fabric button
  • Lingerie button
  • Fur button
  • Timeline button
  • Hat button
  • Wedding button
  • Care & cleaning button
  • Tips & tricks button

Follow us

Membership

Shop VFG
Why Join
Code of Practice
Apply for Membership

Shop Member Stores

VFG Member Directory
VFG Amazon Shop
VFG Member Books
VFG Book Reviews
VFG on Etsy
VFG on eBay
VFG on Ruby Lane

Resources

The Time Line
Label Resource
Fabric Resource
Lingerie Resource
Fur & Exotics Resource
Hat Resource

Shortcuts

Vintage Inspiration
The VFG Blog
Ways to Say Thank You
About
Contact
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use

This website and its content including text and images is © copyright Vintage Fashion Guild™ 2021 - All rights reserved
design © 2021 lucid crew
DMCA.com Protection Status