Lamborghini
Trouser Suit
early 1969 (made)
early 1969 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A fashionable young woman wore this suit as a wedding outfit in the spring of 1969. The designer Ossie Clark used shiny cotton satin for the sharply tailored ensemble. Its form-fitting silhouette and diagonally placed pockets accent the waist and hips. Ossie Clark was one of Britain's most influential fashion designers of the 1960s and 1970s. He was among the first to produce trouser suits for women. This particular suit was called 'Lamborghini' after the luxury car. The trousers are made from a Celia Birtwell print called 'Chinoisery'.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Cotton satin, trousers printed |
| Brief description | Woman's trouser suit ensemble entitled 'Lamborghini', jacket and trousers, cotton satin, designed by Ossie Clark, textile for the trousers by Celia Birtwell and entitled 'Chinoisery', Great Britain, 1969 |
| Physical description | Cotton satin jacket and trouser suit. Jacket between cream and pale pink. Trousers printed with a design in cream and black entitled 'Chinoisery'. |
| Production type | Ready to wear |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label | 'Lamborghini' trouser suit
Ossie Clark (1942-96) and Celia Birtwell (b.1941)
London
1969
Some brides rejected traditional bridal wear in favour of off-the-peg garments by cutting-edge designers. Wearing a trouser suit for a wedding was daring even in the 1960s, but Birtwell's 'chinoisery' print added a feminine touch to Ossie Clark's trouser suit. The suit was featured in The Sunday Times and became one of Clark's most popular designs.
Cotton satin
Given and worn by Hilary Milne
V&A: T.472:1, 2-1997(2011) |
| Credit line | Given by Hilary Anne Milne |
| Object history | This streamlined, iconic trouser suit is a key Ossie Clark design. While he was best known for his flowing chiffon and crepe gowns, Ossie Clark was also a skilled tailor. This suit, christened 'Lamborghini', was one of his most successful designs, being worn by a number of models, It Girls, and faithful clients. Twiggy was photographed wearing hers. It was also modified for ready-to-wear as part of the first "Ossie Clark For Radley" collection the following year. Hilary Milne bought the outfit from 'Fifth Avenue', which was a shop on Oxford Street, to wear at her wedding. Milne is 5 foot 1 inch tall. While the cream satin jacket and black-ground "Chinoisery" print trousers (designed by Celia Birtwell) are the most famous incarnation of the Lamborghini, other, rarer variations appear with printed satin jackets and plain trousers, or both pieces being printed satin. - Daniel Milford-Cottam Historical significance: The 'Lamborghini' is the best-known example of Ossie Clark's tailoring. This jacket and trousers with a chinoiserie style print (print designed by Celia Birtwell), created in 1969, were worn by a number of Ossie's fans and loyal clients. Twiggy was photographed wearing hers. |
| Summary | A fashionable young woman wore this suit as a wedding outfit in the spring of 1969. The designer Ossie Clark used shiny cotton satin for the sharply tailored ensemble. Its form-fitting silhouette and diagonally placed pockets accent the waist and hips. Ossie Clark was one of Britain's most influential fashion designers of the 1960s and 1970s. He was among the first to produce trouser suits for women. This particular suit was called 'Lamborghini' after the luxury car. The trousers are made from a Celia Birtwell print called 'Chinoisery'. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.472:1, 2-1997 |
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| Record created | December 2, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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