Book of Deer's SS14 collection was inspired by flower name puns and took the form of a girly, fantasy interpretation of Flower Power. I listened to music from this era while designing this collection and decided to name each piece after an influential female singer/songwriter from the 1960s-70s.
The Odetta dress was named after the powerful
Odetta Holmes (December 31, 1930 – December 2, 2008) Odetta was an American singer, songwriter, musician and an important figure in human and civil rights activism. She made her name in the folk revival movement of the 1960s and her music consisted of folk, blues, jazz and spirituals. In 1961, Martin Luther King Jr. anointed her "The Queen of American folk music". One of her most memorable performances was at the 1963 March on Washington where she sang 'O Freedom'. "They were liberation songs", Odetta described her folk and spirituals. "You're walking down life's road, society's foot is on your throat, every which way you turn you cant get from under that foot. And you reach a fork in the road and you can either lie down and die, or insist upon your life." The Odetta Dress plays tribute to the power of music with a pattern of vinyl records. I think there is something so special in listening to folk and jazz music on a record player. A resonance that can be lost on digital formats.
Our Baez blouses take their names from the beautiful
Joan Baez. Joan (born January 9, 1941 as Joan Chandos Báez) was born in New York to a Mexican father and Scottish-born mother. Baez came to fame in 1960 with her brand of traditional folk ballads accompanied by her own guitar playing. She came to be at the forefront of the Roots-revival movement and mentor Bob Dylan. She is still famously remembered as Bob Dylan's girlfriend but it is her life-long participation in civil-rights and non-violence activism that is most admirable. Throughout her life and even today, Baez has been highly visible at anti-war marches and environmental and human rights rallies.
"If people have to put labels on me, I'd prefer the first label to be human being, the second label to be pacifist, and the third to be folk singer." Joan Baez
Book of Deer's cotton Baez blouses feature summery, floral prints and are incredibly comfortable. Just the sort of cool, summer attire you might wear whilst strumming a guitar singing peace songs or even just slouching at your desk writing a paper.
Marianne Faithfull is the style icon behind our best-selling
Marianne Dresses. Marianne Faithfull (born 29 December 1946) is an English singer and songwriter who started out singing folk songs in coffee houses. Marianne is possibly most famous for being Mick Jagger's girlfriend and muse throughout the 1960s. She embodied a particular 1960s spirit with her rock and roll lifestyle and bohemian doll look. Her personal style was iconic-- dolly dresses, funky prints, big hats and ruffles.
"I haven't got purity, and I don't think I ever did. I have always been, even as a child, a very decadent little person." Marianne Faithfull
The Marianne Dress is unashamedly feminine but in true Book of Deer style has humorous details. I like to think it's the type of dress to feel pretty in.
The Janis Jacket is the namesake of the legendary
Janis Joplin. Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter who shot to fame in the late 1960s with psychedelic acid-rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company, and later as a solo artist with her own backing groups. Janis was know as the "Queen of Psychedelic Soul" and had an electric stage presence to go along with a very raw, soulful voice. Though she tragically died young at the age of 27, her influence on music remains today. She bridged the gap between psychedelic rock and soul with a piercing style all her own.
"Don't compromise yourself. You are all you've got." Janis Joplin
Our Janis Jacket is a statement jacket with a bright print of lampshades and nightshade flowers. It may not be as wild and free as Janis but in the world of Book of Deer it is a jacket for wallflowers that aren't afraid to stand out in a crowd.
Having spent some time reading up on the influential ladies whose names we adopted for our collection this season, it is easy to feel a nostalgic loss for truly individual, liberal characters in the music world. Each of these strong girls had a personal style and trail-blazing lifestyle completely of their own creation. Spend an afternoon listening to their music and remind yourself to live life with a little more self-abandon and few less sartorial rules.
Odetta - Timber Jerry
Joan Baez- It Ain't Me Babe
Marianne Faithfull- What Have They Have Done to the Rain
Janis Joplin- Ball and Chain
