We've been blessed to pick up some wonderful 1960s pieces from the Lord John Carnaby Street boutique over the past year. Then, a few weeks back, we came across the documentary 'Carnaby Street Undressed' on the 'Yesterday' satellite / cable TV channel.
The story is told by the proprietors of the independent boutique shops that defined Carnaby Street at its peak: Henry Moss (Lady Jane), Robert Orbach (I was Lord Kitchener’s Valet), Tom Salter (Gear) and Warren Gold (Lord John) along with contributions from some of the musicians who were focal to the scene at the time, including The Who lead singer Roger Daltrey, Donovan, Frank Allen from the Searchers, Gary Leeds from The Walker Brothers, and Peter Noone from Herman’s Hermits.
Carnaby Street was a 'kick back' against the austerity of the post war years; the first time music was played in a shop, the first time men and women's clothes were sold in the same shop, the first time there was fashion for children, the first time the national flag was used as a fashion item, and the first time clothes had colour - lots of bright colours. And, the first time that teenagers had money to spend! A nostalgic and upbeat social history film. Not sure if it's still playing on 'Yesterday' but worth catching if you can.
