The appearance of this extraordinary flamenco-style creation at auction a couple of months back prompted an inquiry by THE LOOK into the designer, the “late, great” Dinah Adams, in the words of Gene Krell, one-time Granny Takes A Trip, Worlds End and Nostalgia Of Mud mainman and now creative director of Conde Nast Asia Pacific.
between £400-£600 at Kerry Taylor Auctions’ website, the dress is “a rare Granny Takes a Trip satin flamenco-inspired outfit, late 1960s, labelled, with tiered multi-coloured sleeves, satin buttons, the skirt piped in shocking pink“.
Among Adams’ other fans are John & Molly Dove, who first encountered her when they took designs along in 1971 to Trevor Myles at his shop Paradise Garage at 430 Kings Road, where Adams was working at the time.
“That dress is such a knockout piece!” says John Dove. “Dinah has been sorely overlooked, so I’d feel gratified to help resurrect her contribution to the 70s somehow.
When Malcolm McLaren, Patrick Casey and Vivienne Westwood took over the premises in October 1971, Adams and the Doves - who utilised the space as a design studio - upped sticks to work out of Granny Takes A Trip, less than a hundred yards down the road at 488 Kings Road. The Doves expanded their label Wonder Workshop while Adams worked closely with Gene Krell, who ran Granny’s at that time with his partner Marty Breslau. Krell is unequivocal about Adams’ talent: “Dinah was a gifted personality. It’s fucked up, brother, totally fucked up that today all this no talent shit is making millions while she was a brilliant innovator who never got her due.”
Adams encountered problems in her personal life and died tragically young. But her designs will certainly be remembered.
Thank you The look
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