John Bates (designer)
Encyclopedia
John Bates was a fashion designer who was part of the boutique
scene that blossomed in London
in the 1960s.
Bates' work as Jean Varon in the 1960s was particularly modernistic. He designed dresses with bare midriffs, sheer panels, and very short hemlines, and as early as 1962 was designing high-fashion plastic garments. In 1965, one of his dresses with a mesh midriff was chosen as the Dress of the Year
and donated to the Fashion Museum in Bath, which in 2006 held a major retrospective show of his work.
One of Bates' most influential champions was Marit Allen
, the editor of British Vogue's Young Ideas spread, who considered Bates the true inventor of the miniskirt
, rather than Mary Quant
or André Courrèges
. Ernestine Carter
also observed Bates' originality, noting that the Paris fashion collections for 1967 contained many looks which Bates had done first.
In 1965 Bates designed memorable outfits for Diana Rigg
to wear for her role as Emma Peel
in The Avengers
, including Op-Art mini-coats and accessories in graphic black and white, and a silver vinyl ensemble comprising a bra bodice, low-slung trousers, and a jacket. In the same vein he designed a modernistic space-age wedding outfit for Marit Allen in 1966 consisting of a white gabardine
mini-coat and matching dress with silver PVC collar and lapels.
Since 2002, Bates has lived in Wales with his partner, John Siddons.
Boutique
A boutique is a small shopping outlet, especially one that specializes in elite and fashionable items such as clothing and jewelry. The word is French for "shop", via Latin from Greek ἀποθήκη , "storehouse"....
scene that blossomed in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the 1960s.
Life
Bates apprenticed under Gerard Pipart at Herbert Sidon. From 1959 he began designing under the name Jean Varon.Bates' work as Jean Varon in the 1960s was particularly modernistic. He designed dresses with bare midriffs, sheer panels, and very short hemlines, and as early as 1962 was designing high-fashion plastic garments. In 1965, one of his dresses with a mesh midriff was chosen as the Dress of the Year
Dress of The Year
The Dress of the Year is an annual fashion award run by the Fashion Museum, Bath from 1963. Each year since 1963, the Museum has asked a fashion journalist to select a dress or outfit that best represents the most important new ideas in contemporary fashion. For 2010 the Museum broke with tradition...
and donated to the Fashion Museum in Bath, which in 2006 held a major retrospective show of his work.
One of Bates' most influential champions was Marit Allen
Marit Allen
Marit Allen was an English fashion journalist and costume designer who specialized in costumes for films. She designed the costumes for several successful Hollywood films, including Mrs. Doubtfire, The Witches, Eyes Wide Shut, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Brokeback Mountain and La Vie en Rose...
, the editor of British Vogue's Young Ideas spread, who considered Bates the true inventor of the miniskirt
Miniskirt
A miniskirt, sometimes hyphenated as mini-skirt, is a skirt with a hemline well above the knees – generally no longer than below the buttocks; and a minidress is a dress with a similar meaning...
, rather than Mary Quant
Mary Quant
Mary Quant OBE FCSD is a British] fashion designer and British fashion icon, who was instrumental in the mod fashion movement. She was one of the designers who took credit for inventing the miniskirt and hot pants. Born in Blackheath, London, to Welsh parents, Quant brought fun and fantasy to...
or André Courrèges
André Courrèges
André Courrèges is a French fashion designer, known for his ultra-modern designs. At the age of 25, after studying to be a civil engineer, he went to Paris to work at Geanne Lafaurie fashion design house...
. Ernestine Carter
Ernestine Carter
Ernestine Carter OBE was a museum curator, journalist, and writer on fashion.-Early history:Ernestine Marie Fantl was born on 10 October 1906 in Savannah, Georgia, where she was brought up. She studied modern and contemporary art and design at Wellesley College, Massachusetts, from which she...
also observed Bates' originality, noting that the Paris fashion collections for 1967 contained many looks which Bates had done first.
In 1965 Bates designed memorable outfits for Diana Rigg
Diana Rigg
Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg, DBE is an English actress. She is probably best known for her portrayals of Emma Peel in The Avengers and Countess Teresa di Vicenzo in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service....
to wear for her role as Emma Peel
Emma Peel
Emma Peel was a fictional spy played by Diana Rigg in the British 1960s adventure television series The Avengers. She was born Emma Knight, the daughter of an industrialist, Sir John Knight.-Casting:...
in The Avengers
The Avengers (TV series)
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series set in the 1960s Britain. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed . Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants...
, including Op-Art mini-coats and accessories in graphic black and white, and a silver vinyl ensemble comprising a bra bodice, low-slung trousers, and a jacket. In the same vein he designed a modernistic space-age wedding outfit for Marit Allen in 1966 consisting of a white gabardine
Gabardine
Gabardine is a tough, tightly woven fabric used to make suits, overcoats, trousers, uniforms, windbreakers, and other garments. The fibre used to make the fabric is traditionally worsted wool, but may also be cotton, texturized polyester, or a blend. Gabardine is woven as a warp-faced steep or...
mini-coat and matching dress with silver PVC collar and lapels.
Since 2002, Bates has lived in Wales with his partner, John Siddons.
Works
- Richard Lester, John Bates: Fashion Designer, Antique Collectors' Club, Ltd.; (November 15, 2008), ISBN 9781851495702
Works
- Richard Lester, John Bates: Fashion Designer, Antique Collectors' Club, Ltd.; (November 15, 2008), ISBN 9781851495702