White with shock…

Today marks the 50th anniversary of British model Jean Shrimpton causing quite a stir in the world of fashion while at Derby Day in Australia.

Roman Blinds Direct collaborated with UK fashion blogger Hollie in Wanderlust on this article, who gifted us with a vivid account of the events of 50 years ago, and the impact it had in the world of fashion…

“Being the conservative, respectful event that it continues to be today, Derby Day organisers had expected Miss Shrimpton to be donning sophisticated “de rigueur” accessories; but her outfit, a white shift dress cut 10 cm above the knee, was definitely a stark contrast to the ensembles of other racegoers. While completely modest by today’s standards, she was openly shunned and scorned. Not only did Shrimpton’s dress cause a sensation, but she had also broken protocol by not wearing a hat, gloves or stockings.

Needless to say, cameramen and press had an absolute field-day, replacing headlines which would have normally focused on the Derby Day winner with articles about Shrimpton and her audacious attire. The controversy even spread to as far as the British Isles, where the London Evening News described her as being “like a petunia in an onion patch” as a means of defending the honour of their national. In spite of the negative backlash from Australian press, the event arguably changed young Australian’s sense of style, with young girls reportedly wanting to be just like the woman they referred to as “the Shrimp” – free to wear what they liked, cool and elegant; a complete contrast to the image that the press wanted to depict.

It’s fair to say that the events of the 30th October 1965 were pivotal in the introduction of the miniskirt in terms of the international market, although the actual “invention” of the skirt was cited as being the work of fashion designer Mary Quant. Just one year later, the rigidity of the Derby Day dress code had been loosened, and above-the-knee hemlines were considered perfectly acceptable race-going attire. It could easily be argued that Jean Shrimpton changed the fashion industry for the better, loosening opinions, changing mindsets and inspiring generations to come.”

Source: Wikipedia

Naturally, in this instance it was the shortness of the white dress which shocked the masses, but it got us at Roman Blinds Direct thinking just how striking white blinds can be in the home. White roman blinds look especially powerful when hung in dark interiors, but can also be used to complement lighter rooms in the home, too.

We stock a vast range of white roman blinds on our website, so head over now to take a look for yourself.

Thanks to Hollie in Wanderlust for collaborating with us on this post.

Be sure to follow her on Twitter at: @holinwanderlust.

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