Sixties Spy Silliness ("Rondelle" Jersey, 1965)

 Spies were everywhere in pop culture in the 1960s.  They were in books, they were in movies, they were movies adapted from books, they were in movies parodying the movies adapted from books, and they were on TV.   Even comic books and advertisers got into the act.

From the height of the spy craze comes this advertising layout, promoting the wonders of "Rondelle" jersey, and some of the ready-to-wear fashions that were made with it.  Rondelle was a fabric combining Dicel (acetate) with nylon, manufactured by Courtaulds Limited.

 

 

A reasonable amount of flair and imagination went into creating this spread, so it's worth taking a closer look at these pictures and the advertising copy that accompanied them!

Training to be a spy meant that I had to learn to defend myself.  I learn quickly.  Now I can throw a sixteen stone man without ruffling my hair or my Rembrandt two-piece, style 386.  It's available in black with either gold or silver stripes, sizes 12-16 and costs 9 gns. approx.

The fastest gun west of the Iron Curtain.  I have to do three hours target practice every day.  And I have to learn to carry a gun without spoiling the line of my dress—a Rembrandt, style 390.  It comes in either black and gold or black ad silver.  Sizes 12-18 and costs 9 gns. approx.

The art of shaking a tail is being able to alter your appearance—fast.  Business-like glasses, different hair, another dress—my own mother wouldn't recognise me in my ice blue Susan Small knitted dress, style W388X.  Made in Rondelle jersey it is also available in emerald or fawn in sizes 10-16.  Costs 6½ gns.

Part of the art of persuading P.M.'s to part with state secrets is this dress.  A Charles Creed creation, style D738, patterned in bronze (it comes in peacock or midnight, too).  In sizes 12-16 and costs about 6 gns.  The rest is technique—and natural talent!

I've just climbed a ten-foot wall, then up a creeper and in through this third-storey window.  I look as if I came by lift—a spy can't allow her clothes to tell tales!  Ideal for assassinations is this 'Mandarin' dress by Charles Creed.  It comes in bronze, peacock or midnight.  Sizes 10-16 and costs about 6 gns.

Opening a safe without a key is childs play, if you're quiet and careful.  And I've always wanted to take up photography!  Perfectly suited to slipping away with the blue-prints is my Bairnswear, style 2012, two-piece in black flecked with turquoise—though I could have bought it in tan or green as well.  Sizes 38", 40" and 42" and costs ￡8.19.6.  Size 44" costs a little more—￡9.9.0.

The said it was important to get on really well with your opposite number.  This lesson was fun, though the rendezvous was strictly business.  On assignment: a dress in peacock and emerald by Walker Reid (it comes in bronze and red, too), made in Rondelle jersey, style D984.  Price about ￡6.15.0.  Available in hip sizes 36"-40".

So there you go—lessons in how to be a (well-dressed) spy!  Of course it went without saying that the creators of this advertisement hoped people might buy some of the clothes they mentioned as well!