Frieda Alice Johnston - My Grandma is my fashion icon.

Born in 1930 into a small family in Palgrave village, my Grandma lived a quiet life in Norfolk until well into her teens. Her father tragically died when she was 14, leaving her family very poor. She met my Grandpa when she was just twelve and he was thirteen during the Second World War. They lost contact after the war but met up again when they were 18 and were together ever since.

She always loved clothes and shoes and the Sixties was the first decade she could afford to buy them herself. She grew up in hand made clothing, as did many during the war, so like many people, when the Sixties arrived with its bold, rebellious and sometimes outrageous styles; she took part in the fashion revolution. She owned several dresses during the decade, most of which were in her favourite style, the mini-dress. 

Although sadly she gave away most of her dresses when the decade ended, she had reminders of them in the photographs my Grandpa took of her wearing them. He was an incredibly proud and devoted husband who held so much pride in his beautiful wife.

When I visited her last  at home before we lost her this year, I found these photos of my Grandma at a family wedding. She recalled fondly to me that the outfit she wore was “a lovely lilac satin dress”. She paired it with a matching neck scarf, tall boots and a flipped bob hairstyle, creating the most fashionable outfit at the time. The dress’ style is very similar to some of Mary Quant designs.

 

In a picture, taken earlier on in the decade, my Grandma is wearing an above the knee fur coat paired with a matching coloured grab bag. You can tell by the outfits the others are wearing that she was very chic and ahead of her time.

Although she was very much a skirt person, she moved with the times and towards the end of the decade began wearing high waist trousers, especially for her more casual day to day looks.

Even though my Grandma always lived a quiet life, and in the Sixties was bringing up three boys in a small village in Suffolk, she always took great care of her image and most inspiringly, she dressed however she wanted to.